The Quran

Preface

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا أَطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطيعُوا الرَّسولَ وَأُولِي الأَمرِ مِنكُم ۖ فَإِن تَنازَعتُم في شَيءٍ فَرُدّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسولِ إِن كُنتُم تُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ وَاليَومِ الآخِرِ ۚ ذٰلِكَ خَيرٌ وَأَحسَنُ تَأويلًا

Yusuf Ali

O ye who believe! Obey God, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you.¹ If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Messenger, if ye do believe in God and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.

Uli al amr= those charged with authority or responsibility or decision, or the settlement of affairs. All ultimate authority rests in God. Prophets of God derive their authority from Him. As Islam makes no sharp division between sacred and secular affairs, it expects governments to he imbued with righteousness. Likewise Islam expects Muslims to respect the authority of such government for otherwise there can be no order or discipline. (R).