30/6. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1716a — Rewards for Sincere Judgment
The reward of the judge if he strives to reach a decision, whether he gets it right or wrong
Hadith About a Judge Who Tries His Best to Decide Correctly
Sahih Muslim : 1716a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1716a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّمِيمِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ، اللَّهِ بْنِ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ الْهَادِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قَيْسٍ، مَوْلَى عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا حَكَمَ الْحَاكِمُ فَاجْتَهَدَ ثُمَّ أَصَابَ فَلَهُ أَجْرَانِ . وَإِذَا حَكَمَ فَاجْتَهَدَ ثُمَّ أَخْطَأَ فَلَهُ أَجْرٌ " .
Amr b. al-'As Narrated from:
Amr b. al-'As reported that he heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When a judge gives a decision, having tried his best to decide correctly and is right, there are two rewards for him; and if he gave a judgment after having tried his best (to arrive at a correct decision) but erred, there is one reward for him.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1716aIn-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 18, Hadith 4261
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1716a
This Hadith is often searched as hadith about judge reward. It gives a balanced teaching about judgment and effort. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that when a judge tries his best to decide correctly and reaches the right decision, he has two rewards. If he tries his best but makes a mistake, he has one reward. The Hadith does not praise careless judgment. The reward is linked to trying hard to reach what is correct. It also does not say mistakes are equal to correct rulings. It clearly gives two rewards for being right after effort, and one reward for an error after effort. This teaches fairness, responsibility, and sincere effort in decision-making.
What we learn from this hadith
- A judge must try his best before giving a decision.
- Correct judgment after effort has two rewards.
- A mistaken judgment after sincere effort has one reward.
- Careless decision-making is not the subject of this reward.
