The Offices of Commander and Qadi

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.”

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

Jabir b. Samura told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “There are three things I fear for my people:

seeking rain by the stars,*the injustice of the ruler, and denial of God's decree.” Ahmad. *This is a reference to the pre-Islamic habit of attributing rain to certain seasons and saying the rain came to them because of a certain star, whereas Muslims ought to recognize that rain comes by God’s favour.

Abu Dharr told that God’s Messenger said to him for six days, “Comprehend, Abu Dharr, what will be said to you afterwards.” Then when the seventh day came he said, “I counsel you to observe fear of God both secretly and openly; when you do wrong do a good deed; do not ask anyone for anything, even if your whip falls;* do not accept a trust; and do not give a decision between two people.” Ahmad. * This means that help is to be asked only from God and that one should not ask another human being for even the smallest help.

Abu Umama reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “No one will rule ten people or more without coming to God who is great and glorious on the day of resurrection with his hand chained to his neck and being set free by his goodness, or brought to destruction by his sin. The beginning of it merits blame, its middle produces regret, and its end is disgrace on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad.

Mu'awiya reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If you are put in a position of authority, Mu'awiya, fear God and act justly.” He said that he kept thinking he would be afflicted by a governorship in accordance with what the Prophet (ﷺ) had said till it actually came true. Ahmad. Baihaqi transmitted Mu‘awiya’s tradition in <i>Dalail an-nubuwa</i>.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Seek refuge in God from the beginning of the year seventy and the governorship exercised by boys.”* Ahmad. *This tradition is direction against some of the Umayyads.

Yahya b. Hashim quoted Yunus b. Abu Ishaq who, on his father’s authority, reported God’s Messenger as saying, “As you are so will you have rulers put over you.” Baihaqi transmitted in <i>Shuab al iman</i>. This tradition has a broken <i>isnad</i> and that its transmission is weak.

Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “The <i>sultan</i> is God’s shade on the earth to which each one of His servants who is wronged repairs. When he is just he will have a reward, and it is the duty of the common people to be grateful; but when he acts tyrannically the burden rests on him, and it is the duty of the common people to show endurance.” Baihaqi transmitted in <i>Shuab al iman</i>.

‘Umar b. al-Khattab reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The one among God’s servants who will have the best position with God on the day of resurrection will be a just and kindly <i>iman</i>, but the man who will have the worst position with God on the day of resurrection will be a tyrannical and harsh <i>imam</i>.” Baihaqi transmitted in <i>Shuab al iman</i>.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone gives his brother a look which frightens him, God will frighten him on the day of resurrection.” Baihaqi transmitted in <i>Shuab al iman</i>.

Abud Darda’ reported God’s Messenger as saying that God most high says, "I am God than whom there is no god, Master of kings, King of kings, in whose hands are the hearts of kings. When men obey me I turn the hearts of kings to them with mercy and gentleness, but when they disobey me I turn their hearts against them with displeasure and vengeance, and they inflict grievous punishment upon them. So do not occupy yourselves with invoking curses on kings, but occupy yourselves with remembrance of me and supplication that I may protect you against your kings.” Abu Nu'aim transmitted it in <i>al-Hilya</i>.