Riyad al-Salihin - Al-Nawawi - (1/291)

Riyad al-SalihinAl-Nawawi

humiliates the ruler (1), Allah will humiliate him.” Reported by al-Tirmidhī, who judged it a sound (ḥasan) hadith.

There are many authentic reports on this subject, some of which have already appeared in earlier chapters.

81 – Chapter: The prohibition of seeking public office and the preference for declining positions of authority when they are not personally obligatory or when no pressing need requires one to accept them

Allah the Exalted says: “That is the Home of the Hereafter which We assign to those who desire neither exaltedness upon the earth nor corruption; the good end belongs to the God-fearing.” (al-Qasas 28:83)

679 – ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told me, “ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Samurah, do not ask for leadership. If you are granted it without asking, you will be helped in carrying it; but if you are granted it because you asked, you will be left to it. And if you swear an oath and then see something better, do what is better and offer expiation for your oath.” Agreed upon.

680 – Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Abu Dharr, I see that you are weak, and I love for you what I love for myself. Never take command over even two people (2), and never assume responsibility for an orphan’s property (3).” Reported by Muslim.

681 – He (Abu Dharr) also said: I asked, “O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me to office?” He placed his hand on my shoulder and said, “Abu Dharr, you are weak; authority is a trust, and on the Day of Resurrection it will be a cause of disgrace and regret—except for one who receives it rightfully and discharges the duties that come with it.” Reported by Muslim.

(1) The present wording is correct; however, al-Tirmidhi’s version reads: “sultan Allah fi al-ard (Allah’s authority on earth).” The hadith is also cited in al-Albani’s Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah, no. 2696. (3) That is, do not seek to assume authority. (2) That is, do not issue commands.

أَهَانُ السُّلْطَانِ (١) أَهَانَهُ اللَّهُ » رواه الترمذي وقال : حديث حسن . وفي الباب أحاديث كثيرة في الصحيح ، وقد سبق بعضها في أبواب . ٨١ - باب النهي عن سؤال الإمارة واختيار ترك الولايات إذا لم يتعين عليه أو تَدْعُ حاجة إليه قال الله تعالى : ﴿ تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴾ [ القصص : ٨٣ ] . ٦٧٩ - وعن أبي سعيد عبد الرحمن بن سمرة رضي الله عنه قال : قال لي رسول الله ﷺ : « يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ : لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ : فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا ، وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا ، وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ ، فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا ، فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ » متفق عليه . ٦٨٠ - وعن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله ﷺ : « يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ ضَعِيفًا ، وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي . لَا تَأْمُرَنَّ (٢) عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ وَلَا تَوَلَّيَنَّ (٣) مَالَ يَتِيمٍ » رواه مسلم . ٦٨١ - وعنه قال : قلت : يا رسول الله ألا تستعملني ؟ فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى مَنْكِبَي ثُمَّ قال : « يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنَّكَ ضَعِيفٌ ، وَإِنَّهَا أَمَانَةٌ ، وَإِنَّهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ خِزْيٌ وَنَدَامَةٌ ، إِلَّا مَنْ أَخَذَهَا بِحَقِّهَا ، وَأَدَّى الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ فِيهَا » رواه مسلم .

(١) كذا والذي في الترمذي : « سلطان الله في الأرض » والحديث في « الصحيحة » (٢٦٩٦) - ن - . (٣) أي : لا تتولين . (٢) أي : لا تأمرن .