Editor,
With many Muslims involved in rebellion against their leaders, one has to wonder: Is this rebellion permissible according to Islam?
This question has largely gone unnoticed in the media coverage of the so-called “Arab Spring.” However, Al-Jazeera and Fox News didn’t teach Islam to the world; the Prophet Muhammad did.
The Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever wishes to advise the ruler, then let him not mention it in public, rather let him take the ruler by his hand. So, if he listens then that is that, and if not then he has fulfilled that which is upon him.”
It becomes clear, then, that protesting in the streets or violently trying to overthrow leaders has no basis in Islam. The Muslim should sincerely communicate his concern in private to the leader and then leave it at that.
Muhajir Romero
UNM student