[Aminkaoo]

:salam:
:bism:

The extract from Tafseer Maariful Quran.

Quote:


'Those in Authority':
Lexically, (uli'l-amr (translated here as 'those in authority') refers to those in whose hands lies the management and administration
of something. Therefore, Sayyidni Ibn 'Abbis, Mujihid and Hasan al-Basri the earliest commentators of the Qur'an, may Allah be pleased
with them, have said that uli'l-amr fittingly applies to scholars and jurists ('Ulama and Fuqaha) since. they are the succeeding deputies of
the Holy Prophet (saw) and the proper regulation of religion is in their hands.

Then, there is a group of commentators, including Sayyidna Abu Hurairah (ra), which says that uli'l-amr signifies officials and
rulers who hold the reins of government in their hands.

However, it appears in Tafsir Ibn Kathir and al-Tafsir al-Mazhari that this expression includes both categories,
that is, the scholars and jurists as well as the officials and rulers because the system of
command is inevitably connected with these two.

A surface view of this verse shows three 'obediences' being commanded here - of Allah, the Messenger and those in authority.
But, other verses of the Holy Qur'an have made it very clear that command and obedience really belong to none but Allah - from Him
the command and to Him the obedience. The Qur'an says:
'The command belongs to none but Allah.'
But, the practical form of the obedience to His command is divided over four parts.
.........................

This obedience too is, in reality, the obedience to the ahkam or commands of Allah Almighty. But, as seen outwardly, these
commands are not there in the Qur'in or the Sunnah. Instead, they are either enunciated by religious scholars or the officials. It is for this
reason that this particular call for obedience has been separated and placed at number three and given the distinct identity of 'obey those in
authority'. Let us keep in mind that, the way it is binding and necessary to follow the Qur'an in the specified textual provisions of the
Qur'an and follow the Messenger in the specified textual provisions of the Messenger, so it is necessary to follow Muslim jurists in matters
relating to jurisprudence, matters which have not been textually specified, and to follow rulers and officials in matters relating to administration.
This is what 'obedience to those in authority' means.


END of Quote