And in another wording: “If he fails to surround them with sincere counsel, he will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise.” In a narration recorded by Muslim: “No leader who is placed in charge of the Muslims and then does not strive for them and advise them sincerely shall enter Paradise along with them.”

[Commentary]
This chapter that Imam al-Nawawi—may Allah have mercy on him—set forth in Riyad al-Salihin is a momentous and important chapter, addressed both to those in authority and to the subjects under them. Each group owes the other rights that must be observed.

As for the rulers, they are obliged to treat the people gently, to show kindness to them, to seek their welfare, to appoint to office those who are qualified, to repel harm from them, and to secure every other benefit for them, for they will be held accountable for their subjects before Allah, the Exalted.

As for the subjects, their duty is to listen and obey in matters that do not involve disobedience to Allah, to offer sincere advice to the rulers, to avoid creating confusion, to refrain from stirring the people up against them, to conceal their shortcomings and highlight their good qualities. Their faults can be pointed out to them privately without broadcasting them to the public, for publicizing the shortcomings of those in authority brings no benefit; rather, it only exacerbates matters, filling hearts with resentment and hatred toward the rulers.