Riyad as-Salihin, 675
Hadith text · Matn
وعنه قال: قلت يا رسول الله ألا تستعملني؟ فضرب بيده على منكبي ثم قال: “يا أبا ذر إنك ضعيف، وإنها أمانة، وإنها يوم القيامة خزي وندامة، إلا من أخذها بحقها، وأدى الذى عليه فيها” ((رواه مسلم)).
English translation
Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I said to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Why do you not appoint me to an (official) position?" He (ﷺ) patted me on the shoulder with his hand and said, "O Abu Dharr, you are a weak man and it is a trust and it will be a cause of disgrace and remorse on the Day of Resurrection except for the one who takes it up with a full sense of responsibility and fulfills what is entrusted to him (discharges its obligations efficiently)." <b>[Muslim]</b>.
References1 variant
- In-Book Reference
- Introduction, Hadith 675
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadiths:</b><br>
1) It is required for any leadership post that the person be strong and trustworthy; {Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy.} In case of failure to find a person possessing these two attributes perfectly, then the best should be appointed.<br>
2) Authority is a great responsibility and tremendous trust. So, whoever assumes it should undertake it properly and not breach the trust that Allah assigned to him.<br>
3) A Muslim should advise his fellow Muslim not to assume a leadership position if he sees certain incompetence or weakness in him. A case in point is the Prophet’s advice to Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) to keep away from leadership.