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Reconciling the fact that the khaleefah should be from Quraysh with the hadeeth about obeying an Abyssinian slave

28-11-2000

Question 11747

What is the understanding pertaining to the statement in the "Aqeedah " that the Khalifat belongs to the Quraish, how does the Hadith pertain to "Obey the Amir even if he be an Abysinnian with a head like a raisin", could you pls help us to reconcile this and may Allah guide us to accept the truth?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

The hadeeth about the rulers being from Quraysh is a saheeh hadeeth which was narrated through many isnaads. The basic principle is that the leader should be from Quraysh. But in the case where the khaleefah has seized power by force and is ruling the people by force, the people have to obey him and it is haraam to rebel against him, even if he is an Abyssinian slave as it says in the hadeeth. 

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