The virtue of a just ruler and the punishment of a tyrant; Encouragement to treat those under one's authority with kindness and the prohibition against causing them hardship

It has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Behold! the Dispensers of justice will be seated on the pulpits of light beside God, on the right side of the Merciful, Exalted and GlorioUS. Either side of the Being is the right side both being equally mrneritorious. (The Dispensers of justice are) those who do justice in their rules, in matters relating to their families and in all that they undertake to do.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ عَمْرٍو، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ دِينَارٍ - عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَوْسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَفِي حَدِيثِ زُهَيْرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " إِنَّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَنَابِرَ مِنْ نُورٍ عَنْ يَمِينِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكِلْتَا يَدَيْهِ يَمِينٌ الَّذِينَ يَعْدِلُونَ فِي حُكْمِهِمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ وَمَا وَلُوا " .

It has been reported on the authority of Abd al-Rahman b. Shumasa who said: I came to A'isha to inquire something from her. She said: From which people art thou? I said: I am from the people of Egypt. She said: What was the behaviour of your governor towards you in this war of yours? I said: We did not experience anything bad from him. If the camel of a man from us died, he would bestow on him a camel. If any one of us lost his slave, he would give him a slave. If anybody was in need of the basic necessities of life, he would provide them with provisions. She said: Behold! the treatment that was meted out to my brother, Muhammad b. Abu Bakr, does not prevent me from telling you what I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said in this house of mine: O God, who (happens to) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is hard upon them-be Thou hard upon him, and who (happens to) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is kind to them-be Thou kind to him.

حَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، بْنِ شُمَاسَةَ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ عَائِشَةَ أَسْأَلُهَا عَنْ شَىْءٍ، فَقَالَتْ مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ فَقُلْتُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ مِصْرَ . فَقَالَتْ كَيْفَ كَانَ صَاحِبُكُمْ لَكُمْ فِي غَزَاتِكُمْ هَذِهِ فَقَالَ مَا نَقَمْنَا مِنْهُ شَيْئًا إِنْ كَانَ لَيَمُوتُ لِلرَّجُلِ مِنَّا الْبَعِيرُ فَيُعْطِيهِ الْبَعِيرَ وَالْعَبْدُ فَيُعْطِيهِ الْعَبْدَ وَيَحْتَاجُ إِلَى النَّفَقَةِ فَيُعْطِيهِ النَّفَقَةَ فَقَالَتْ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لاَ يَمْنَعُنِي الَّذِي فَعَلَ فِي مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَخِي أَنْ أُخْبِرَكَ مَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ فِي بَيْتِي هَذَا " اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ وَلِيَ مِنْ أَمْرِ أُمَّتِي شَيْئًا فَشَقَّ عَلَيْهِمْ فَاشْقُقْ عَلَيْهِ وَمَنْ وَلِيَ مِنْ أَمْرِ أُمَّتِي شَيْئًا فَرَفَقَ بِهِمْ فَارْفُقْ بِهِ " .

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abd al-Rahman b. Shumasa with another chain of transmitters.

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، عَنْ حَرْمَلَةَ، الْمِصْرِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ شُمَاسَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ

It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar that the Holy Prophet (May be upon him) said: Beware. every one of you is a shepherd and every one is answerable with regard to his flock. The Caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs). A man is a guardian over the members of his family and shal be questioned about them (as to how he looked after their physical and moral well-being). A woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children). A slave is a guardian over the property of his master and shall be questioned about it (as to how he safeguarded his trust). Beware, every one of you is a guardian and every one of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " أَلاَ كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ فَالأَمِيرُ الَّذِي عَلَى النَّاسِ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ وَالرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْهُمْ وَالْمَرْأَةُ رَاعِيَةٌ عَلَى بَيْتِ بَعْلِهَا وَوَلَدِهِ وَهِيَ مَسْئُولَةٌ عَنْهُمْ وَالْعَبْدُ رَاعٍ عَلَى مَالِ سَيِّدِهِ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْهُ أَلاَ فَكُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ " .

This tradition has been narrated through more;
than one chain of transmitters.

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْحَارِثِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، - يَعْنِي الْقَطَّانَ - كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عُثْمَانَ - ح وَحَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أُسَامَةُ، كَلُّ هَؤُلاَءِ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ اللَّيْثِ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، . قَالَ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، بِهَذَا مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ اللَّيْثِ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، .

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn 'Umar, but there is (a slight change of wording) in the hadith transmitted through Zuhri that he said:" I think that he (the narrator) said: The man is a custodian of the wealth of his father, and he would be answerable for what is in his custody."

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ح. وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ . بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ وَزَادَ فِي حَدِيثِ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ وَحَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ قَالَ " الرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ فِي مَالِ أَبِيهِ وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ " .

A hadith having the same meaning has been transmitted on the authority of 'Abdullah b. 'Umar.

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي رَجُلٌ، سَمَّاهُ وَعَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ عَنْ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِهَذَا الْمَعْنَى .

It has been narrated on the authority of Hasan who said: Ubaidullah b Ziyad visited Ma'qil b. Yasir al-Muzani in his last iliness. Ma'qil said (to him): I am narrating to you a tradition I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. If I knew that I am to survive this illness. I would, not narrate it to you. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: If God appointed anyone ruler over a people and he died while he was still treacherous to his people, God would forbid his entry into Paradige.

وَحَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَشْهَبِ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ عَادَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ مَعْقِلَ بْنَ يَسَارٍ الْمُزَنِيَّ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ فَقَالَ مَعْقِلٌ إِنِّي مُحَدِّثُكَ حَدِيثًا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ لِي حَيَاةً مَا حَدَّثْتُكَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ " مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَسْتَرْعِيهِ اللَّهُ رَعِيَّةً يَمُوتُ يَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَهُوَ غَاشٌّ لِرَعِيَّتِهِ إِلاَّ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ " .

It has been narrated through a different chain of transmitters on the authority of Hasan who said: Ibn, Ziyad paid a visit to Ma'qil b. Yasir who was seriously ill. Here follows the same tradition as has gone before with the addition that Ibn Ziyad asked: Why didn't you narrate this tradition to me before this day? Ma'qil reprimanded him and said: I did not narrate it to you or I was not going to narrate it to you.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ دَخَلَ ابْنُ زِيَادٍ عَلَى مَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ وَهُوَ وَجِعٌ . بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ أَبِي الأَشْهَبِ وَزَادَ قَالَ أَلاَّ كُنْتَ حَدَّثْتَنِي هَذَا، قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ قَالَ مَا حَدَّثْتُكَ أَوْ، لَمْ أَكُنْ لأُحَدِّثَكَ .

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Malik that Ubaidullah b. Ziyad visited Ma'qil b. Yaser in the latter's illness. Ma'qil said to him: I am narrating to you a tradition. If I were not at death's door, I would not narrate it to you. I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) say: A ruler who, having obtained control over the affairs of the Muslims, does not strive for their betterment and does not serve them sincerely shall not enter Paradise with them.

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو غَسَّانَ الْمِسْمَعِيُّ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمَلِيحِ، أَنَّإِنِّي مُحَدِّثُكَ بِحَدِيثٍ لَوْلاَ أَنِّي فِي الْمَوْتِ لَمْ أُحَدِّثْكَ بِهِ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ " مَا مِنْ أَمِيرٍ يَلِي أَمْرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ثُمَّ لاَ يَجْهَدُ لَهُمْ وَيَنْصَحُ إِلاَّ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ مَعَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ " .

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu al-Aswad who said: My father related to me that Ma'qil b. Yasir fell ill. 'Ubaidullah b. Ziyad called on him to inquire after his health. Here follows the tradition as narrated by Hasan from Ma'qil.

وَحَدَّثَنَا عُقْبَةُ بْنُ مُكْرَمٍ الْعَمِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَوَادَةُ بْنُ أَبِي، الأَسْوَدِ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّ مَعْقِلَ بْنَ يَسَارٍ، مَرِضَ فَأَتَاهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ يَعُودُهُ . نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ مَعْقِلٍ، .