Does Islam allow rebelling against or publicly denouncing a Muslim ruler who is unjust?

Ahl al-Sunnah hold that obedience to those in authority is obligatory in what is good (Quran 4:59), and that there is no obedience to any creature in disobedience to the Creator — the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "There is no obedience in sin; obedience is only in what is good" (Sahih al-Bukhari 7257). A sinful or unjust ruler is nonetheless not to be revolted against: "Whoever dislikes something from his ruler, let him be patient, for whoever separates from the ruler by a handspan dies the death of jāhiliyyah" (Sahih al-Bukhari 7053). In the ḥadīth of ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit the Companions pledged to hear and obey in ease and hardship and not to contest the authority of its people, "unless you see open disbelief (kufr bawāḥ) for which you have clear proof from Allah" (Sahih al-Bukhari 7056) — and even then the scholars stipulate the ability to remove it without causing greater harm, a judgement belonging to the people of knowledge and authority rather than to individuals or crowds. This is not a call to silence. "The best jihād is a word of justice before an unjust ruler" (Sunan Abi Dawud 4344), and a number of scholars cite the report of ʿIyāḍ ibn Ghanm — narrated by Aḥmad and by Ibn Abī ʿĀṣim in al-Sunnah — that whoever wishes to advise a ruler should take him aside privately rather than denounce him before a crowd; that is guidance about manner and wisdom, not about staying quiet. So injustice is named as injustice and rights are pursued through advice, scholarship and lawful means; what this manhaj rejects is armed revolt, inciting chaos, and takfīr of specific Muslims, because historically these produced more bloodshed than reform.

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