The Book on Government

وَحَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَشْهَبِ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ عَادَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ مَعْقِلَ بْنَ يَسَارٍ الْمُزَنِيَّ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ فَقَالَ مَعْقِلٌ إِنِّي مُحَدِّثُكَ حَدِيثًا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ لِي حَيَاةً مَا حَدَّثْتُكَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَسْتَرْعِيهِ اللَّهُ رَعِيَّةً يَمُوتُ يَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَهُوَ غَاشٌّ لِرَعِيَّتِهِ إِلاَّ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Hasan who said: Ubaidullah b Ziyad visited Ma'qil b. Yasir al-Muzani in his last iliness. Ma'qil said (to him): I am narrating to you a tradition I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). If I knew that I am to survive this illness. I would, not narrate it to you. I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: If God appointed anyone ruler over a people and he died while he was still treacherous to his people, God would forbid his entry into Paradise.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ دَخَلَ ابْنُ زِيَادٍ عَلَى مَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ وَهُوَ وَجِعٌ ‏.‏ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ أَبِي الأَشْهَبِ وَزَادَ قَالَ أَلاَّ كُنْتَ حَدَّثْتَنِي هَذَا، قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ قَالَ مَا حَدَّثْتُكَ أَوْ، لَمْ أَكُنْ لأُحَدِّثَكَ ‏.‏

It has been narrated through a different chain of transmitters on the authority of Hasan who said: Ibn, Ziyad paid a visit to Ma'qil b. Yasir who was seriously ill. Here follows the same tradition as has gone before with the addition that Ibn Ziyad asked: Why didn't you narrate this tradition to me before this day? Ma'qil reprimanded him and said: I did not narrate it to you or I was not going to narrate it to you.

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو غَسَّانَ الْمِسْمَعِيُّ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمَلِيحِ، أَنَّإِنِّي مُحَدِّثُكَ بِحَدِيثٍ لَوْلاَ أَنِّي فِي الْمَوْتِ لَمْ أُحَدِّثْكَ بِهِ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ مَا مِنْ أَمِيرٍ يَلِي أَمْرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ثُمَّ لاَ يَجْهَدُ لَهُمْ وَيَنْصَحُ إِلاَّ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ مَعَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Malik that Ubaidullah b. Ziyad visited Ma'qil b. Yaser in the latter's illness. Ma'qil said to him: I am narrating to you a tradition. If I were not at death's door, I would not narrate it to you. I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) say: A ruler who, having obtained control over the affairs of the Muslims, does not strive for their betterment and does not serve them sincerely shall not enter Paradise with them.

وَحَدَّثَنَا عُقْبَةُ بْنُ مُكْرَمٍ الْعَمِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَوَادَةُ بْنُ أَبِي، الأَسْوَدِ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّ مَعْقِلَ بْنَ يَسَارٍ، مَرِضَ فَأَتَاهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ يَعُودُهُ ‏.‏ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ مَعْقِلٍ، ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu al-Aswad who said: My father related to me that Ma'qil b. Yasir fell ill. 'Ubaidullah b. Ziyad called on him to inquire after his health. Here follows the tradition as narrated by Hasan from Ma'qil.

حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، بْنُ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been reported on the authority of 'Abd al-Rahman b. Samura who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: 'Abd al-Rahman, do not ask for a position of authority, for if you are granted this position as a result of your asking for it, you will be left alone (without God's help to discharge the responsibilities attendant thereon), and it you are granted it without making any request for it, you will be helped (by God in the discharge of your duties).

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ، بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، وَمَنْصُورٍ، وَحُمَيْدٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ، وَيُونُسَ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، وَهِشَامِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ جَرِيرٍ ‏.‏

The same tradition has been narrated through a different chain of transmitters.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ بُرَيْدِ، بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَا وَرَجُلاَنِ مِنْ بَنِي عَمِّي فَقَالَ أَحَدُ الرَّجُلَيْنِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمِّرْنَا عَلَى بَعْضِ مَا وَلاَّكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ الآخَرُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّا وَاللَّهِ لاَ نُوَلِّي عَلَى هَذَا الْعَمَلِ أَحَدًا سَأَلَهُ وَلاَ أَحَدًا حَرَصَ عَلَيْهِ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrated by Abu Musa who said: Two of my cousins and I entered the apartment of the Prophet (ﷺ). One of them said: Messenger of Allah, appoint us rulers of some lands that the Almighty and Glorious God has entrusted to thy care. The other also said something similar. He said: We do not appoint to this position one who asks for it nor anyone who is covetous for the same.

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ حَاتِمٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا قُرَّةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بُرْدَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَعِي رَجُلاَنِ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ أَحَدُهُمَا عَنْ يَمِينِي وَالآخَرُ عَنْ يَسَارِي فَكِلاَهُمَا سَأَلَ الْعَمَلَ وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْتَاكُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا تَقُولُ يَا أَبَا مُوسَى أَوْ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا أَطْلَعَانِي عَلَى مَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمَا وَمَا شَعَرْتُ أَنَّهُمَا يَطْلُبَانِ الْعَمَلَ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى سِوَاكِهِ تَحْتَ شَفَتِهِ وَقَدْ قَلَصَتْ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ لَنْ أَوْ لاَ نَسْتَعْمِلُ عَلَى عَمَلِنَا مَنْ أَرَادَهُ وَلَكِنِ اذْهَبْ أَنْتَ يَا أَبَا مُوسَى أَوْ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَبَعَثَهُ عَلَى الْيَمَنِ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ مُعَاذَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ انْزِلْ وَأَلْقَى لَهُ وِسَادَةً وَإِذَا رَجُلٌ عِنْدَهُ مُوثَقٌ قَالَ مَا هَذَا قَالَ هَذَا كَانَ يَهُودِيًّا فَأَسْلَمَ ثُمَّ رَاجَعَ دِينَهُ دِينَ السَّوْءِ فَتَهَوَّدَ قَالَ لاَ أَجْلِسُ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ قَضَاءُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَقَالَ اجْلِسْ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ أَجْلِسُ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ قَضَاءُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ‏.‏ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَقُتِلَ ثُمَّ تَذَاكَرَا الْقِيَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا مُعَاذٌ أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَنَامُ وَأَقُومُ وَأَرْجُو فِي نَوْمَتِي مَا أَرْجُو فِي قَوْمَتِي ‏.‏

It has been reported on the authority of Abu Musa who said: I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and with me were two men from the Ash'ari tribe. One of them was on my right hand and the other on my left. Both of them made a request for a position (of authority) while the Prophet (ﷺ) was brushing his teeth with a tooth-stick. He said (to me): Abu Musa (or 'Abdullah b. Qais), what do you say (about the request they have made)? I said: By God Who sent thee on thy mission with truth, they did not disclose to me what they had in their minds, and I did not know that they would ask for a position. The narrator says (while recalling this hadith): I visualise as if I were looking at the miswak of the Prophet (ﷺ) between his lips. He (the Holy Prophet) said: We shall not or shall never appoint to the public offices (in our State) those who with to have them, but you may go, Abu Musa (or Abdullah b. Qais) (to take up your assignment). He sent him to Yemen as governor. then he sent Mu'adh b. jabal in his wake (to help him in the discharge of duties). When Mu'adh reached the camp of Abu Musa, the latter (received him and) said: Please get yourself down; and he spread for him a mattress, while there was a man bound hand and foot as a prisoner. Mu'adh said: Who is this? Abu Musa said: He was a Jew. He embraced Islam. Then he reverted to his false religion and became a Jew. Mu'adh said: I won't sit until he is killed according to the decree of Allah and His Apostle (ﷺ) (in this case). Abu Musa said: Be seated. It will be done. He said: I won't sit unless he is killed in accordance with the decree of Allah and His Apostle (ﷺ). He repeated these words thrice. Then Abu Musa ordered him (to be killed) and he was kilied. Then the two talked of standing in prayer at night. One of them, i. e. Mu'adh, said: I sleep (for a part of the night) and stand in prayer (for a part) and I hope that I shall get the same reward for steeping as I shall get for standing (in prayer).

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ، - يَعْنِيَانِ الْحِزَامِيَّ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَفِي حَدِيثِ زُهَيْرٍ يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ وَقَالَ عَمْرٌو رِوَايَةً ‏ "‏ النَّاسُ تَبَعٌ لِقُرَيْشٍ فِي هَذَا الشَّأْنِ مُسْلِمُهُمْ لِمُسْلِمِهِمْ وَكَافِرُهُمْ لِكَافِرِهِمْ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrarted on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: People are subservient to the Quraish: the Muslims among them being subservient to the Muslims among them, and the disbelievers among the people being subservient to the disbelievers among them.

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ النَّاسُ تَبَعٌ لِقُرَيْشٍ فِي هَذَا الشَّأْنِ مُسْلِمُهُمْ تَبَعٌ لِمُسْلِمِهِمْ وَكَافِرُهُمْ تَبَعٌ لِكَافِرِهِمْ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Hammam b. Munabbih who said: This is one of the traditions narrated by Abu Huraira from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who said: People are subservient to the Quraish: the Muslims among them being subservient to the Muslims among them, and the disbelievers among them being subservient to the disbelievers among them.