Obligation of Rulers to show Kindness to their Subjects

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "All of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards. The ruler is a guardian and responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian and responsible for his family; the woman is a guardian and is responsible for her husbands house and his offspring; and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: “كلكم راع، وكلكم مسئول عن رعيته: الإمام راع ومسؤول عن رعيته، والرجل راع في أهله ومسؤول عن رعيته، والمرأة راعية في بيت زوجها ومسؤولة عن رعيتها، والخادم راع في مال سيده ومسؤول عن رعيته وكلكم راع ومسؤول عن رعيته” ((متفق عليه))

Abu Ya'la Ma'qil bin Yasar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Any slave whom Allah makes him in charge of subjects and he dies while he is not sincere to them, Allah will make Jannah unlawful for him."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration is: Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "He who does not look after his subjects with goodwill and sincerity, will be deprived of the fragrance of Jannah."

A narration in Muslim is: Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "A ruler who, having control over the affairs of the Muslims, does not strive diligently for their betterment and does not serve them sincerely, will not enter Jannah with them."

وعن أبى يعلى معقل بن يسار رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ: يقول: “ما من عبد يستر عليه الله رعية، يموت يوم يموت وهو غاش لرعيته، إلا حرم الله عليه الجنة” ((متفق عليه)) ((وفي رواية: "فلم يحطها بنصحه لم يجد رائحة الجنة"))وفي رواية لمسلم: "ما من أمير يلى أمور المسلمين، ثم لا يجهد لهم وينصح لهم، إلا لم يدخل معهم الجنة".

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
I heard the the Messenger of Allah ﷺ supplicating in my house: "O Allah! Treat harshly those who rule over my Ummah with harshness, and treat gently those who rule over my Ummah with gentleness."

[Muslim].

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول في بيتى هذا: “اللهم من ولى من أمر أمتى شيئاً فشق عليهم، فاشقق عليه ومن ولى من أمر أمتى شيئاً، فرفق بهم، فارفق به” ((رواه مسلم)).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Banu Isra'il were ruled by the Prophets. When one Prophet died, another succeeded him. There will be no Prophet after me. Caliphs will come after me, and they will be many." The Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah, what do you command us to do?" He said, "Fulfill the pledge of allegiance to which is sworn first (then swear allegiance to the others). Concede to them their due rights and ask Allah that which is due to you. Allah will call them to account in respect of the subjects whom He had entrusted to them."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: "كانت بنو إسرائيل تسوسهم الأنبياء، كلما هلك نبى خلفه نبى، وإنه لا نبى بعدى وسيكون بعدى خلفاء فيكثرون” قالوا: يا رسول الله فما تأمرنا؟ قال: "أوفوا ببيعة الأول فالأول، ثم أعطوهم حقهم، واسألوا الله الذى لكم ، فإن الله سائلهم عما استرعاهم” ((متفق عليه))

'Aidh bin 'Amr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I visited 'Ubaidullah bin Ziyad and said to him: "Dear son, I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, 'The worst of rulers are those who treat their subjects harshly. Beware, lest you should be one of them."'

[Al-Bukhari].

وعن عائذ بن عمرو رضي الله عنه أنه دخل على عبيد الله بن زياد، فقال له: أى بنى، إنى سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: “إن شر الرعاء الحطمة” فإياك أن تكون منهم. ((متفق عليه))