Disobedience of rulers causes extremism: Forum

AL-KHOBAR — The disobedience of rulers is a main cause of extremism and is totally forbidden by Islam, the fourth family forum (Naraak — we care for you) was told. The forum opened here on Tuesday under the aegis of Eastern Province Emir Prince Saud Bin Naif. It was organized by Prince Sultan Center for Science and Technology (SciTec) of King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). The warning against disobeying the ruler was made by Sheikh Hussain Al-Tamimi, director of field affairs of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia), during a lecture he delivered at the forum. "The disobedience of the ruler will lead to sedition and fighting among Muslims. Islam has prevented this even if the ruler is corrupt and unjust," he said. Sheikh Tamimi recalled the Uhud battle in which the Muslims were defeated when the archers disobeyed the orders of the Prophet (peace by upon him) and left their positions. "This very disobedience had led to the Muslims' defeat. This was a lesson to all Muslims never to disobey the orders of their rulers," he added. Tamimi said obedience of the ruler is imperative in all rules and regulations issued by the ruler to organize the Muslims' life. As an example he citied the traffic law. He said even if the rulers are corrupt and have committed all sorts of vice, obedience to their writ remains a must for all Muslims. "The disobedience of rulers has created terrorist organizations such as Daesh (so-called IS)," he warned. He, however, explained that obedience of the rulers is controlled by knowledge. "Blind obedience should be rejected, made non-existing and baseless," he added. Chairman of the Haia in the Eastern Province Sheikh Omar Bin Faisal Al-Duwaish said the most ferocious tragedy that befalls any nation is when its own children stab it in its back by assisting its enemies to destroy it. "The enemies of the Ummah resorted to religion as a weapon to attack the nation because all Muslims are strong believers and are adhering to their faith," he said. Al-Duwaish said young men and women freely use the social media to communicate and to spread their devious thought. He asked the young not to heed the extremist ideas on the social media and to obey their rulers so as not to deviate or go astray. A number of educationalists and sociologists from the Kingdom and other GCC countries participated in the forum, which was aimed at boosting family ties and to protect the young from deviation or becoming criminals. A number of marriage counseling sessions were held during the forum, which continued for four days. The previous three family fora have attracted more than 5,000 parents.