Bismillah.

Rasulallah said: “Anyone who dislikes something from his Ameer should be patient. Anyone who abandons obedience to the Ameer for even a short time dies the death of the Jahiliyya (ignorance).” [Agreed upon]

He also said: "You have to listen to and obey the Ameer, even if he hit your back and took your property, listen and obey.” [Muslim]

He also said in a longer hadith: "... not to fight against him [the ruler] unless we noticed him having open Kufr (disbelief) for which we would have a proof with us from Allah." [Agreed upon]

These are the ahadith which are most often quoted when having this discussion. However, there are a few things which need to be noted before anyone makes a ruling based solely on a few ahadith.

The most important question to ask is, to what extent are we commanded to follow a ruler or Ameer? As per the hadith of Rasulallah regarding travellers, it is an obligation to appoint an Ameer in any group of people, and therefore it is obviously an obligation to listen to that Ameer. However, does this mean that we obey them in every single matter which they command of us?

There was an instance among the Sahabah (radiyallahu 'anhum) where they set out on a journey with one of the Ansar as their Ameer. When this Ameer became angry with his group, he commanded them to collect wood, then to light a fire, then to enter the fire. The Sahabah (ra) were close to doing so, before one of the young Sahabah said that they should first enquire with Rasulallah . When they went back and questioned the Prophet, he told them "Had you entered it, you would never have departed from it [the fire, ie you would have entered Jahannam]. Obedience is only in righteousness." [Bukhari]

From this hadith, and other instances, it becomes clear that obedience to a ruler is not absolute, whether they be the leader of a small group, the king of a nation, or the Amir al-Mu'mineen. Rather, obedience to an Ameer is only as long as their commands are in line with what is commanded by Allah (swt) and his Messenger . This is further demonstrated by the greatest of the Sahabah, Abu Bakr (ra), who, when he was appointed as the first Khaleefah of the Muslims, said to them, "Obey me as long as I obey Allāh and His Prophet; when I disobey Him and his Prophet, obey me not.”