Rulers are people vested with authority to look after the affairs of the Muslims. Rulership could assume a wide scope of meanings such as the supreme ruler of a state, or a certain specific position like a manager of a certain department. All people belonging to this category have rights that should be honored by the ruled ones who equally have rights to be observed.

Rulers have got to cater for the trust that Allah has charged them with, namely counseling their subjects and leading them on the straight path that is bound to yield mundane interests and spiritual benefits. It is the way of the believers and Allah"s Messenger (peace be upon Him) represents the most eloquent way of effecting the pleasure of the ruled ones with the rulers, close attachment to them and full compliance with their orders. Righteous rulers will naturally exercise power over righteous subjects and once Allah"s Pleasure has been attained, the pleasure of the subjects will automatically be realized. Hearts, after all, are in the hand of Allah, changeable according to His Desire.

Rulers also have their rights on their subjects. The latter have to counsel the former in all affairs relating to the welfare of the people. In case the rulers are heedless, it is incumbent to remind them. Should they deviate from the orthodox path, prayers (for the rulers) become a must on the part of the citizens. Obedience to authority should be observed to the letter providing that it should be subject to the obedience of Allah. We must obey such authority so long as it is imbued with righteousness, otherwise there will be no order or discipline.

Allah says:

"O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad(peace be upon Him)), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority..." (4:59)

The Noble Prophet (peace be upon Him) said:

"It is obligatory upon a Muslim to listen and obey (to the authority) whether he likes it or not; except when he is asked to do something that implies disobedience (to Allah and His Messenger); when he is asked for a sinful act then he is under no obligation to hear or obey." (Agreed upon)

"Abdullah bin "Umar relates: We were on a journey with the Noble Prophet (peace be upon Him) . We halted at a place when the call-maker to prayer announced that it was time for a congregational prayer. Accordingly we all assembled round the Noble Prophet (peace be upon Him) thereafter addressing us he said:

"All the Prophets who preceded me were under obligation to apprise their people of that which they knew was good, and to caution them against that which they thought was bad. So far as you are concerned (I may tell you) that you will be safe and protected in the early part of your history but subsequently you will face difficulties and catastrophes that will be unpleasant to you (misfortunes will be followed by misfortunes). One calamity will make the earlier one appear light. When one calamity will fall and a believer will say: This has come to ruin me; when it passes away and other one appears, he will say: This is the one which will ruin me. Therefore the person who desires to be immune from the Fire and to enter the Paradise should face his death believing in Allah and the Day of Judgement, and should deal with others in the same way as he wishes to be dealt with. One who has already taken oath of allegiance to one leader (Imam) and has committed his hand and heart to him, should obey him as much as may be possible for him. If somebody else opposes and contests the authority of that leader (Imam), the said opponent should be beheaded." (Muslim)

A man asked the Noble Prophet (peace be upon Him) : O! Messenger of Allah, please let me know if we are placed under such rulers who may require from us their due, but may refuse to give us fully our due; what are your orders (for us in this matter)" The Noble Prophet (peace be upon Him) avoided giving him a reply. The man, however, repeated the question and therefore the Noble Prophet (peace be upon Him) said:

"You should listen to them and obey them. They are answerable for their obligations and you are answerable for yours." (Muslim)

The ruled ones are also under obligation to offer all possible help to their rulers to help them accomplish their missions, and to be a good asset in fulfilling the affairs entrusted to them. Each citizen has got to know his role in the society so that those tasks could be done in the best possible manner.