Section 1

Ma'qil b. Yasar told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “Any governor in charge of Muslim subjects who dies while acting dishonestly towards them will be excluded by God from paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم يقولُ: «مَا مِنْ والٍ بلي رَعِيَّةً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَيَمُوتُ وَهُوَ غَاشٌّ لَهُمْ إِلَّا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ»

He told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “Anyone who is asked by God to take charge of subjects and does not protect them with good counsel will not smell the fragrance of paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَسْتَرْعِيهِ اللَّهُ رَعِيَّةً فَلَمْ يَحُطْهَا بِنَصِيحَةٍ إِلَّا لَمْ يجد رَائِحَة الْجنَّة»

‘A’idh b. ‘Amr told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “The worst shepherds are those who are ungentle.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِذِ بْنِ عَمْرٌو قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ شرَّ الرعاءِ الحُطَمَة» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “O God, cause distress to him who has any charge over my people and causes them distress, and be gentle to him who has any charge over my people and is gentle to them.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ وَلِيَ مِنْ أَمْرِ أُمَّتِي شَيْئًا فَشَقَّ عَلَيْهِمْ فَاشْقُقْ عَلَيْهِ وَمَنْ وَلِيَ مِنْ أَمْرِ أُمَّتِي شَيْئًا فَرَفَقَ بهم فارفُقْ بِهِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Those who act justly will be with God on pulpits of light* at the right hand of the Compassionate One, and both His hands are right. They are those who are just in their jurisdiction, towards their people and what is under their charge.” Muslim transmitted it. *This phrase is explained either in a literal sense, or as indicating their high station.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَنَابِرَ مِنْ نُورٍ عَنْ يَمِينِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَكِلْتَا يَدَيْهِ يمينٌ الذينَ يعدِلُونَ فِي حُكمِهم وأهليهم وَمَا ولُوا» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa'id reported God's Messenger as saying, “No prophet is sent by God and no caliph succeeds another without having two close associates, one who commands and urges him to do what is reputable and one who commands and urges him to do what is evil. The one who is protected is he whom God protects.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ وَلَا اسْتَخْلَفَ مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ إِلَّا كَانَتْ لَهُ بِطَانَتَانِ: بِطَانَةٌ تَأْمُرُهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَحُضُّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَبِطَانَةٌ تَأْمُرُهُ بِالشَّرِّ وَتَحُضُّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَالْمَعْصُومُ مَنْ عصمَه اللَّهُ

. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Anas said that Qais b. Sa‘d had a position in relation to the Prophet (ﷺ) like that of a prefect of a district in relation to a governor. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ قَيْسُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ صاحبِ الشُّرَطِ منَ الأميرِ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Bakra told that when God’s Messenger heard the people of Persia had made Kisra’s daughter their queen he said, “People who make a woman their ruler will never prosper.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ قَالَ: لَمَّا بَلَغَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ أَهْلَ فَارِسَ قَدْ مَلَّكُوا عَلَيْهِمْ بِنْتَ كِسْرَى قَالَ: «لَنْ يُفْلِحَ قَوْمٌ وَلَّوْا أَمْرَهُمُ امْرَأَةً» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Al-Harith al-Ash‘ari reported God's Messenger as saying, “I command you five things:

to maintain the community, to listen, to obey, to emigrate, and to fight in God's path. He who secedes from the community as much as a span has cast off the tie of Islam from his neck unless he returns, and he who summons to what the pre-Islamic people believed belongs to the assemblies of jahannam even if he fasts, prays, and asserts that he is a Muslim.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

عَن الحارِثِ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

آمُرُكُمْ بِخَمْسٍ: بِالْجَمَاعَةِ وَالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَالْهِجْرَةِ وَالْجِهَادِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّهُ مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْجَمَاعَةِ قِيدَ شِبْرٍ فَقَدْ خَلَعَ رِبْقَةَ الْإِسْلَامِ مِنْ عُنُقِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يُرَاجِعَ وَمَنْ دَعَا بِدَعْوَى الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَهُوَ مِنْ جُثَى جَهَنَّمَ وَإِنْ صَامَ وَصَلَّى وَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ مُسْلِمٌ

. رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ

Ziyad b. Kusaib al-‘Adawi said:

I was with Abu Bakra under Ibn ‘Amir’s pulpit when he was preaching and wearing thin garments. Abu Bilal said, “Look at our governor wearing the garments of profligates,” whereupon Abu Bakra told him to be quiet, for he had heard God’s Messenger say, “He who despises God’s ruler in the earth will be despised by God.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>hasan gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَن زِيادِ بنِ كُسَيبٍ العَدَوِيِّ قَالَ: كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ تَحْتَ مِنْبَرِ ابْنِ عَامِرٍ وَهُوَ يَخْطُبُ وَعَلَيْهِ ثِيَابٌ رِقَاقٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو بِلَال: انْظُرُوا إِلَى أَمِير نايلبس ثِيَابَ الْفُسَّاقِ. فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرَةَ: اسْكُتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُول: «مَنْ أَهَانَ سُلْطَانَ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَهَانَهُ اللَّهُ» رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ

An-Nawwas b. Sam‘an reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A creature is not to be obeyed when it involves disobedience to the "Creator.” It is transmitted in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>.

وَعَنِ النَّوَّاسِ بْنِ سِمْعَانَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ» . رَوَاهُ فِي شَرْحِ السّنة

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who has been ruler over ten people will be brought on the day of resurrection shackled till justice loosens his chains or tyranny brings him to destruction.”* Darimi transmitted it. *The reference is to the justice or tyranny he has displayed in the administration of his office.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا مِنْ أَمِيرِ عَشرَةٍ إِلا يُؤتى بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَغْلُولًا حَتَّى يُفَكَّ عَنْهُ الْعَدْلُ أَو يوبقه الْجور» . رَوَاهُ الدَّارمِيّ

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Woe to the governors, woe to the chiefs, woe to the superintendents! On the day of resurrection people will wish that their forelocks were tied to the Pleiades, that they were swinging between heaven and earth, and that they had never exercised any rule.”* It is transmitted in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>. Ahmad transmitted it, his version saying, “that their flowing hair were tied to the Pleiades, that they were dangling between heaven and earth, and that they had never been made governors over anything.” * The idea of their swinging between heaven and earth is that they will wish they had been far removed from the world during their lifetime so that they would not have exercised rule.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «وَيْلٌ لِلْأُمَرَاءِ وَيْلٌ لِلْعُرَفَاءِ وَيْلٌ لِلْأُمَنَاءِ لَيَتَمَنَّيَنَّ أَقْوَامٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَنَّ نَوَاصِيَهُمْ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالثُّرَيَّا يَتَجَلْجَلُونَ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَلُوا عَمَلًا» . رَوَاهُ فِي «شَرْحِ السُّنَّةِ» وَرَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَفِي رِوَايَته: «أنَّ ذوائِبَهُم كَانَتْ مُعَلَّقَةً بِالثُّرَيَّا يَتَذَبْذَبُونَ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ولَمْ يَكُونُوا عُمِّلوا على شَيْء»

Ghalib al-Qattan quoted a man who stated on the authority of his father that his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The office of a chief is necessary, for people must have chiefs, but the chiefs will go to hell.”* Abu Dawud transmitted it. * <i>Mirqat</i>. iv, 133 says this means those who are unjust, or is a warning against the temptations to injustice arising from their office.

وَعَنْ غَالِبٍ الْقَطَّانِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «إِن العرافة حق ولابد لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ عُرَفَاءَ وَلَكِنَّ الْعُرْفَاءَ فِي النَّارِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Ka'b b. ‘Ujra told that God's Messenger said to him, “I commend you to God to protect you from the ruler ship of the foolish.” He asked what that was, and God’s Messenger replied, “After my time governors will arise whose falsehood will be believed and who will be assisted in their oppression by those who enter their presence. They have nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with them, and they will never come down to me at the Pond. But they who do not enter their presence, believe their falsehood and help them in their oppression, those belong to me and I belong to them, and those ones will come down to me at the Pond.”* Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it. * This is the tank or pool at which believers will drink on the day of resurrection.

وَعَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أُعِيذُكَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ إِمَارَةِ السُّفَهَاءِ» . قَالَ: وَمَا ذَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «أُمَرَاءُ سَيَكُونُونَ مِنْ بَعْدِي مَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَصَدَّقَهُمْ بِكَذِبِهِمْ وَأَعَانَهُمْ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ فَلَيْسُوا مِنِّي وَلَسْتُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَنْ يَرِدُوا عليَّ الحوضَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَمْ يُصَدِّقْهُمْ بِكَذِبِهِمْ وَلَمْ يُعِنْهُمْ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ فَأُولَئِكَ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُمْ وَأُولَئِكَ يَرِدُونَ عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “He who lives in the desert will become rough, he who follows the chase will become negligent, and he who goes to a ruler will be led astray.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it. Abu Dawud’s version has, “He who attaches himself to a ruler will be led astray, and the nearer a man comes to a ruler the farther he goes from God.”

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنْ سَكَنَ الْبَادِيَةَ جَفَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ الصَّيْدَ غَفَلَ وَمَنْ أَتَى السُّلْطَانَ افْتُتِنَ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي دَاوُدَ: «مَنْ لَزِمَ السُّلْطَانَ افْتُتِنَ وَمَا ازْدَادَ عَبْدٌ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ دُنُوًّا إِلَّا ازْدَادَ من اللَّهِ بُعداً»

Al-Miqdam b. Ma'dikarib told that God’s Messenger struck him on his shoulders and then said, “You will attain success, Qudaim,* if you die without having been a ruler, a secretary, or a chief.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * This form is used as a diminutive of Miqdam, the diminutive being used as an affectionate form of address.

وَعَن المقدامِ بن معْدي كِربَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ضَرَبَ عَلَى مَنْكِبَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَفْلَحْتَ يَا قُدَيْمُ إِنْ مُتَّ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَمِيرًا وَلَا كَاتبا وَلَا عريفا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “<i>Sahib maks</i>, meaning one who tithes people, will not enter paradise.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ صَاحِبُ مَكْسٍ» : يَعْنِي الَّذِي يَعْشُرُ النَّاسَ. رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَأَبُو دَاوُد والدارمي

Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The one who will be dearest to God and nearest to Him in station of the day of resurrection will be a just imam, and the one who will be most hateful to God on the day of resurrection and will receive the severest punishment (or as a version has, will be farthest from Him in station) will be a tyrannical imam.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>hasan gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ أَحَبَّ النَّاسِ إِلَى اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَقْرَبَهُمْ مِنْهُ مَجْلِسًا إِمَامٌ عَادِلٌ وَإِنَّ أَبْغَضَ النَّاسِ إِلَى اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَشَدَّهُمْ عَذَابًا» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «وَأَبْعَدَهُمْ مِنْهُ مَجْلِسًا إِمَامٌ جَائِرٌ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The most excellent <i>jihad</i> is when one speaks a true word in the presence of a tyrannical ruler.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Ahmad and Nasa‘i transmitted it on the authority of Tariq b. Shihab.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَفْضَلُ الْجِهَادِ مَنْ قَالَ كَلِمَةَ حَقٍّ عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَابْن مَاجَه وَرَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ عَنْ طَارِقِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When God has a good purpose for a ruler He appoints for him a sincere minister who reminds him if he forgets and helps him if he remembers; but when God has a different purpose from that for him He appoints for him an evil minister who does not remind him if he forgets and does not help him if he remembers.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِالْأَمِيرِ خَيْرًا جَعَلَ لَهُ وَزِيرَ صِدْقٍ إِنْ نَسِيَ ذَكَّرَهُ وَإِنْ ذَكَرَ أَعَانَهُ. وَإِذَا أَرَادَ بِهِ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ جَعَلَ لَهُ وَزِيرَ سُوءٍ إِنْ نَسِيَ لَمْ يُذَكِّرْهُ وَإِنْ ذَكَرَ لَمْ يُعِنْهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Abu Umama reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, ‘‘When a ruler seeks to make imputations against the people he corrupts them.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّ الْأَمِيرَ إِذَا ابْتَغَى الرِّيبَةَ فِي النَّاسِ أَفْسَدَهُمْ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

Mu'awiya told that he heard God’s Messenger say,” When you look into people’s secrets you corrupt them.”* Baihaqi transmitted it in <i>Shu'ab al-iman</i>. * This is a prohibition of delving into other people’s affairs and disclosing things which should not be disclosed, as this makes life difficult for them. It is the same idea as in the previous tradition.

وَعَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّكَ إِذَا اتَّبَعْتَ عَوْرَاتِ النَّاسِ أَفْسَدْتَهُمْ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي «شُعَبِ الْإِيمَان»

Abu Dharr reported God's Messenger as saying, “How will you deal with <i>imams</i> after my death who appropriate to themselves this booty?” He replied, “I swear by Him who sent you with the truth that I shall put my sword on my shoulder and smite with it till I meet you.” He said, “Shall I not guide you to something better than that? You must show endurance till you meet me.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ وَأَئِمَّةً مِنْ بَعْدِي يَسْتَأْثِرُونَ بِهَذَا الْفَيْءِ؟» . قُلْتُ: أَمَا وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ أَضَعُ سَيْفِي عَلَى عَاتِقِي ثُمَّ أَضْرِبُ بِهِ حَتَّى أَلْقَاكَ قَالَ: «أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى خَيْرٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟ تَصْبِرُ حَتَّى تَلقانِي» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘A’isha reported God's Messenger as saying, “Do you know who will go first on the day of resurrection to the shade of God who is great and glorious?” Then on receiving the reply that God and His Messenger knew best, he said, “Those who when given what is right accept it, when asked for something give freely, and who judge in favour of others as they do for themselves.” Ahmad.

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «أَتَدْرُونَ مَنِ السَّابِقُونَ إِلَى ظِلِّ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ؟» قَالُوا: اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ: «الَّذِينَ إِذَا أُعْطُوا الْحَقَّ قَبِلُوهُ وَإِذَا سُئِلُوهُ بَذَلُوهُ وَحَكَمُوا لِلنَّاسِ كحكمِهم لأنفُسِهم»