“The Oppression of Kings (i.e. governments and rulers) is from the Punishments of Allah Ta’ala. The Punishment of Allah Ta’ala cannot be warded off with swords. Verily, safety (from Allah’s punishment) and warding it off are (possible) only by means of Dua, Taubah, Inaabat (turning to Him with repentance), and by eliminating sins. Verily, when the Punishment of Allah is confronted by swords, it (Allah’s Punishment) becomes worse.”
“Wallaah! If people had to adopt Sabr (i.e. morally reform oneself and submit to the Shariah fully) when oppressed by their Sultan, Allah Azza Wa Jal will soon eliminate the oppression. However, when they resort to the sword (i.e. rebellion), they are assigned to it [i.e. Allah abandons them to their swords].”
[Statements of Hasan al-Basri, the great student of the Sahabah (radhiyallahu anhum), which encapsulate the general position of the Salaf-us-Saaliheen and the subsequent Ijma’ of the Fuqaha on rebellion against a tyrannical ruler, the truth of which has been vindicated irrefutably by the terrible events in Syria, Egypt, Libya, etc.]