Beware the Rise of Foolish and Tyrannical Leaders Who Oppress the Ummah, a Sign of the End Times?

Jakarta — The emergence of foolish and tyrannical leaders who oppress the Muslim community is one of the signs of the End Times, as reported by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In several hadiths, the Prophet warned of rulers who deviate from his guidance and Sunnah, and who spread injustice with the support of brutal security forces.

Jabir bin Abdullah related that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said to Ka’ab bin Ujrah:

‘يا كعب بن عجرة أعاذك الله من إمارة السفهاء قال وما إمارة السفهاء ؟ قال أمراء يكونون بعدي يهدون بغير هداي ويستنون بغير سنتي فمن دخل عليهم فصدقهم بكذبهم وأعانهم على ظلمهم فأولئك ليسوا مني ولست منهم ولا يردون علي حوضي ومن لم يصدقهم بكذبهم ولم يعنهم على ظلمهم فأولئك مني وأنا منهم وسيردون علي الحوض’

The Prophet said, ‘May Allah protect you from governance by fools, O Ka’ab.’ Ka’ab asked, ‘What is governance by fools, O Messenger of Allah?’ The Prophet replied, ‘The rulers after me. They do not take guidance from my guidance nor follow my Sunnah. Whoever corroborates their lies and helps them in their oppression is not among my followers, and I am not among them, and they will not come to my Hawd (Pond). But whoever does not corroborate their lies and does not aid them in oppression is among my followers, and I am among them; they will come to my Hawd.’ (Hadith reported by Imam al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak)

Sheikh Mahir Ahmad ash-Shuffi, in his book ‘Al-Mautu wa al-alam al-barzakh, al-hisab waaidhu alal-latu al-mizan-al-mushaf-ash-shirath-anwa’us shafa’ah’, explains that the governance by foolish and oppressive rulers is also accompanied by their police aides who help the rulers in committing oppression.