36/20. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4011 — Best Jihad Before an Unjust Ruler
Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil
Best Jihad Hadith: A Just Word to an Unjust Ruler
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4011
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4011
حَدَّثَنَا الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ دِينَارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مُصْعَبٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَادَةَ الْوَاسِطِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، أَنْبَأَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جُحَادَةَ، عَنْ عَطِيَّةَ الْعَوْفِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " أَفْضَلُ الْجِهَادِ كَلِمَةُ عَدْلٍ عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ " .
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The best of jihad is a just word spoken to an unjust ruler.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4011In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 86English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4011
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4011
This best jihad Hadith gives a short but bold teaching. Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: the best of jihad is a just word spoken to an unjust ruler. The core topic is not general debate or anger. It is a just word, spoken where injustice has power. The Hadith shows that truth and justice can require courage, especially when the listener has authority. The phrase hadith about speaking truth to power is often searched, and this narration directly fits it. At the same time, the wording stays focused: a just word, not insults, not pride, and not speech for personal fame.
What we learn from this hadith
- A just word has high value when spoken before an unjust ruler.
- The Hadith connects courage with fairness, not reckless speech.
- Authority does not remove the duty to say what is right.
- The wording highlights justice as the quality of the speech.
