33/8. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1835a — Prophetic Obedience
The obligation of obeying leaders in matters that do not involve sin, but it is forbidden to obey them in sinful matters
Whoever Obeys Me Obeys Allah: Hadith on Prophetic Obedience
Sahih Muslim : 1835a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1835a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِزَامِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ أَطَاعَنِي فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ وَمَنْ يَعْصِنِي فَقَدْ عَصَى اللَّهَ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ الأَمِيرَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَنِي وَمَنْ يَعْصِ الأَمِيرَ فَقَدْ عَصَانِي " . وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُر " وَمَنْ يَعْصِ الأَمِيرَ فَقَدْ عَصَانِي " .
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Holy prophet (ﷺ) said: Whoso obeys me obeys God, and whoso disobeys me disobeys God. Whoso obeys the commander (appointed by me) obeys me, and whoso disobeys the commander disobeys me. The same tradition transmitted by different persons omits the portion: And whose disobeys the commander disobeys me.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1835a, bIn-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 46USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4518
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1835a
This hadith about obeying the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gives a strong and simple chain of obedience. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says that whoever obeys him obeys God, and whoever disobeys him disobeys God. He then connects obedience to the commander appointed by him with obedience to himself. For readers searching for "whoever obeys me obeys Allah hadith," this narration is a direct source for that wording. The same report also notes a transmission difference where one version omits the final wording about disobeying the commander. The core message in the given text is clear: obedience to the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is obedience to Allah, and the appointed commander is not treated as a separate or casual matter.
What we learn from this hadith
- Obeying the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is linked in the text to obeying Allah.
- Disobeying the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is described as disobeying Allah.
- The appointed commander is connected to the Prophet’s command.
- The narration notes a wording difference in one transmitted version.
