The Book on Government

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ حَضَرْتُ أَبِي حِينَ أُصِيبَ فَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيْهِ وَقَالُوا جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَاغِبٌ وَرَاهِبٌ قَالُوا اسْتَخْلِفْ فَقَالَ أَتَحَمَّلُ أَمْرَكُمْ حَيًّا وَمَيِّتًا لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ حَظِّي مِنْهَا الْكَفَافُ لاَ عَلَىَّ وَلاَ لِي فَإِنْ أَسْتَخْلِفْ فَقَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي - يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ - وَإِنْ أَتْرُكْكُمْ فَقَدْ تَرَكَكُمْ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ حِينَ ذَكَرَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَيْرُ مُسْتَخْلِفٍ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. 'Umar who said: I was present with my father when he was wounded. People praised him and said: May God give you a noble recompense! He said: I am hopeful (of God's mercy) as well as afraid (of His wrath) People said: Appoint anyone as your successor. He said: Should I carry the burden of conducting your affairs in my life as well as in my death? (So far as Caliphate is concerned) I wish I could acquit myself (before the Almighty) in a way that there is neither anything to my credit nor anything to my discredit. If I would appoint my successor, (I would because) one better than me did so. (He meant Abu Bakr.) If I would leave You alone, (I would do so because) one better than me, i. e. the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), did so. 'Abdullah says: When he mentioned the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) I understood that he would not appoint anyone as Caliph.

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، وَأَلْفَاظُهُمْ، مُتَقَارِبَةٌ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ وَعَبْدٌ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، - أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَالِمٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقَالَتْ أَعَلِمْتَ أَنَّ أَبَاكَ غَيْرُ مُسْتَخْلِفٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا كَانَ لِيَفْعَلَ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ إِنَّهُ فَاعِلٌ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَحَلَفْتُ أَنِّي أُكَلِّمُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَسَكَتُّ حَتَّى غَدَوْتُ وَلَمْ أُكَلِّمْهُ - قَالَ - فَكُنْتُ كَأَنَّمَا أَحْمِلُ بِيَمِينِي جَبَلاً حَتَّى رَجَعْتُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَسَأَلَنِي عَنْ حَالِ النَّاسِ وَأَنَا أُخْبِرُهُ - قَالَ - ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ مَقَالَةً فَآلَيْتُ أَنْ أَقُولَهَا لَكَ زَعَمُوا أَنَّكَ غَيْرُ مُسْتَخْلِفٍ وَإِنَّهُ لَوْ كَانَ لَكَ رَاعِي إِبِلٍ أَوْ رَاعِي غَنَمٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكَ وَتَرَكَهَا رَأَيْتَ أَنْ قَدْ ضَيَّعَ فَرِعَايَةُ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ قَالَ فَوَافَقَهُ قَوْلِي فَوَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَفَعَهُ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَحْفَظُ دِينَهُ وَإِنِّي لَئِنْ لاَ أَسْتَخْلِفْ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمْ يَسْتَخْلِفْ وَإِنْ أَسْتَخْلِفْ فَإِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ قَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنْ ذَكَرَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبَا بَكْرٍ فَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَعْدِلَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَحَدًا وَأَنَّهُ غَيْرُ مُسْتَخْلِفٍ ‏.‏

It has been reported on the authority of Ibn 'Umar who said: I entered the apartment of (my sister) Hafsa. She said: Do yoa know that your father is not going to nominate his successor? I said: He won't do that (i. e. he would nominate). She said: He is going to do that. The narrator said: I took an oath that I will talk to him about the matter. I kept quiet until the next morning, still I did not talk to him, and I felt as if I were carryint, a mountain on my right hand. At last I came to him and entered his apartment. (Seeing me) he began to ask me about the condition of the people, and I informed him (about them). Then I said to him: I heard something from the people and took an oath that I will communicate it to you. They presume that you are not going to nominate a successor. If a grazer of camels and sheep that you had appointed comes back to you leaving the cattle, you will (certainly) think that the cattle are lost. To look after the people is more serious and grave. (The dying Caliph) was moved at my words. He bent his head in a thoughtful mood for some time and raised it to me and said: God will doubtlessly protect His religion. If I do not nominate a successor (I have a precedent before me), for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not nominate his successor. And if I nominate one (I have a precedent), for Abu Bakr did nominate. The narrator (Ibn Umar) said: By God. when he mentioned the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr, I (at once) understood that he would not place anyone at a par with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and would not nominate anyone.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ اللَّيْثِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي شُعَيْبُ بْنُ اللَّيْثِ، حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ، بْنُ سَعْدٍ حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ حُجَيْرَةَ الأَكْبَرِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ تَسْتَعْمِلُنِي قَالَ فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى مَنْكِبِي ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنَّكَ ضَعِيفٌ وَإِنَّهَا أَمَانَةٌ وَإِنَّهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ خِزْىٌ وَنَدَامَةٌ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَخَذَهَا بِحَقِّهَا وَأَدَّى الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ فِيهَا ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr who said: I said to the Prophet (ﷺ): Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me to a public office? He stroked my shoulder with his hand and said: Abu Dharr, thou art weak and authority is a trust. and on the Day of judgment it is a cause of humiliation and repentance except for one who fulfils its obligations and (properly) discharges the duties attendant thereon.

حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ الْمُقْرِئِ، قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْقُرَشِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمِ، بْنِ أَبِي سَالِمٍ الْجَيْشَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ ضَعِيفًا وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي لاَ تَأَمَّرَنَّ عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ وَلاَ تَوَلَّيَنَّ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been reported on the authority of Abu Dharr that the Messenger of of Allah (ﷺ) said: Abu Dharr, I find that thou art weak and I like for thee what I like for myself. Do not rule over (even) two persons and do not manage the property of an orphan.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ عَمْرٍو، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ دِينَارٍ - عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَوْسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَفِي حَدِيثِ زُهَيْرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَنَابِرَ مِنْ نُورٍ عَنْ يَمِينِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكِلْتَا يَدَيْهِ يَمِينٌ الَّذِينَ يَعْدِلُونَ فِي حُكْمِهِمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ وَمَا وَلُوا ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Behold! the Dispensers of justice will be seated on the pulpits of light beside God, on the right side of the Merciful, Exalted and GlorioUS. Either side of the Being is the right side both being equally mrneritorious. (The Dispensers of justice are) those who do justice in their rules, in matters relating to their families and in all that they undertake to do.

حَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، بْنِ شُمَاسَةَ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ عَائِشَةَ أَسْأَلُهَا عَنْ شَىْءٍ، فَقَالَتْ مِمَّنْ أَنْتَ فَقُلْتُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ مِصْرَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ كَيْفَ كَانَ صَاحِبُكُمْ لَكُمْ فِي غَزَاتِكُمْ هَذِهِ فَقَالَ مَا نَقَمْنَا مِنْهُ شَيْئًا إِنْ كَانَ لَيَمُوتُ لِلرَّجُلِ مِنَّا الْبَعِيرُ فَيُعْطِيهِ الْبَعِيرَ وَالْعَبْدُ فَيُعْطِيهِ الْعَبْدَ وَيَحْتَاجُ إِلَى النَّفَقَةِ فَيُعْطِيهِ النَّفَقَةَ فَقَالَتْ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لاَ يَمْنَعُنِي الَّذِي فَعَلَ فِي مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَخِي أَنْ أُخْبِرَكَ مَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ فِي بَيْتِي هَذَا ‏ "‏ اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ وَلِيَ مِنْ أَمْرِ أُمَّتِي شَيْئًا فَشَقَّ عَلَيْهِمْ فَاشْقُقْ عَلَيْهِ وَمَنْ وَلِيَ مِنْ أَمْرِ أُمَّتِي شَيْئًا فَرَفَقَ بِهِمْ فَارْفُقْ بِهِ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been reported on the authority of Abd al-Rahman b. Shumasa who said: I came to A'isha to inquire something from her. She said: From which people art thou? I said: I am from the people of Egypt. She said: What was the behaviour of your governor towards you in this war of yours? I said: We did not experience anything bad from him. If the camel of a man from us died, he would bestow on him a camel. If any one of us lost his slave, he would give him a slave. If anybody was in need of the basic necessities of life, he would provide them with provisions. She said: Behold! the treatment that was meted out to my brother, Muhammad b. Abu Bakr, does not prevent me from telling you what I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said in this house of mine: O God, who (happens to) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is hard upon them-be Thou hard upon him, and who (happens to) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is kind to them-be Thou kind to him.

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، عَنْ حَرْمَلَةَ، الْمِصْرِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ شُمَاسَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِهِ

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abd al-Rahman b. Shumasa with another chain of transmitters.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَلاَ كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ فَالأَمِيرُ الَّذِي عَلَى النَّاسِ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ وَالرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْهُمْ وَالْمَرْأَةُ رَاعِيَةٌ عَلَى بَيْتِ بَعْلِهَا وَوَلَدِهِ وَهِيَ مَسْئُولَةٌ عَنْهُمْ وَالْعَبْدُ رَاعٍ عَلَى مَالِ سَيِّدِهِ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْهُ أَلاَ فَكُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet (May be upon him) said: Beware. every one of you is a shepherd and every one is answerable with regard to his flock. The Caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs). A man is a guardian over the members of his family and shal be questioned about them (as to how he looked after their physical and moral well-being). A woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children). A slave is a guardian over the property of his master and shall be questioned about it (as to how he safeguarded his trust). Beware, every one of you is a guardian and every one of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust.

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْحَارِثِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، - يَعْنِي الْقَطَّانَ - كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عُثْمَانَ - ح وَحَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أُسَامَةُ، كَلُّ هَؤُلاَءِ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ اللَّيْثِ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، بِهَذَا مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ اللَّيْثِ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، ‏.‏

This tradition has been narrated through more; than one chain of transmitters.

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ح. وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏.‏ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ وَزَادَ فِي حَدِيثِ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ وَحَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ قَالَ ‏ "‏ الرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ فِي مَالِ أَبِيهِ وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn 'Umar, but there is (a slight change of wording) in the hadith transmitted through Zuhri that he said: " I think that he (the narrator) said: The man is a custodian of the wealth of his father, and he would be answerable for what is in his custody."