سورة هود

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The meaning is the account of a person who comes before a tyrannical ruler and loves the continuation of his rule, in the hope that the ruler will put his hand into his purse and give him some money.

Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq (peace be upon them): The meaning is that group of our followers who have become dependent on the tyrannical and oppressive rulers for their livelihood and sustenance.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): Do not incline to an oppressor, even if he is among your intimate and close ones.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): Whoever acts as the defending advocate of an oppressor, or aids an oppressor in his oppression — when the angel of death casts his shadow over his bedside, he will say to him: "Glad tidings to you of the curse of Allah and the fire of Hell, and it is a most evil destination for him. And whoever praises a tyrannical ruler, in hope of some benefit he may receive from him, or belittles and abases himself before him, he will be the companion of that same tyrannical ruler in the fire."

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): Whoever follows an oppressor in his oppression will be, in Hell, the companion of Haman (the minister of Pharaoh).

Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him): O servants of Allah! Be of those people who reflect. And do not rely upon the world, for Allah the Mighty and Majestic said to Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family): وَ لا تَرْکَنُوا إِلَی الَّذِینَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّکُمُ النَّار [And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you]. Do not rely on the adornments of the world, for the world, for one who relies upon it, is not a secure place of settlement.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), in a single sitting, taught his companions four hundred chapters concerning the welfare of a believer's religion and worldly life... What is the matter with you that you have relied on this world, submitted to this humiliation, and fallen short in that which brings you honour, happiness and strength against the oppressors! You neither feel shame before Allah, nor do you look to your own benefit. Every day you suffer loss and diminishment, yet you do not awaken from the sleep [of heedlessness], and your slackness does not come to an end. You do not notice that your religion is wearing out and becoming threadbare every day, while you are in the heedlessness of this world. Allah says: وَ لا تَرْکَنُوا إِلَی الَّذِینَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّکُمُ النَّارُ وَ ما لَکُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ مِنْ أَوْلِیاءَ ثُمَّ لا تُنْصَرُونَ [And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you, and you have no guardians besides Allah, then you shall not be helped].

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): What is meant by "rukun" (inclination) is affection, giving counsel, and obedience.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): There are two groups of my Ummah who, if they are righteous, my Ummah will be righteous, and if they become corrupt, my Ummah will become corrupt: one is the rulers and the other is the scholars. Allah says: وَ لا تَرْکَنُوا إِلَی الَّذِینَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّکُمُ النَّارُ [And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) in the exegesis of the verse وَلاَ تَرْکَنُواْ إِلَی الَّذِینَ ظَلَمُواْ فَتَمَسَّکُمُ النَّارُ [And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you]: Allah has not made the punishment for inclining to the oppressors eternity in the fire, but He has said you will be cast into the fire, so do not incline to and rely on the oppressors.