1/63. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 142b — Dishonest Leadership Warning
One in charge of a matter, who cheats his subjects, deserves the fire
Hadith About Dishonest Leadership and the Trust of People
Sahih Muslim : 142b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 142b
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ دَخَلَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَلَى مَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ وَهُوَ وَجِعٌ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي مُحَدِّثُكَ حَدِيثًا لَمْ أَكُنْ حَدَّثْتُكَهُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ يَسْتَرْعِي اللَّهُ عَبْدًا رَعِيَّةً يَمُوتُ حِينَ يَمُوتُ وَهُوَ غَاشٌّ لَهَا إِلاَّ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ " . قَالَ أَلاَّ كُنْتَ حَدَّثْتَنِي هَذَا قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ قَالَ مَا حَدَّثْتُكَ أَوْ لَمْ أَكُنْ لأُحَدِّثَكَ .
Al-Hasan Narrated from:
Ubaidullah b. Ziyad went to see Ma'qil b. Yasir and he was ailing. He ('Ubaidullah) inquired (about his health) to which he (Ma'qil) replied: I am narrating to you a hadith which I avoided narrating to you (before). Verily the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed: Allah does not entrust to his bondsman the responsibility of managing the affairs of his subjects and he dies as a dishonest (ruler) but Paradise is forbidden by Allah for such a (ruler). He (Ibn Ziyad) said: Why did you not narrate it to me before this day? He replied: I (in fact) did not narrate it to you as it was not (fit) for me to narrate that to you.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 142bIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 271USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 262
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 142b
This hadith about dishonest leadership repeats the same serious warning through another wording. Ma'qil b. Yasir narrates it to Ubaidullah b. Ziyad while he is ill, showing how important the message is. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that when Allah entrusts a person with managing the affairs of people, and that person dies while being dishonest toward them, Allah forbids Paradise for such a ruler. The focus is on amanah, or trust, in leadership. A leader may control decisions, wealth, safety, or public matters, but this hadith makes clear that such control must be handled with honesty. It also shows that speaking the truth to someone in power can be needed when the matter concerns people’s rights.
What we learn from this hadith
- Authority over people is a trust given by Allah.
- Dishonest dealings with those under one’s care carry a severe warning.
- A leader’s duty includes honest management of people’s affairs.
- Important religious advice may need to be given even to people in power.
