Mishkat al-Masabih

seeking rain by the stars,*the injustice of the ruler, and denial of God's decree.” Ahmad. *This is a reference to the pre-Islamic habit of attributing rain to certain seasons and saying the rain came to them because of a certain star, whereas Muslims ought to recognize that rain comes by God’s favour.

Abu Dharr told that God’s Messenger said to him for six days, “Comprehend, Abu Dharr, what will be said to you afterwards.” Then when the seventh day came he said, “I counsel you to observe fear of God both secretly and openly; when you do wrong do a good deed; do not ask anyone for anything, even if your whip falls;* do not accept a trust; and do not give a decision between two people.” Ahmad. * This means that help is to be asked only from God and that one should not ask another human being for even the smallest help.

Abu Umama reported the Prophet as saying, “No one will rule ten people or more without coming to God who is great and glorious on the day of resurrection with his hand chained to his neck and being set free by his goodness, or brought to destruction by his sin. The beginning of it merits blame, its middle produces regret, and its end is disgrace on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad.

Mu'awiya reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If you are put in a position of authority, Mu'awiya, fear God and act justly.” He said that he kept thinking he would be afflicted by a governorship in accordance with what the Prophet had said till it actually came true. Ahmad. Baihaqi transmitted Mu‘awiya’s tradition in Dalail an-nubuwa.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Seek refuge in God from the beginning of the year seventy and the governorship exercised by boys.”* Ahmad. *This tradition is direction against some of the Umayyads.

Yahya b. Hashim quoted Yunus b. Abu Ishaq who, on his father’s authority, reported God’s Messenger as saying, “As you are so will you have rulers put over you.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman. This tradition has a broken isnad and that its transmission is weak.

Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet as saying, “The sultan is God’s shade on the earth to which each one of His servants who is wronged repairs. When he is just he will have a reward, and it is the duty of the common people to be grateful; but when he acts tyrannically the burden rests on him, and it is the duty of the common people to show endurance.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman.

‘Umar b. al-Khattab reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The one among God’s servants who will have the best position with God on the day of resurrection will be a just and kindly iman, but the man who will have the worst position with God on the day of resurrection will be a tyrannical and harsh imam.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone gives his brother a look which frightens him, God will frighten him on the day of resurrection.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman.

Abud Darda’ reported God’s Messenger as saying that God most high says, "I am God than whom there is no god, Master of kings, King of kings, in whose hands are the hearts of kings. When men obey me I turn the hearts of kings to them with mercy and gentleness, but when they disobey me I turn their hearts against them with displeasure and vengeance, and they inflict grievous punishment upon them. So do not occupy yourselves with invoking curses on kings, but occupy yourselves with remembrance of me and supplication that I may protect you against your kings.” Abu Nu'aim transmitted it in al-Hilya.

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.)

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.)

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.

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.

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.)

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.

‘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.”

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.

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.

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.)

‘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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

‘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.

'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.

Said b. al-Musayyib told that a Muslim and a Jew brought a dispute before ‘Umar, and as he considered the Jew was in the right he pronounced judgment in his favour; but when the Jew said, “I swear by God that you have pronounced just judgment,” he struck him with the whip and asked him what caused him to know that. The Jew replied, “I swear by God that we find in the Torah that no qadi judges rightly without having an angel at his right hand and an angel at his left who direct him and dispose him to what is right as long as he adheres to the right; but when he abandons the right they ascend and leave him.” Malik transmitted it.

Ibn Mauhib told that when ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan asked Ibn ‘Umar to act as qadi among the people he asked the commander of the faithful to excuse him. He asked him what objection he had to that when his father had been holding such an office, and he replied that it was because he had heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone is a qadi and fulfils the office with justice he should rather turn away from it with neither credit nor blame.”* After that he did not ask him again. Tirmidhi transmitted it. * Or, ‘without reward or punishment’. Razin’s version on the authority of Nafi' tells that Ibn ‘Umar said to ‘Uthman, “Commander of the faithful, I shall not pronounce judgment between two men.” He replied, “Your father used to do so.” He said, “If anything was dubious to my father he asked God’s Messenger, and if anything was dubious to God’s Messenger he asked Gabriel, but I can find no one to ask, and I heard God’s Messenger say, ‘He who seeks refuge in God has sought refuge in a great One.’ I also heard him say, ‘Grant refuge to him who seeks refuge in God’, and I seek refuge in God from your making me a qadi." So he excused him, but said, “Do not tell anyone.” Razin.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “What I give you and do not withhold from you I am just distributing, putting it where I have been commanded." Bukhari transmitted it.

Khaula al-Ansariya reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Men will unjustly acquire for themselves property which belongs to God, and on the day of resurrection they will go to hell." Bukhari transmitted it.

'A’isha told that when Abu Bakr became caliph he said, “My people know that my trade was not incapable of supporting my family, but I have become occupied with the affairs of the Muslims, so Abu Bakr’s family will be supported from this property while he works for it on behalf of the Muslims." Bukhari transmitted it.

Buraida reported the Prophet as saying, “When we appoint someone to an administrative post and provide him with an allowance, anything he takes beyond that is unfaithful dealing." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Umar said, “I held an administrative post in the time of God's Messenger, and he gave me payment for it." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

God’s Messenger sent me to the Yemen, but when I set off he sent after me and I was brought back. He then said, “Do you know why I sent for you? Do not take anything without my permission, for it is unfaithful dealing, and he who acts unfaithfully will come on the day of resurrection with the unfaithful deeds he has done. This is why I called you. Now go off to your task." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Al-Mustadrid b. Shaddad told that he heard the Prophet say, “He who acts as a governor for us must get a wife; if he has not a servant he must get one, and if he has not a dwelling he must get one.” A version says, “He who takes anything else than that is acting unfaithfully.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

'Adi b. ‘Amira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If any of you people is put in an administrative post on our behalf and conceals from us a needle or more, he is acting unfaithfully and will bring it on the day of resurrection.” One of the Ansar then got up and said, “Messenger of God, take back from me my post.” He asked what that meant and he told him he had heard him say such and such. He replied, “And I say that. If we appoint anyone to an office he must bring what is connected with it, both little and much. What he is given he may take, but he must refrain from what is kept away from him.” Muslim and Abu Dawud transmitted it, the wording being the latter’s.

'Abdallah b. ‘Amr told that God’s Messenger cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes bribes. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Tirmidhi transmitted it on ‘Abdallah’s authority and on that of Abu Huraira. Ahmad and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it on the authority of Thauban, who added that the raish is the go-between regarding a bribe.

God’s Messenger sent ordering me to collect my weapons and clothing and come to him. I came to him when he was performing ablution, and he said, “I sent for you, ‘Amr, to dispatch you on a matter in which God will keep you safe and grant you booty, and I shall make you an allotment from the spoil.” I replied, “My emigration, Messenger of God, was not for the sake of property, but was only for the sake of God and His Messenger.” He said, “Honest property is good 1 for an honest man.” It is transmitted in Sharh as- sunna, and Ahmad transmitted something similar. His version has “Good is honest property 2 for an honest man.” 1. Ni'imma bil mal as-salih. 2. Ni'ma’ al-mal as-salih.

Abu Umama reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone intercedes for, someone and that one gives him for it a present which he accepts, he has been guilty of a serious type-of usury.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, “If people were given what they asked when they brought a case some would claim the lives and property of others; but the oath must be taken by the defendant.” Muslim transmitted it. In the commentary on his work by Nawawi it says that in Baihaqi’s version with an isnad which is hasan or sahih there is an addition on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas which is traced to the Prophet, “But the proof lies on the plaintiff and the oath must be taken by him who rejects the claim.”

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone swears a firm oath, 1 acting wickedly thereby, and appropriates by it property belonging to a Muslim, God will be angry when he meets Him on the day of resurrection.” And God has sent down the verification of that, “Those who barter for a small price God's covenant and their oaths”2. (Bukhari and Muslim.) 1. Or an oath he is compelled to take. 2. Al-Qur’an, 3:77

Abu Umama reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone appropriates by his oath what rightly belongs to a Muslim, God has made hell necessary for him and deprived him of paradise.” A man asked God’s Messenger whether that applied even if it were a small amount, and he replied, “Even if it were a stick from an arak tree.” Muslim transmitted it.

Umm Salama reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I am only a human being and you bring your disputes to me, some perhaps being more eloquent in their plea than others, so that I give judgment on their behalf according to what I hear from them. Therefore whatever I decide for anyone which by right belongs to his brother he must not take, for I am granting him only a portion of hell.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The man who is most hateful to God is the one who quarrels and disputes most.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God's Messenger gave a decision on the basis of an oath and a single witness. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Alqama b. Wa’il told on his father’s authority that a man from Hadramaut and man from Kinda came to the Prophet, the Hadrami saying, ‘‘Messenger of God, this man has seized land belonging to me,” and the Kindi saying, “It is my land and in my possession; he has no right to it.” The Prophet asked the Hadrami if he had any proof, but he replied that he had none, so he told him that he could have the other swear an oath. He replied, “Messenger of God, the man is a reprobate who would swear to anything and stick at nothing,” but he told him that that was his only recourse. The man went off to take an oath, and when he turned his back God’s Messenger said, “If he swears about his property to take it unjustly he will certainly find God turning away from him when he meets Him.” Muslim transmitted it.