The word "god" has two meanings in every language. It has a meaning that which is worshipped, and that what is worthy of worship.
"Authority" "Leader" likewise, has two different meanings. For example, the Quran state the unjust would not be made leaders. At other times, it talks about God making leaders who call to the fire like the Pharaoh.
In a sense, Pharaoh was an authority, in the sense he was obeyed and followed and taken as authority. In the same way Jesus is a god, in the sense people take him as a god. In another sense, Pharaoh was not an authority or leader, in the same way Jesus is not a god.
When we come across the verse 4:59, we obviously have to ask, in what sense of authority is the verse intending.
If it's intending all those have authority in the sense, people take them as authorities, then you will have many authorities. For example, if you were a transformer, both Optimus Prime and Megatron would be authorities, and per this verse you must obey them both.
In this sense, both Mauwiya and Ali ibn Abi Talib would be authorities and leaders even while fighting each other. Obviously you cannot obey both of them.
Now if it means in the sense of ought to be followed, ought to be obeyed, having true authority over you....what is the criteria of such authority?
A person maybe a good just and wise, but how would the people know that?
If God appoints a leader, obviously, such authority would stem from God's authority.
In absence of such a leader, I would think, that no person can have authority, but instead government should be formed to implement the will of the masses, and not make the masses subject to the will of a leader.
In this sense, government shouldn't have authority but should be seen as a job in implementing the will of the masses.
In light of this logic, isn't it suggestive that then the Ulil-Amr if this verse is truly revealed by God, are divinely appointed authorities in the same way as Prophets?
"Authority" "Leader" likewise, has two different meanings. For example, the Quran state the unjust would not be made leaders. At other times, it talks about God making leaders who call to the fire like the Pharaoh.
In a sense, Pharaoh was an authority, in the sense he was obeyed and followed and taken as authority. In the same way Jesus is a god, in the sense people take him as a god. In another sense, Pharaoh was not an authority or leader, in the same way Jesus is not a god.
When we come across the verse 4:59, we obviously have to ask, in what sense of authority is the verse intending.
If it's intending all those have authority in the sense, people take them as authorities, then you will have many authorities. For example, if you were a transformer, both Optimus Prime and Megatron would be authorities, and per this verse you must obey them both.
In this sense, both Mauwiya and Ali ibn Abi Talib would be authorities and leaders even while fighting each other. Obviously you cannot obey both of them.
Now if it means in the sense of ought to be followed, ought to be obeyed, having true authority over you....what is the criteria of such authority?
A person maybe a good just and wise, but how would the people know that?
If God appoints a leader, obviously, such authority would stem from God's authority.
In absence of such a leader, I would think, that no person can have authority, but instead government should be formed to implement the will of the masses, and not make the masses subject to the will of a leader.
In this sense, government shouldn't have authority but should be seen as a job in implementing the will of the masses.
In light of this logic, isn't it suggestive that then the Ulil-Amr if this verse is truly revealed by God, are divinely appointed authorities in the same way as Prophets?
