Is it obligatory to obey the woman ruler ?


Question :

Is it obligatory to obey the woman ruler ?

Answer :

The summary of what our Shaykh has answered :

It is not permitted to obey the woman.

When Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was informed that the Persians had crowned the daughter of Kisra as their ruler, he (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Such people as ruled by a lady will never be successful.” (Al Bukhari – 4425)

It is not permitted to give rulership to a woman and it is not permitted to obey her orders. But if a person fear harm from her if he doesn’t obey her, he obeys her in what is permitted as per the Shareeah and be patient and until Allah brings the relief. As for Muslims selecting a woman as ruler then they are opening on themselves the door of loss, the door of humiliation and the door of not having success. It is not permitted to obey a woman as a ruler whether it be in lands of disbelief or in lands of muslims.

It is obligatory to revolt on her and remove her from authority if the Muslims have capability for that as Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said ‘Such people as ruled by a lady will never be successful.’. Our Shaykh Muqbil (Rahimahullah) have given similar fatwa. But If the revolution on her causes severe harm to muslims due to lack of capability then they will be patient until Allah brings the relief by eliminating this woman from authority.

We should not say she is the ruler and we hear and obey her, we only will be patient on a male ruler who is unjust and oppressive as long as he is a muslim. And bear him with patience and we listen and we obey him and it was ordered by Allah. As for a woman, this is not a place for her. It is not permitted for her to have authority on Muslims.

Answered by : Shaykh Abu Bilal Al Hadhrami

Translated by : AbdunNoor Al Hindi