THE RUKUʿ.
RULE OF FAITH. The Muḥammadan rule of faith is based upon what are called the four foundations of orthodoxy, namely, the Qurʾān, or, as it is called, Kalāmu ʾllāh, “the Word of God; the Ḥadīs̤ (pl. Aḥādīs̤), or the traditions of the sayings and practice of Muḥammad; Ijmāʿ, or the consent of the Mujtahidūn, or learned doctors; and Qiyās, or the analogical reasoning of the learned.
In studying the Muḥammadan religious system, it must be well understood that Islām is not simply the religion of the Qurʾān, but that all Muḥammadans, whether Sunnī, Shīʿah, or Wahhābī, receive the Traditions as an authority in matters of faith and practice. The Sunnī Muḥammadans arrogate to themselves the title of traditionists; but the Shīʿahs also receive the Ḥadīs̤ as binding upon them, although they do not acknowledge the same collection of traditions as those received by their opponents. [[QURʾAN], [TRADITIONS], [IJMAʿ], [QIYAS], [RELIGION], [ISLAM].]
RULERS. The ideal administration of the Muslim world, as laid down in the Traditions, is that the whole of Islām shall be under the dominion of one Imām or leader, who is the K͟halīfah (خليفة), or vicegerent, of the Prophet on earth. The rulers of provinces under this Imām are called Amīr (امير) (pl. Umarāʾ). The Eastern titles of Sult̤ān and Shāh are not established in the Muḥammadan religion. The word Malik, Heb. מֶלֶךְ Melekh, occurs in the Qurʾān for a “king” and is used for King Saul ([Sūrah ii. 248]). The word is still retained in Asia for the chiefs of villages.
In the Qurʾān ([Sūrah iv. 62]), believers are enjoined to “obey the Apostle and those in authority,” but the chief injunctions are found in the Traditions.
In the Mishkātu ʾl-Maṣābiḥ, book xvi. ch. i., the following sayings of Muḥammad regarding rulers are recorded:—
“Whoever obeys me obeys God, and whoever disobeys me disobeys God. Whoever obeys the Amīr obeys me. An Imām is nothing but a shield to fight behind, by which calamities are avoided; and if he orders you to abstain from that which is unlawful, he will have great regard; but if he enjoins that which God has forbidden, he will bear the punishment of his own acts.”
“If God appoints as your Amīr a man who is a slave, with his ears and nose cut off, and who puts people to death according to God’s book, then you must listen and obey him in all things.”
“If a negro slave is appointed to rule over you, you must listen to him and obey him, even though his head be like a dried grape.”
“It is indispensable for every Muslim to listen to and approve the orders of the Imām, whether he likes or dislikes, so long as he is not ordered to sin and act contrary to law. When he is ordered to sin, he must neither attend to it nor obey it.”