Translation: Aboo Sahl Dhikrullaah Adebayo
Shaykh Saalih Al Uthaymeen( 'alayhi rahmatuLlahi) narrated a happening to his students:
A king from the tribe of Umayyah heard the lamentation of the masses about him and his governance. Thus, he summoned the noble men among them, confronted them and spoke to them.
He said to them: You want us to be like Aboo Bakr and Umar?
They said: Yes, you are Khalifah as they were Khulafaah (pl. khalifah).
He said: If you all be like the people of Aboo Bakr and 'Umar, we would be like Aboo Bakr and 'Umar.
This was a great response. If the people change, Allah will surely change their leaders (like president, governor, representatives, etc) for you are as they govern you.
However, it is not appropriate that people should desire from the leaders to be like the khulafaah, yet they are far from what the people of the khulafaah were upon. Allah, The All Wise,The Mighty and The Sublime, says:
And thus We do make the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.) Auliya' (supporters and helpers) one to another (in committing crimes etc.), because of that which they used to earn(Al An'aam:129).
A man from the khawaarij who revolted against 'Aliyy bn Abee Taalib came to 'Aliyy and said to him: O 'Aliyy, why did the people change over you, while they did not change over Aboo Bakr and 'Umar?
He ('Aliyy) replied: Because the people of Aboo Bakr and 'Umar were I and the like of me, while my people(now) are you and the like of you.
(Sharh Riyaadus Saaliheen 2/425-426)
