Ibn Taymiyyah on Consultation: Muslim authorities must consult their people

Ibn Taymiyyah writes in Majmu’ Al-Fatawa:

Men in authority must hold consultation. When there is disagreement among the Muslims on an issue each should be asked to give his opinion, and whichever opinion is closest to the Quran and Sunnah should be
adopted.

A man in authority (wall al-amr) cannot dispense with consultation. Allah Almighty has commanded His Messenger:

‏فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الأَمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ على اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ‏

So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].

[Surah Ali Imran 3:159]

Abu Huraira says that no one consulted his companions more than did the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. [Musnad Ahmad, Number 18449]

Some people have said that Allah commanded His Prophet to hold consultation in order that he might win over his Companions and set an example for the people to come later. He asked him to do so in matters in which he was not given any specific instructions, such as matters concerning war or other worldly affairs.

Allah Almighty has praised the believers who hold consultation. He has said:

وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَي لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعلى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَي بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

So whatever thing you have been given – it is but [for] enjoyment of the worldly life. But what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who have believed and upon their Lord rely. And those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive, and those who have responded to their lord and established prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves, and from what We have provided them, they spend.

[Surah Ash-Shura 42:36-38]

When the person in authority consults people and as a result comes to know the will of Allah’s Book or the Prophet’s Sunnah, peace and blessings be upon him, or the consensus of the Muslims, he should follow it and act upon it. No one can ask for obedience in things which are opposed to them, however great he may be in religion or in worldly affairs. Allah Almighty has said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ

O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.

[Surah An-Nisa 4:59]

But if the matter is something in which Muslims differ, everyone should be asked to give his opinion and state the reasons for it, and whichever view is closest to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet should be adopted; for Allah Almighty has said:

‏فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إلى اللّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَإلىوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاً

And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.

[Surah An-Nisa 4:59]

People who have authority (ulu al-amr) are of two kinds: rulers (umard) and scholars (ulama). If they are right, the masses will also be right. Both should obey Allah and His Messenger and adhere strictly to His Book in all that they say and do. In the new issues that come up, they must consult the Quran and Sunnah and try to find out what they are required to do. It is only in cases where they are unable to form an opinion either because they do not have time for it or because they are not able to find out the will of Allah and His Prophet, or because arguments in favor or against are equally strong, they may follow the opinion of an earlier scholar in whose knowledge and piety they have confidence. This is the best view in this regard. However, some people say that they are not allowed to follow in any case anyone’s opinion without discussion. A third group says just the opposite – that they can follow in every case. All these three views have been held by different scholars in the school of Ahmad as well as other schools.

فصــــل

لا غنى لولي الأمر عن المشاورة؛ فإن الله ـ تعالى ـ أمر بها نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال تعالى‏:‏ ‏{‏فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الأَمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ على اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ‏}‏ ‏[‏آل عمران‏:‏ 159‏]‏، وقد روي عن أبي هريرة ـ رضي الله عنه ـ قال‏:‏ لم يكن أحد أكثر مشاورة لأصحابه من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ وقد قيل‏:‏ إن الله أمر بها نبيه لتإلىف قلوب أصحابه، وليقتدي به من بعده، وليستخرج بها منهم الرأي فيما لم ينزل فيه وحي؛ من أمر الحروب، والأمور الجزئية، وغير ذلك، فغيره صلى الله عليه وسلم أولي بالمشورة‏.‏

وقد أثني الله على المؤمنين بذلك في قوله‏:‏ ‏{‏وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَي لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعلى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَي بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ‏}‏ ‏[‏الشوري‏:‏ 36-38‏]‏‏.‏ وإذا استشارهم، فإن بين له بعضهم ما يجب اتباعـه مـن كتـاب الله أو سنة رسـوله أو إجماع المسلمين، فعليه اتباع ذلك، ولا طاعة لأحد في خلاف ذلك، وإن كان عظيما في الدين والدنيا، قال الله تعالى‏:‏ ‏{‏يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ‏}‏ ‏[‏النساء‏:‏ 59‏]‏‏.‏

وإن كان أمرًا قد تنازع فيه المسلمون، فينبغي أن يستخرج من كل منهم رأيه ووجه رأيه، فأي الآراء كان أشبه بكتاب الله وسنة رسوله عمل به، كما قال تعالى‏:‏ ‏{‏فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إلى اللّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَإلىوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاً‏}‏ ‏[‏النساء‏:‏ 59‏]‏‏.‏

وأولو الأمر صنفان‏:‏ الأمراء والعلماء، وهم الذين إذا صلحوا صلح الناس، فعلى كل منهما أن يتحري بما يقوله ويفعله طاعة الله ورسوله، واتباع كتاب الله‏.‏ ومتى أمكن في الحوادث المشكلة معرفة ما دل عليه الكتاب والسنة كان هو الواجب، وإن لم يمكن ذلك لضيق الوقت أو عجز الطالب، أو تكافؤ الأدلة عنده أو غير ذلك، فله أن يقلد من يرتضي علمه ودينه‏.‏ هذا أقوي الأقوال‏.‏ وقد قيل‏:‏ ليس له التقليد بكل حال، وقيل‏:‏ له التقليد بكل حال‏.‏ والأقوال الثلاثة في مذهب أحمد وغيره‏.‏