FatwaFederal TerritoriesGovernance & Administration
BAYAN LINNAS SIRI KE-234: KETAATAN KEPADA RAJA
What is the ruling on obeying the King, and what is the proper etiquette for advising rulers in Islam?
Short answer
Obeying the king and the ruler in matters that are ma'ruf (good) is obligatory and required by sharia, based on Surah al-Nisa' verse 59.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Bayan Linnas
- Topic
- Governance & Administration
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Obeying the king and the ruler in matters that are ma'ruf (good) is obligatory and required by sharia, based on Surah al-Nisa' verse 59. This obedience no longer applies when the ruler commands an act of disobedience to God. Leaders are not infallible and may be advised, but the advice must be given wisely and with etiquette suited to their position, not through insulting words. The position of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as Head of State under constitutional monarchy is also described as high in the sight of religion.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Taat kepada raja adalah wajib dan menjadi tuntutan di sisi syarak sebagaimana dalam firman Allah SWT:
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “BAYAN LINNAS SIRI KE-234: KETAATAN KEPADA RAJA”, 9 June 2021. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/bayan-linnas/4824-bayan-linnas-siri-ke-234-ketaatan-kepada-raja. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-obeying-the-king-and-advising-rulers/