The Book on Government

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي رَجُلٌ، سَمَّاهُ وَعَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ عَنْ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِهَذَا الْمَعْنَى ‏.‏

A hadith having the same meaning has been transmitted on the authority of 'Abdullah b. 'Umar.

حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ، أَنَّ عَائِذَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، - وَكَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم - دَخَلَ عَلَى عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ فَقَالَ أَىْ بُنَىَّ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ شَرَّ الرِّعَاءِ الْحُطَمَةُ فَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ لَهُ اجْلِسْ فَإِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مِنْ نُخَالَةِ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ فَقَالَ وَهَلْ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ نُخَالَةٌ إِنَّمَا كَانَتِ النُّخَالَةُ بَعْدَهُمْ وَفِي غَيْرِهِمْ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Hasan that A'idh b. 'Amr who was one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) called on 'Ubaidullah b. Ziyad and said (to him): O my son, I have heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: The worst of guardians is the cruel ruler. Beware of being one of them. Ubaidullah said (to him out of arrogance): Sit you down. You are from the chaff of the Companions of Muhammad (ﷺ). A'idh said: Was there worthless chaff among them? Such worthless chaff appeared after them and among other people.

وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَيَّانَ، عَنْ أَبِي، زُرْعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَامَ فِينَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَذَكَرَ الْغُلُولَ فَعَظَّمَهُ وَعَظَّمَ أَمْرَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ أُلْفِيَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يَجِيءُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ بَعِيرٌ لَهُ رُغَاءٌ يَقُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَغِثْنِي ‏.‏ فَأَقُولُ لاَ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ شَيْئًا قَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكَ ‏.‏ لاَ أُلْفِيَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يَجِيءُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ فَرَسٌ لَهُ حَمْحَمَةٌ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَغِثْنِي ‏.‏ فَأَقُولُ لاَ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ شَيْئًا قَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكَ ‏.‏ لاَ أُلْفِيَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يَجِيءُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ شَاةٌ لَهَا ثُغَاءٌ يَقُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَغِثْنِي ‏.‏ فَأَقُولُ لاَ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ شَيْئًا قَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكَ ‏.‏ لاَ أُلْفِيَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يَجِيءُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ نَفْسٌ لَهَا صِيَاحٌ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَغِثْنِي ‏.‏ فَأَقُولُ لاَ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ شَيْئًا قَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكَ ‏.‏ لاَ أُلْفِيَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يَجِيءُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ رِقَاعٌ تَخْفِقُ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَغِثْنِي ‏.‏ فَأَقُولُ لاَ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ شَيْئًا قَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكَ ‏.‏ لاَ أُلْفِيَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يَجِيءُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ صَامِتٌ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَغِثْنِي فَأَقُولُ لاَ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ شَيْئًا قَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكَ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira who said: One day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood among us (to deliver a sermon). He talked about the misappropriation of booty, and declared it to be a serious matter and a grave sin. Then he said: I shouldn't find that any of you should come on the Day of Judgment with a growling camel mounted on his neck, and should appeal to me for help saying:" Messenger of Allah, help me." and I should say: I have no authority to help you; I already communicated to you. I shouldn't find that any of you should come on the Day of Judgment with a bleating ewe mounted on his neck, and he should say to me:" Messenger of Allah, help me," and I should say: I have no authority to help you; I conveyed to you. I shouldn't find that one of you should come on the Day of Judgment with a Person crying loudly mounted on his neck, and he should say to me:" Messenger of Allah, help me," and I should say: I have no authority to help you; I conveyed to you. I shouldn't find that any one of you should come on the Day of Judgment with fluttering clothes wrapped round his neck and he should say to me:" Messenger of Allah, help me," and I should say: I have no authority to help you; I conveyed to you. I shouldn't find that any of you should come on the Day of Judgment with a heap of gold and silver placed on his neck and he should say to me:" Messenger of Allah, help me." and I should say: I have no authority to help you; I already conveyed to you (the warning from the Almighty).

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحِيمِ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَيَّانَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ أَبِي حَيَّانَ، وَعُمَارَةَ بْنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ أَبِي حَيَّانَ، ‏.‏

The above tradition has been narrated on the same authority through different chains of transmitters.

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ صَخْرٍ الدَّارِمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زَيْدٍ - عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْغُلُولَ فَعَظَّمَهُ ‏.‏ وَاقْتَصَّ الْحَدِيثَ قَالَ حَمَّادٌ ثُمَّ سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ يُحَدِّثُهُ فَحَدَّثَنَا بِنَحْوِ مَا حَدَّثَنَا عَنْهُ أَيُّوبُ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira has narrated this hadith with a slight variation of words.

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ خِرَاشٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ حَيَّانَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِهِمْ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira has narrated this hadith similar to the above mentioned hadith.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، قَالَ اسْتَعْمَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَسْدِ يُقَالُ لَهُ ابْنُ اللُّتْبِيَّةِ - قَالَ عَمْرٌو وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ عَلَى الصَّدَقَةِ - فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ قَالَ هَذَا لَكُمْ وَهَذَا لِي أُهْدِيَ لِي قَالَ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا بَالُ عَامِلٍ أَبْعَثُهُ فَيَقُولُ هَذَا لَكُمْ وَهَذَا أُهْدِيَ لِي ‏.‏ أَفَلاَ قَعَدَ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِيهِ أَوْ فِي بَيْتِ أُمِّهِ حَتَّى يَنْظُرَ أَيُهْدَى إِلَيْهِ أَمْ لاَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لاَ يَنَالُ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا إِلاَّ جَاءَ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَحْمِلُهُ عَلَى عُنُقِهِ بَعِيرٌ لَهُ رُغَاءٌ أَوْ بَقَرَةٌ لَهَا خُوَارٌ أَوْ شَاةٌ تَيْعِرُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى رَأَيْنَا عُفْرَتَىْ إِبْطَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ مَرَّتَيْنِ ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Humaid as-Sa'idi who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) appointed a man from the Asad tribe who was called Ibn Lutbiyya in charge of Sadaqa (i. e. authorised hign to receive Sadaqa from the people on behalf of the State. When he returned (with the collictions), he said: This is for you and (this is mine as) it was presented to me as a gift. The narrator said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upod him) stood on the pulpit and praised God and extolled Him. Then he said: What about a State official whom I give an assignment and who (comes and) says: This is for you and this has been presented to me as a gift? Why didn't he remain in the house of his father or the house of his mother so that he could observe whether gifts were presented to him or not. By the Being in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, any one of you will not take anything from it but will bring it on the Day of Judgment, carrying on his neck a camel that will be growling, or a cow that will be bellowing or an ewe that will be bleating. Then he raised his hands so that we could see the whiteness of his armpits. Then he said twice: O God, I have conveyed (Thy Commandments).

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، قَالَ اسْتَعْمَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ابْنَ اللُّتْبِيَّةِ - رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَزْدِ - عَلَى الصَّدَقَةِ فَجَاءَ بِالْمَالِ فَدَفَعَهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ هَذَا مَالُكُمْ وَهَذِهِ هَدِيَّةٌ أُهْدِيَتْ لِي ‏.‏ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أَفَلاَ قَعَدْتَ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِيكَ وَأُمِّكَ فَتَنْظُرَ أَيُهْدَى إِلَيْكَ أَمْ لاَ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَطِيبًا ‏.‏ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ سُفْيَانَ ‏.‏

It has been reported on the authority of Abu Humaid as-Sa'idi who said: The Prophet (ﷺ) appointed Ibn Lutbiyya, a man from the Azd tribe, in charge of Sadaqa (authorising him to receive gifts from the people on behalf of the State). He came with the collection, gave it to the Prophet (ﷺ), and said: This wealth is for you and this is a gift presented to me. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: Why didn't you remain in the house of your father and your mother to see whether gifts were presented to you or not. Then he stood up to deliver a sermon. Here follows the tradition like the tradition of Sufyan.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، قَالَ اسْتَعْمَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَزْدِ عَلَى صَدَقَاتِ بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ يُدْعَى ابْنَ الأُتْبِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ حَاسَبَهُ قَالَ هَذَا مَالُكُمْ وَهَذَا هَدِيَّةٌ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ فَهَلاَّ جَلَسْتَ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِيكَ وَأُمِّكَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَكَ هَدِيَّتُكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ خَطَبَنَا فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أَسْتَعْمِلُ الرَّجُلَ مِنْكُمْ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ مِمَّا وَلاَّنِي اللَّهُ فَيَأْتِي فَيَقُولُ هَذَا مَالُكُمْ وَهَذَا هَدِيَّةٌ أُهْدِيَتْ لِي ‏.‏ أَفَلاَ جَلَسَ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِيهِ وَأُمِّهِ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَهُ هَدِيَّتُهُ إِنْ كَانَ صَادِقًا وَاللَّهِ لاَ يَأْخُذُ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا بِغَيْرِ حَقِّهِ إِلاَّ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَحْمِلُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلأَعْرِفَنَّ أَحَدًا مِنْكُمْ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ يَحْمِلُ بَعِيرًا لَهُ رُغَاءٌ أَوْ بَقَرَةً لَهَا خُوَارٌ أَوْ شَاةً تَيْعِرُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى رُئِيَ بَيَاضُ إِبْطَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ بَصُرَ عَيْنِي وَسَمِعَ أُذُنِي ‏.‏

It has been reported on the authority of Abu Humaid as-Sa'idi who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) appointed a man from the Azd tribe called Ibn al-Utbiyya, in charge of Sadaqat to be received from Banu Sulaim. When he came (back), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked him to render his account. He said: This wealth is for you (i.e. for the public treasury) and this is a gift (presented to me). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: You should have remained in the house of your father and your mother, until your gift came to you if you spoke the truth; then he addressed us. He praised God and extolled Him, and afterwards said: I appoint a man from you to a responsible post sharing with him authority that God has entrusted to me, and he comes to me saying: This wealth is for you (i.e. for the public treasury) and this is a gift presented to me. Why did he not remain in the house of his father and his mother and his gift came to him, if he was truthful? By God, any one of you will not take anything from (the public funds) without any justification, but will meet his Lord carrying it on himself on the Day of judgment. I will recognise any one of you meeting Allah and carrying a growling camel, or a cow bellowing or a goat bleating. Then he raised his hands so high that whiteness of his armpits could be seen. Then he said: O my Lord, I have conveyed (Thy Commandments). The narrator says: My eyes saw (the Prophet standing in that pose) and my ears heard (what he said).

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ وَأَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ، أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحِيمِ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ هِشَامٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ ‏.‏ وَفِي حَدِيثِ عَبْدَةَ وَابْنِ نُمَيْرٍ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ حَاسَبَهُ ‏.‏ كَمَا قَالَ أَبُو أُسَامَةَ ‏.‏ وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ نُمَيْرٍ ‏ "‏ تَعْلَمُنَّ وَاللَّهِ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لاَ يَأْخُذُ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا ‏" ‏ ‏.‏ وَزَادَ فِي حَدِيثِ سُفْيَانَ قَالَ بَصُرَ عَيْنِي وَسَمِعَ أُذُنَاىَ ‏.‏ وَسَلُوا زَيْدَ بْنَ ثَابِتٍ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ حَاضِرًا مَعِي ‏.‏

This tradition has been hanoed down through a different chain of transmitters on the authority of Hisham with aslight variation in the wording.