84/10. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6722 — Do Not Seek Authority
To make expiation for one’s oath
Do Not Seek Authority: Leadership and Oath Expiation Hadith
Sahih Bukhari : 6722
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6722
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ فَارِسٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا، وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا، وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا، فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ، وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ ". تَابَعَهُ أَشْهَلُ عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ. وَتَابَعَهُ يُونُسُ وَسِمَاكُ بْنُ عَطِيَّةَ وَسِمَاكُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَحُمَيْدٌ وَقَتَادَةُ وَمَنْصُورٌ وَهِشَامٌ وَالرَّبِيعُ.
`Abdur-Rahman bin Samura Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "(O `Abdur-Rahman!) Do not seek to be a ruler, for, if you are given the authority of ruling without your asking for it, then Allah will help you; but if you are given it by your asking, then you will be held responsible for it (i.e. Allah will not help you). And if you take an oath to do something and later on find another thing, better than that, then do what is better and make expiation for (the dissolution of) your oath."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6722In-book reference : Book 84, Hadith 15USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 79, Hadith 715
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6722
This hadith combines two important teachings. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told Abdur-Rahman bin Samura not to seek rulership. He explained that if authority is given without asking, help will be given for it, but if it is gained by asking, the person is left responsible for it. The hadith then moves to oath expiation. If a person takes an oath and later finds another action better than it, he should do what is better and make expiation for the oath. For people searching for a hadith about leadership in Islam or oath expiation, this narration gives a direct warning about seeking authority and a clear rule about choosing better action after an oath.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم advised against asking for rulership.
- Authority given without seeking it is described differently from authority gained by asking.
- When a better action appears after an oath, the better action should be done with expiation.
- Leadership and oaths both require responsibility.
