Over the centuries there have been many collections of hadith compiled with the intention of reminding the Muslims the ahkam of Allah سبحانه وتعالى so as to apply them in their lives. The most famous, that many have read and benefitted from, is the Forty Hadith compiled by Imam Nawawi.

But today the most neglected of the commands of Allah سبحانه وتعالى is the command to rule by what Allah has revealed to His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in His Book:

وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنْكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا

And We have sent down to you (O Mohammad ) this Book (the Quran) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and the Mohaymin (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it, so judge amongst them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires away from the truth that has come to you. To each among you we have proscribed a law and a clear way. [TMQ 5:48]

This book is a brief compilation of hadith related to ruling. It is a small selection but it is hoped that it serves to illustrate how central to Islam was its ruling system, and the manner of the just ruler as opposed to the characteristics of the evil one, and the nature of the application of the rule, the role of the Ummah in accounting those in authority, and the painful consequences if this is neglected.

It is our prayer that these neglected Sunan - and the countless others related to governance be revived and enacted in the Islamic world under the shade of the next Rightly Guided Khilafah.

That prayer is also a promise of Allah سبحانه وتعالى who said:

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion, the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: `They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me.' If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked. [TMQ 24: 55]

The intention has been to present a selection of narrations which are reliable, and there are end notes regarding the various chains of narrations used other than those mentioned from the sahihain, Bukhari and Muslim.

May Allah accept this work, forgive us our shortcomings, and bring victory to this Ummah.

CONTENTS

ISLAMIC RULE
The Khulafaa are the rulers of the Muslim Ummah
Prophecy of the return of the Khilafah upon the Prophetic example
Obligation of the Khilafah
Obligation of a single ruler
Principles of Sources of Law
The Islamic Aqeedah is the basis for the State and its expansion
Islam defines the rule, not the technicalities

RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP
The Imam is Responsible for the Ummah
Positions of ruling are not to be chased
The Weighty Burden of Responsibility
Leadership is based upon the policy, not personality or race politics
Prohibition of Nepotism
Prohibition of a woman ruler

RULE OF LAW MEANS TAKING CARE OF SOCIETY BY ISLAM
The Ruler who does not rule justly will be in chains on the Day of Judgement
Hudood are applied even if there are those who accuse it
Rule of Law is equally applied
Any accused is innocent until proven guilty
Dealing with non-Muslims justly
Oil, Water and Pastures are the whole Ummah's resources
Prohibition of misappropriating others wealth
Prohibition of dealing with land unjustly

CRUCIAL NATURE OF RULING AND UNITY
Ruling - The knot of Islam upon which everything else is reliant
Living under a just Imam is better than 60 years of worship
The Imam is a Shield
Sanctity of Muslim Blood
One Muslim's pain afflicts all the Ummah
Prohibition of factionalism, nationalism and wanton killing

ILLEGITIMATE LEADERSHIP
Corrupt Rulers are the biggest problem
Cronyism corrupts
Condemnation of those who support leadership for personal gain
No obedience to a leader in sin
The Believer has to be Politically Astute

BLOCKING THE PATH
Forbiddance of Being Content in un-Islamic rule
Treachery
Prohibition of spying and oppressing your Muslim brother
Prohibition of Torture
Better to die alone than co-operate with corruption

ENJOINING THE GOOD AND STANDING FOR THE TRUTH IS A CAUSE OF SUCCESS IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT
The tongue must be used to speak the truth if the hand cannot enforce it
Society has a collective responsibility to prevent wrongdoing
Accounting the Ruler
Not preventing the oppressors is a cause for collective punishment from Allah
Neglect of accounting results in the worst rulers, the harshest enemy and the rejection of Du'a
Seeking the Acceptance of the People by displeasing Allah results in humiliation

THE VICTORY FROM ALLAH HAS CONDITIONS
No Du'a answered and no Victory unless the people account according to Islam
Neglect of Dawa and Jihad is the cause of humiliation
Patience and sacrifice are reasons for Victory
Without the collective readiness to sacrifice, the Ummah will be humiliated

ISLAM WILL RETURN, AND THE VICTORIOUS GROUP