18. The Offices of Commander and Qadi

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا بَعَثَ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فِي بَعْضِ أَمْرِهِ قَالَ: «بَشِّرُوا وَلَا تُنَفِّرُوا وَيَسِّرُوا وَلَا تُعَسِّرُوا»

Abu Musa told that when God’s Messenger sent one of his companion’s to attend to some of his affairs he said, “Gladden people and do not scare them; make things easy and do not make them difficult. ’ (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «يَسِّرُوا وَلَا تُعَسِّرُوا وَسَكِّنُوا وَلَا تُنَفِّرُوا»

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Make things easy and do not make them difficult; make people calm and do not scare them.’’ (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن ابنِ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ قَالَ: بَعَثَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ جَدَّهُ أَبَا مُوسَى وَمُعَاذًا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ: «يَسِّرَا وَلَا تُعَسِّرَا وَبَشِّرَا وَلَا تُنَفِّرَا وَتَطَاوَعَا وَلَا تَخْتَلِفَا»

Abu Burda* told that when the Prophet sent his grandfather Abu Musa and Mu'adh to the Yemen he said, “Make things easy and do not make them difficult; gladden and do not scare; comply with one another and do not disagree.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * This should be Sa'id b. Abu Burda on his father’s authority. C f. Bukhari, Maghazi, 60.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " إِنَّ الْغَادِرَ يُنْصَبُ لَهُ لِوَاءٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُقَالُ: هَذِهِ غَدْرَةُ فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ "

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The perfidious one will have a standard set up for him on the day of resurrection, and announcement will be made that this is the perfidy* of so and so, the son of so and so.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * This is explained as meaning the sign, result, or punishment of his perfidy.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لِكُلِّ غَادِرٍ لِوَاءٌ يومَ القيامةِ يُعرَفُ بِهِ»

Anas reported the Prophet as saying, “Every perfidious one will have a standard on the day of resurrection by which he will be recognized.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لِكُلِّ غَادِرٍ لِوَاءٌ عِنْدَ اسْتِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «لِكُلِّ غَادِرٍ لِوَاءٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرْفَعُ لَهُ بِقَدْرِ غَدْرِهِ أَلا وَلَا غادر أعظم مِن أميرِ عامِّةٍ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa'id reported the Prophet as saying, “Every perfidious one will have a standard at his anus on the day of resurrection.” A version has, “On the day of resurrection every perfidious one will have a standard which will be raised for him according to the amount of his perfidy, and no one is more perfidious than the ruler of a community.” Muslim transmitted it.

عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: « (مَنْ وَلَّاهُ اللَّهُ شَيْئًا مِنْ أَمْرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَاحْتَجَبَ دُونَ حَاجَتِهِمْ وَخَلَّتِهِمْ وَفَقْرِهِمُ احْتَجَبَ اللَّهُ دُونَ حَاجَتِهِ وَخَلَّتِهِ وَفَقْرِهِ» . فَجَعَلَ مُعَاوِيَةُ رَجُلًا عَلَى حَوَائِجِ النَّاسِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُ وَلِأَحْمَدَ: «أَغْلَقَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ دُونَ خَلَّتِهِ وَحَاجَّتِهِ وَمَسْكَنَتِهِ»

‘Amr b. Murra told that he said to Mu'awiya he had heard God’s Messenger say, "If anyone is put by God in authority over any matter concerning the Muslims and turns away from dealing with their need, destitution and poverty, God will turn away from dealing with his need, destitution and poverty.” Mu'awiya then appointed a man to deal with the needs of the people. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it. A version by Ahmad and Tirmidhi has, “God will lock the gates of heaven upon his destitution, need and poverty.”

عَنْ أَبِي الشَّمَّاخِ الْأَزْدِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ عَمٍّ لَهُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ أَتَى مُعَاوِيَةَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ وَلِيَ مِنْ أَمْرِ النَّاسِ شَيْئًا ثُمَّ أَغْلَقَ بَابَهُ دُونَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَوِ الْمَظْلُومِ أَوْ ذِي الْحَاجَةِ أَغْلَقَ اللَّهُ دُونَهُ أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِهِ عِنْدَ حَاجَتِهِ وَفَقْرِهِ أَفْقَرَ مَا يَكُونُ إليهِ»

Abush Shammakh al-Azdi was told by a cousin of his on his father’s side who was a companion of the Prophet that he had gone to Mu'awiya, entered his presence and told him he had heard God's Messenger say, "If one who has been given any authority over the people locks his gate against Muslims, or one who has been wronged, or one who has a need, God will lock the gates of His mercy against him when he has a need or is in poverty, however much he is in need of Him.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman.

وَعَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا بَعَثَ عُمَّالَهُ شَرَطَ عَلَيْهِمْ: أَنْ لَا تَرْكَبُوا بِرْذَوْنًا وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا نَقِيًّا وَلَا تَلْبَسُوا رَقِيقًا وَلَا تُغْلِقُوا أَبْوَابَكُمْ دُونَ حَوَائِجِ النَّاسِ فَإِنْ فَعَلْتُمْ شَيْئًا مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ حَلَّتْ بِكُمُ الْعُقُوبَةُ ثُمَّ يُشَيِّعُهُمْ. رَوَاهُمَا الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ

When 'Umar b. al-Khattab sent out his governors he laid on them the condition that they should not ride a horse not of Arabian breed,* or eat white bread, or wear fine clothing, or shut their gates against the needs of the people, telling them that if they did any of these things punishment would befall them. Then he would accompany them some distance. Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman. * Birdhaun. This word is used of a horse of poor breed, a horse not of Arab breed, or more specifically a Turkish horse. It is suggested that the reason for the wording is to warn governors against riding horses, this being a sign of pride. Prohibiting a breed considered second-rate makes it obvious that to ride horses of the best Arab breed would be even a greater sign of pride.

عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «لَا يَقْضِيَنَّ حَكَمٌ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ وَهُوَ غَضْبَانُ»

Abu Bakra told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “No judge must give judgment between two people when he is angry.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَا: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا حَكَمَ الْحَاكِمُ فَاجْتَهَدَ فَأَصَابَ فَلَهُ أَجْرَانِ وَإِذَا حَكَمَ فَاجْتَهَدَ فَأَخْطَأَ فلهُ أجرٌ واحدٌ»

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr and Abu Huraira reportad God’s Messenger as saying, “When a judge gives a decision having tried his best to decide correctly and is right, he will have a double reward; and when he gives a decision having tried his best to decide correctly and is wrong, he will have a single reward.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مِنْ جُعِلَ قَاضِيًا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَقَدْ ذُبِحَ بِغَيْرِ سِكِّينٍ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who has been appointed a qadi among the people has been killed without a knife.”* Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it. *This phrase has troubled commentators. Perhaps the best explanation is that he will have reason to repent of his manner of life, for there are many traditions which express disapproval of undertaking such an office. A somewhat ingenious explanation is that his evil characteristics must be cut away, this being a kind of slaughter.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنِ ابْتَغَى الْقَضَاءَ وَسَأَلَ وُكِلَ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ أُكْرِهَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكًا يُسَدِّدُهُ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَابْن مَاجَه

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone desires and asks for the office of qadi he will be left to his own devices, but if anyone is forced to accept it God will send down an angle who will direct him aright.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ بُرَيْدَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " الْقُضَاةُ ثَلَاثَةٌ: وَاحِدٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَاثْنَانِ فِي النَّارِ فَأَمَّا الَّذِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَرَجُلٌ عَرَفَ الْحَقَّ فَقَضَى بِهِ وَرَجُلٌ عَرَفَ الْحَقَّ فَجَارَ فِي الْحُكْمِ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ وَرَجُلٌ قَضَى لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى جَهْلٍ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ ". رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

Buraida reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Qadis are of three types, one of whom will go to paradise and two to hell. The one who will go to paradise is a man who knows what is right and gives judgment accordingly; but a man who knows what is right and acts tyrannically in his judgment will go to hell, and a man who gives judgment for people when he is ignorant will go to hell.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ طَلَبَ قَضَاءَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ حَتَّى يَنَالَهُ ثُمَّ غَلَبَ عَدْلُهُ جَوْرَهُ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ وَمَنْ غَلَبَ جَوْرُهُ عَدْلَهُ فَلَهُ النَّار» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone seeks the office of qadi among Muslims till he gets it and his justice prevails over his tyranny, he will go to paradise; but the man whose tyranny prevails over his justice will go to hell." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمَّا بَعَثَهُ إِلَى الْيَمين قَالَ: «كَيْفَ تَقْضِي إِذَا عَرَضَ لَكَ قَضَاءٌ؟» قَالَ: أَقْضِي بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: «فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ؟» قَالَ: فَبِسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ؟» قَالَ: أَجْتَهِدُ رَأْيِي وَلَا آلُو قَالَ: فَضَرَبَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى صَدْرِهِ وَقَالَ: «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَفَّقَ رَسُولَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ لِمَا يَرْضَى بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد والدارمي

Mu'adh b. Jabal told that when God’s Messenger sent him to the Yemen he asked him how he would judge when the occasion arose, and he replied that he would judge in accordance with God’s Book. He asked what he would do if he could not find guidance in God’s Book, and he replied that he would act in accordance with God’s Messenger’s sunnah. He asked what he would do if he could find no guidance in God’s Messenger’s sunnah, and he replied that he would do his best to form an opinion and spare no pains. God’s Messenger then tapped him on the breast and said, “Praise be to God who has disposed His Messenger’s Messenger to something with which God’s Messenger is pleased!" Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

عَن عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ قَاضِيًا فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تُرْسِلُنِي وَأَنَا حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ وَلَا عِلْمَ لِي بِالْقَضَاءِ؟ فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ وَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ إِذَا تَقَاضَى إِلَيْكَ رَجُلَانِ فَلَا تَقْضِ لِلْأَوَّلِ حَتَّى تَسْمَعَ كَلَامَ الْآخَرِ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَى أَنْ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الْقَضَاءُ» . قَالَ: فَمَا شَكَكْتُ فِي قَضَاءٍ بَعْدُ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

God's Messenger sent me to the Yemen as qadi and I said, “Messenger of God, are you sending me when I am young and have no knowledge of the duties of qadi He replied, “God will guide your heart and keep your tongue true. When two men bring a case before you do not decide in favour of the first till you hear what the other has to say, for it is best that you should have a clear idea of the best decision." He said he had no doubts about a decision afterwards. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " مَا مِنْ حَاكِمٍ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ إِلَّا جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَلَكٌ آخِذٌ بِقَفَاهُ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَإِنْ قَالَ: أَلْقِهْ أَلْقَاهُ فِي مَهْوَاةٍ أَرْبَعِينَ خَرِيفًا ". رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ والْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَان

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No judge who pronounces judgment among men will fail to come on the day of resurrection with an angel holding the back of his neck. He* will then raise his head to heaven, and if God gives orders to cast him down, he will cast him into an abyss forty years deep." Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-lman transmitted it. *i.e. the angel.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَيَأْتِيَنَّ عَلَى الْقَاضِي الْعَدْلِ يومُ القيامةِ يَتَمَنَّى أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَقْضِ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ فِي تَمْرَة قطّ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

‘A’isha reported God's Messenger as saying, “The day of resurrection will come to the just qadi and he will wish he had never given judgment between two men about a single date.”* Ahmad transmitted it. * He will wish he had never given judgment even about the most insignificant matters.

وَعَنْ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْقَاضِي مَا لَمْ يَجُرْ فَإِذَا جَارَ تَخَلَّى عَنْهُ وَلَزِمَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «فَإِذَا جارَ وَكله إِلَى نَفسه»

'Abdallah b. Abu Aufa reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God is with the qadi as long as he is not tyrannical, but when he is He departs from him and the devil attaches himself to him.” A version has, “When he is tyrannical He leaves him to his own devices.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.