Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 59
sahih

Narrated Abu Huraira:

While the Prophet (ﷺ) was saying something in a gathering, a Bedouin came and asked him, "When would the Hour (Doomsday) take place?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) continued his talk, so some people said that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had heard the question, but did not like what that Bedouin had asked. Some of them said that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had not heard it. When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished his speech, he said, "Where is the questioner, who inquired about the Hour (Doomsday)?" The Bedouin said, "I am here, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday)." The Bedouin said, "How will that be lost?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday.)"

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُلَيْحٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنِي هِلاَلُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ بَيْنَمَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي مَجْلِسٍ يُحَدِّثُ الْقَوْمَ جَاءَهُ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ مَتَى السَّاعَةُ فَمَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُحَدِّثُ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ سَمِعَ مَا قَالَ، فَكَرِهَ مَا قَالَ، وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَلْ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ، حَتَّى إِذَا قَضَى حَدِيثَهُ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَيْنَ ـ أُرَاهُ ـ السَّائِلُ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ هَا أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِذَا ضُيِّعَتِ الأَمَانَةُ فَانْتَظِرِ السَّاعَةَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ كَيْفَ إِضَاعَتُهَا قَالَ ‏"‏ إِذَا وُسِّدَ الأَمْرُ إِلَى غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ فَانْتَظِرِ السَّاعَةَ ‏"‏‏.‏

Isnad

8 transmitters
  1. 1Muhammad bin Snan bin Yazidal-Basra,Baghdad · d. 271 AH
  2. 2Falayh bin SuliamanMedina · d. 168 AH
  3. 3Ibrahim bin al-Mandhir bin 'AbdullahMedina · d. 236 AH
  4. 4Muhammad bin Flyh bin SulaimanMedina · d. 197 AH
  5. 5Falayh bin SuliamanMedina · d. 168 AH
  6. 6Hilal bin Abi MaymunaMedina · d. > 110 AH
  7. 7'Ata ibn YasarMedinah, Egypt · d. 103 AH
  8. 8Abu HurairahMakkah/Medina/Yemen/Bahrain · d. 59 AH/681 CE
References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 3, Hadith 1
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 1, Book 3, Hadith 56 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to teach the people about their religion and answer their questions, so as to make the truth clear to them and explain to them that which would benefit them both in this world and the hereafter, and some matters of the unseen of which Allah informed him. In this hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was addressing his companions and teaching them. A Bedouin man – one of those who lived in the desert – came and asked: At what time will the Day of Resurrection begin? But the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not answer him straight away; rather he completed what he was saying to the people. This is an example of his good etiquette, as he did not interrupt what he was saying about the first topic until he had finished it and made sure that his listeners understood what he was saying. Some of the people thought that he did not like this question, and others thought that he had not heard what the Bedouin had said, and that was why he did not answer him. But when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had finished what he was saying, he turned towards the Bedouin and answered his question, saying that it would happen when trust was lost. Then he explained that by saying: “When positions of authority are given to those who are not qualified for them”, meaning: when people who are not religiously committed and are not honest take on positions of authority, and those who help them to commit wrongdoing and evil actions also take on such positions. In that case, the rulers will have neglected the trust which Allah enjoined upon them to the extent that one who is dishonest will be trusted, and one who is honest will be mistrusted. This can only happen when ignorance is prevalent and the people of truth fail to adhere to the truth. We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound. This hadith indicates that one should be kind to one who asks a question, even if he is rough in his manner of asking or he behaves in an ignorant manner. It also indicates that one should show care for questioners and seekers of knowledge, and show interest in them, and answer their questions. It also indicates that one of the highest levels of honesty and trustworthiness is when qualified people are appointed to positions of authority, and failing to do that is failing to adhere to the trust. And it indicates that the questioner may ask further questions of the knowledgeable person if he does not understand the answer..
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