The demagogues have always ruled people throughout the written history. Their cruelty, deceit and tacit machination has always deceived their people and while they firmly ruled over them, a large segment of the people supported them to be in good books and to earn political and social gains - even means of sustenance at the cost of their freedom. While the deceitful leadership, many quoted in history like for instance the Pharaoh, will be held accountable for their tyranny, the silent majority who supported such despots and demagogues will also be held responsible for remaining silent and letting the tyranny continue.
Allah warns both such rulers and their blind followers of utter disobedience to Him. This has been said explicitly in the 54th verse of Surah Az-Zukhruf. Although, the warning is about the conduct of Pharaoh towards his people, it also serves as a warning against manipulation and blind following of leaders who mislead their communities. The verse reads:
فَاسۡتَخَفَّ قَوۡمَهٗ فَاَطَاعُوۡهُؕ اِنَّهُمۡ كَانُوۡا قَوۡمًا فٰسِقِيۡنَ
(43:54) He incited his people to levity and they obeyed him. Surely they were an iniquitous (grossly unfair and morally wrong) people.
This verse highlights how Pharaoh misled his people through deception and arrogance, exploiting their ignorance and disobedience to Allah. Despite witnessing clear signs of truth, Pharaoh’s people continued to follow him blindly because he appealed to their desires, fears, and misplaced loyalty. However, in its meaning, this is applicable to all tyrants and their blind followers throughout the history, EVEN NOW!!
Key Points of the Verse:
- Pharaoh’s Deception: The phrase "bluffed his people" indicates that Pharaoh deceived his people through propaganda, arrogance, and persuasive speech. He exploited his authority and presented falsehood as truth, leading his people astray.
- Blind Obedience: The verse emphasizes that Pharaoh’s people blindly followed him, reflecting a lack of critical thinking and an unwillingness to question their leader’s claims, even when the truth was evident. This obedience was rooted in their own disobedience to Allah.
- Defiant Disobedience: The verse states that the people were "defiantly disobedient," highlighting their moral and spiritual failures. Their willingness to follow falsehood stemmed from their inherent rebelliousness against divine guidance.
Supporting Hadith and Teachings
The message of this verse is supported by various hadiths that warn against blindly following misguided leaders and emphasize the importance of seeking the truth.
- Hadith on Leadership and Accountability: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned against following unjust rulers blindly and stressed the responsibility of each individual to adhere to what is right:
“There will be rulers after me who will tell lies and oppress. Whoever affirms their lies and supports them in their oppression does not belong to me, nor do I belong to him, and he will not come to me at the Hawd (Pool of Kauthar).” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 2259)
This hadith underscores the importance of rejecting falsehood and injustice, even when it comes from those in authority, aligning with the message of the verse about the dangers of being misled by tyrants like Pharaoh.
- Hadith on Blind Following: The Prophet also spoke about the consequences of blindly following leaders without questioning their actions:
“There is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience to the Creator.” (Musnad Ahmad, 1098)
This hadith reinforces the principle that one must not follow a leader in actions that contradict the commands of Allah, as blind obedience can lead to straying from the path of truth, just as Pharaoh’s people were misled.
Lessons from the referred Verse and Hadith
- The Danger of Manipulative Leaders: Both the verse and supporting hadiths highlight the danger of leaders who manipulate their followers for personal gain or power. Such leaders often use deception, false promises, and fear to control people, steering them away from truth and justice.
- Critical Thinking and Seeking Truth: Islam encourages critical thinking and seeking knowledge to discern right from wrong. Blind obedience, especially in matters of faith, is discouraged because it can lead to being misled, as seen in the example of Pharaoh’s people.
- Individual Responsibility: Each person is responsible for their actions and beliefs. Even when under the influence of persuasive leaders, individuals must seek the truth and adhere to divine guidance, rather than blindly following authority.
- Avoiding the Path of Rebelliousness: The verse and hadiths call for self-reflection to avoid the rebelliousness that Pharaoh’s people exhibited. Obedience to Allah and adherence to His guidance is essential to prevent falling into the traps of misleading leaders.
Surah Az-Zukhruf, verse 54, serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of deceitful leadership and blind obedience. It emphasizes the importance of seeking truth, rejecting falsehood, and maintaining personal accountability in matters of faith and morality. The verse, supported by hadiths, reminds Muslims to remain vigilant, question unjust authority, and stay true to Allah’s guidance to avoid the fate of those who followed Pharaoh into destruction.
Let us not be deceived by the gimmicks of our leaders and raise slogans in their favour, for if we do that we will draw disobedience of Allah and held responsible to the crime of supporting the tyrants.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.
Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.
0 comments:
Post a Comment