Consider the following:
Abul-Hârith Ahmad b. Muhammad Al-Sâ`igh, the close and respected friend of Imâm Ahmad, reports:
I asked Abû ‘Abdillâh (Imâm Ahmad) about something that had occurred in Baghdâd, and [because of which] some people were considering revolting [against the ruler]. I said, “O Abû ‘Abdillâh, what do you say about taking part in the revolt with these people?” He decried it and started saying, “Subhânallâh! The blood [of the people], the blood [of the people]! I do not believe in this and I do not tell others to do it. For us to suffer our situation in patience is better than the fitnah (tribulation) in which blood is spilt, property is taken, and the prohibited are violated (e.g. the honor of women). Do you not know what happened to the people (in the days of the previous fitnah)?” I said, “And the people today, Abû ‘Abdillâh, are they not in fitnah [because of the ruler]?” He replied, “If so, it is a limited fitnah, but if the sword is raised, the fitnah will engulf everything and there will be no way to escape. To suffer patiently this [current difficulty], where Allâh keeps your religion safe for you is better for you.” I saw him decry revolting against the leaders, and say, “[Do not spill the people's] blood. I do not believe in this and I do not command it.”
Abû Bakr Al-Khallâl, Al-Sunnah article 89.
Of course everything only happens by the will of Allah. I guess things could get better, but then again they could also get much worse.
And Allah knows best in all matters
I'm confused, people tell me that the hadiths forbid rebelling, unless you see open kufr from your leaders in that case it's allowed and ghadaffi showed open kufur they that's why scholars made takfir on him. And they also give other examples of like when Hussain rebelled against Yazid, and when Abdullah ibn Zubair rebelled. And other examples of when pious companions rebelled but I can't remember now.
So were these companions doing wrong when they rebelled :s or is it because the libyans rebelled with the aid of nato that's why its wrong.
Also I know you will say, scholars make takfir whether it's true or not only Allah knows, but then like this we can't say that no body isn't Muslim because we don't know what's in their heart, what if tony blair is a Muslim because we don't know what's in his heart, what if Obama is a Muslim because we don't know what's in his heart, and what if a person says "I'm a Muslim" and then he prostrates to an idol and maintains that he's a Muslim, would we accept him as a Muslim under the guise of "we don't know what's in his heart" even though he prostrates to an Idol infront of everyone, or if he says there is no such thing as 4 wifes in Islam which implies Qur'an isn't true, but he still maintains he's a muslim do we accept it because we don't know what's in his heart. Do you see what I'm trying to say brother, this is how it was explained to me, that if you do actions or say things that are against Islam, i.e you say "there's another prophet after Muhammed" then you have invalidated your Islam regardless if you say "I'm still a Muslim".
It's true Allah will judge him in the next life and he may have repented from those things before he died, but in this life we judge on what is apparent of people's actions. I believe this is what Umar RA also said.
I found this article, how accurate it is I don't know but I thought it was interesting.
"
He who examines the biographies of the early (Muslims) and how they dealt with unjust imams would find among the noble Companions and followers those that revolted against leaders of tyranny and injustice by the sword and by force. The revered Companion Abdullah bin Zubair, may Allah be pleased with him, revolted in Mecca and captured it for no reason other than the injustice which prevailed there. Hussain bin Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, rebelled against Yazid bin Muawiya. Moreover, Abdullah bin Abbas advised him to go to Yemen to plan and train.
Others did not revolt, such as the revered Companion Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, among others
The pages of history books have recorded numerous biographies of noble ulema, great jurists, revered Hadith scholars and powerful interpreters of the Quran who rebelled against unjust and tyrannical leaders, such as Said bin Jubayr, al-Shaabi, Ibn Abi Leila, al-Buhturi and others. Those ulema who recite the Quran joined with Abdul Rahman bin al-Ashaath in revolt against al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf al-Thaqafi. Their number was 100,000 or more. Imam al-Jassas, a Hanafi jurist, said of Imam Abi Hanifa, who died in the year 150 Hijri, may Allah have mercy on him, that his school (of religious jurisprudence) was famous in battling tyranny and unjust imams.
Likewise, Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, deemed it appropriate to revolt against unjust and tyrannical rulers. Imam Ibn Jarir reported that when he (Ibn Malik) issued a verdict to the people in favor of the actions of Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Hasan, who revolted in the year 145 Hijri, he was told “On our conscience is allegiance to al-Mansur.” He said: “You were forced to swear and allegiance cannot be compelled.” Here ends his words as reported in Ibn Kathir’s book al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya.
So it was with the disciples of Malik afterwards. Yahya bin Yahya al-Laithi, a jurist of al-Andalus, and Qar’us bin Abbas, were among those who rebelled against the rule of bin Hisham bin al-Dakhil in 202 Hijri, as was reported in Ibn alAthir’s book al-Kamil and in Qadi Iyad’s book Tarteeb al-Madarik wa Taqreeb al-Maslik.
Also, Imam al-Nawawi reported in his book Sharh Sahih Muslim that the Imam al-Haramain and Shafa’i jurist Abu al-Mu’ali al-Juwayni said: “If a temporal ruler commits an outrage and his tyranny and injustice become evident and he does not restrain himself when verbally rebuked for his ill-doing, the people of influence may act together to overthrow him even by drawing weapons and launching wars.”
Among those who also believed in the permissibility of rebelling against an unjust imam were the Hanbali jurists Ibn Razeen, Ibn Aqeel and Ibn al-Juzi, as was reported in Abdullah Umar’s book al-Imamatu al-Uzma. Among the ulema that rebelled against unjust rulers in their day was Imam Ahmad bin Nasr al-Khaza’i until he was killed. He was praised by Ahmad bin Hanbal and was mentioned in Ibn Kathir’s book al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya.
Praise Allah, if this is in regard to unjust leaders, then what about the rulers of our day who are allies of the Jews and Christians and work together to sell Bait al-Maqdis to the Jews and to strike Gaza and the Mujahideen everywhere under the pretext of combating terrorism. Those who rebelled against the rulers of their times found justification in a collection of evidence. As the Almighty said:
“But My promise is not within the reach of evildoers.” [2:124]
They also used the general evidence commanding the enjoining of what is right and forbidding what is wrong and destroying it. Among those who opposed rebelling against unjust rulers were Imam al-Tahawi and al-Nawawi. This was favored by the interpreter of al-Tahawi and also Ibn Hajar and those who followed their doctrine.
Based on the above, we see that the Salaf differed on the issue of rebelling against unjust and tyrannical leaders. " end quote
http://theunjustmedia.com/Islamic Perspectives/Oct10/The Reality of the Rulers.htm
