1. BEING GENTLE WHEN PREACHING TO PEOPLE OF AUTHORITY
The one who advises or preaches to a person in authority ought to observe extra kindness (takatuf), gentleness (rifq) in words and approach, and to avoid mentioning before him what may infer that he is an oppressor (zalim).
This is because people of authority enjoy sole and absolute power. Hence if they were admonished, that will put them in humiliation which they cannot handle or afford.
The preacher should mention and remind them of the honour of being in charge of the affairs of Muslims. The reward resulting from looking after the affairs of Muslims, and narrate to them the stories of the preceding righteous and just rulers.
The preacher needs to understand and look into the condition and state of the leader before preaching to him.
If he finds his demeanour to be pleasant— as was the case of Harun Al-Rasheed who used to cry when Mansur ibn Ammar and others used to preach to him— and his intent is good, he should increase his preaching and advice.
However, if he finds him to be oppressive, does not concern himself with good deeds, and ignorance has overpowered him. He ought to spare no effort to avoid meeting him and to avoid preaching to him because he could put his life at risk; if he praises him he will be a liar and a condoner. Thus if he finds himself in a position that forces him to advise him, he should make his advice implicit and in the form of hints.
Previously, some leaders used to be touched and moved by advice and reminders they heard, showing patience to any harsh words directed at them.
A person said to Al-Mansur in his face that he was an oppressor but still he was patient and did not admonish the advisor. How times have changed where most of the rulers have become corrupted and vet condoned by the scholars. Whoever does not condone them does not find anyone to accept the truth he advocates, thus he remains silent.
The positions of authority were not taken up except by those who were well versed in religion and educated with vast experience. Today you find them only to be equal in ignorance, making these positions assumed by incompetent and unqualified people.
These are the kind of rulers you must be cautious of and stay away from, but whoever is trialled with preaching to them should have utmost awareness of the words he utters and should not be deceived with their request to preach to them because as soon as you utter one word that contravenes their interest, their anger will be provoked.
The one who intends to advise and remind the ruler must beware of mentioning the names of other people of authority as examples in his reminders because they will target the preacher to harm him as they fear that the ruler will become aware of their state and so be the reason for their end.
Thus, staying away from them in these times is better and avoiding preaching to them is safer. If one had to, he should ensure his advice to be delivered gently with focus on preaching to the laypeople who will listen to him, without mentioning them in any of his words. And success is from Allah.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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