are inherently covetous and cannot endure anyone who seizes their rights. Yet the Prophet ﷺ guided them to a course that could yield benefit: we should discharge what we owe the rulers—hearing and obeying them, refraining from disputing their authority, and so forth—and then ask Allah for what is due to us. When we supplicate, “O Allah, guide them so that they may give us our rights,” this brings about good from two directions.

This hadith is also proof of the Messenger’s ﷺ prophethood, for he foretold something that later occurred. From long ago the caliphs and governors have appropriated the community’s wealth: we see them eating extravagantly, drinking extravagantly, dressing extravagantly, and living and travelling in extravagance, having taken people’s wealth for their own private interests. Even so, this does not justify withdrawing from obedience or rebelling against them; rather, we ask Allah for what belongs to us and fulfil the duties incumbent upon us.

The report likewise showcases the exercise of wisdom in matters that could spark unrest. There is no doubt that a ruler’s monopolizing of wealth to the exclusion of the subjects naturally incites them to rise up and claim their rights. Nevertheless, the Messenger ﷺ commanded patience in this regard, enjoined us to carry out what we owe, and instructed us to petition Allah for what is ours.

As for the hadith of Usayd ibn Ḥuḍayr (may Allah be pleased with him), it mirrors the narration of ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd: the Prophet ﷺ said, “There will indeed be favoritism,” but he added, “Be patient until you meet me at the Basin.”

That is, remain patient and do not challenge the rulers’ authority until you meet me at the Basin; if you persevere, one of the rewards Allah will grant you for your patience is that He will allow you to drink from