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The question

Is exposing the corruption and injustice of rulers in the media considered sedition (fitna) and an impermissible rebellion (khuruj), or is the duty to advise them secretly?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

The methodology of the Sunnis and the Community is to offer sincere advice to rulers, and publicizing a ruler's faults merely for dispraise and censure is forbidden because it is a gateway to discord, unless it is intended to achieve a public good or reduce evil or increase good and righteousness. Mentioning something a person dislikes is forbidden if the intention is merely to dispraise and censure, but if it contains a benefit for Muslims, then it is not forbidden. Enjoining good and forbidding evil upon a ruler is not considered publicizing their faults; rather, it is one of the greatest forms of Jihad, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, one of the greatest forms of Jihad is a word of justice spoken to an oppressive ruler," and "The master of martyrs is Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, and a man who stood before an oppressive imam, enjoined him and forbade him, and was killed by him."

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported

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Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
136024
Imported
Translation status
Source text, unreviewed
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