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?
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."
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