Holding the rulers accountable is a duty upon the Muslims. The obligation of obeying them even if they did wrong and withheld people’s rights does not mean that the Muslims should keep silent, but it means that obeying them is obligatory and holding them accountable for their actions is obligatory as well.

Allah (swt) ordered the Muslims to hold their rulers accountable and strongly commanded them to challenge them if they withheld the citizens’ rights, neglected their duties towards them, ignored any of the citizens affairs, violated the rules of Islam or ruled by other than that which Allah (swt) has revealed. Muslim reported on the authority of Umm Salama that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said; “‘Ameers will be appointed over you, you recognise some of what they do and you disown some. Whoever recognised He is absolved from blame. Whoever disapproved (of their bad deeds) He is safe, but whoever consented and followed them (he is doomed.)’ They said; ‘Should we not fight against them?’ He (pbuh) replied; ‘No, as long as they prayed.’” In another narration by Muslim,

“Whoever hated He would be absolved (of sin) and whoever disapproved He would be safe, but whoever consented and followed (he would be not).” This narration explains the first narration. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has ordered showing the disapproval toward the ruler and has made this obligatory by any possible means on condition that it is without fighting, i.e.without the use of the sword unless He showed open kufr by the tongue by saying something, or by the heart if one were not able to use the hand or tongue. He (pbuh) considered the one who does not disown the wrong deed as being an accomplice to the ruler in the sin, for He said if anyone approved of their bad deeds and imitated them He would be doomed and would not escape the blame and the sin. The evidences concerning the enjoining of Ma’ruf and the forbidding of Munkar are also evidences for holding the ruler accountable, for they are general evidences that include the ruler as well as others. Allah (swt) has commanded decisively the enjoining of Ma’ruf and the forbidding of Munkar. He (pbuh) says; “And let there arise from amongst you a band of people inviting to all that is good (Khayr), enjoying what is right (Ma’ruf) and forbidding what is wrong (Munkar).” [] He (swt) also says; “You are the best of peoples, brought out for mankind enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.” [] Allah (swt) says; “Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet who they find mentioned in their own scriptures, in the Taurat and Gospel, where He commands them with the right and forbid them of the wrong.” [] And He (swt) says; “Those who turn themselves to Allah in repentance, worship Him, praise Him, wander in devotion to the cause of Allah, they bow and prostrate, they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong and observe the limits put by Allah, so proclaim the glad tidings to the believers.” [] And He (swt) says; “There are those who if we establish them in the land, establish regular prayers (the Salah) and give the Zakat, enjoin the right and forbid the wrong.” [] In all these verses, Allah (swt) commands the enjoining of Ma’ruf (the right) and the forbidding of Munkar (the wrong). The command is combined with further indicators that confirm that the command is decisive, namely the praise, for He (swt) says; “And those are the succesful ones.” [] He (swt) says; “You were the best nation.” [] In another verse He (swt) says; “And give glad tidings to the believers.” []