Hadith Research Libraryمكتبة الحديث والرجال

Chapter 6.0

He who seeks to be a ruler will be held responsible

باب مَنْ سَأَلَ الإِمَارَةَ وُكِلَ إِلَيْهَا

1 hadiths

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7147sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Isma'il bin Ibrahim,Abu Ma'mar al-Hadhlifrom'Abdul Warith bin Sa'id bin DhakwanfromYonus bin Yazid bin Abi al-Nijadfromal-Hasan al-Basrifrom'Abdur Rahman bin Samra

Hadith text · Matn

‏ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ، لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ، فَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا، وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا، وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا، فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ، وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ ‏

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English translation

Narrated `Abdur-Rahman bin Samura:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O `Abdur-Rahman bin Samura! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand, you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking for it, then you will be helped (by Allah) in it. If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then do what is better and make expiation for your oath."

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏