Islams Reformers

government oppresses and if opposing this oppression causes
fitna, it is not permissible in this case, too. Helping such a ruler is
a support given to cruelty. One should not help those who disobey
him, either, for, one should not help in an action that is not
permitted. [1] Those who rebel, for the purpose of seizing power,
against the government that does not oppress people are called
‘bâghîs’, and in this case Muslims should help the State against
them. For a hadîth declares, ‘May Allâhu ta’âlâ damn him who
wakes fitna!’ If the rebels call the government and Muslims
‘disbelievers’ and attack Muslims’ property and lives, they are
called ‘Khârijîs’. Likewise, today, some people called Wahhâbîs [2]
attack other Muslims and call them ‘disbelievers’ because they do
not believe as they do. Since this behaviour is (one of those acts
that are) definitely harâm, they themselves become disbelievers
by doing so. Regardless of whether the sultân is fairminded or
cruel, it is wâjib to obey his commandments agreeable with the
Sharî’at. If the Khalîfa is a murtadd or insane or unable to practice
Islam he is to be dismissed. If his dismissal would cause fitna and
his staying in office would be less harmful, he is to be tolerated. If
a Muslim assumes the office of Khalîfa by subjugation and force
and seizes power, he is to be obeyed. A governor appointed by a
non-Muslim government is obeyed if he practises Islamic rules. If
he cannot put Islamic rules into practise, or if the governor is a
kâfir, too, Muslims elect one from among them as muftî or head.
The muftî practises Islamic rules. If this is not possible, either,
which means a life of slavery, a possible fitna should be avoided.
As it is understood from this passage, the fatwâ signed by Shaikh
al-Islâm Hasan Hayrullah Effendi under duress for the
dethronement of Sultân ’Abdul’azîz Khân and the fatwâ signed -
when the fatwâ officer Hâji Nûrî Effendi refused to sign- by a
bigot threatened with death for the dethronement of
’Abdulhamîd Khân II were not mashrû’ (legal). It is written in the
twelfth volume of Türkiye Târîhi (History of Turkey) that these
fatwâs were not sahîh and were based on absolute falsehoods.
Therefore, the two Sultans were the mashrû’ Khalîfas till they
passed away. And because of this turpitude, the Ottomans lost the
wars of “93” (with Russia in 1877-1878) and “Balkan” and the
[1] The greatest cruelty is to prevent Muslims from performing ’ibâdât
and from teaching religious knowledge to their children, to cause them
to commit harâm and to spoil their îmân.
[2] Please see our publications Advice for the Muslim, Endless Bliss, II,
34, and Confessions of a British Spy for details about Wahhâbîs.
– 209 –