33/8. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1835b — Obedience to Commander
The obligation of obeying leaders in matters that do not involve sin, but it is forbidden to obey them in sinful matters
Hadith About Obeying the Commander Appointed by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
Sahih Muslim : 1835b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1835b
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 1835b
Sahih Muslim 1835b repeats the hadith about obeying the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the commander appointed by him. The wording states that whoever obeys the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم obeys God, and whoever disobeys him disobeys God. It also says that whoever obeys the commander obeys the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, while disobeying the commander is linked to disobeying him. The report then mentions that another transmission leaves out the last phrase about disobeying the commander. This makes the narration useful for people searching for the hadith about obedience to commander and "whoever obeys me obeys Allah." The explanation should stay close to the text: the hadith teaches ordered obedience through Allah, His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the appointed commander.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم connects obedience to him with obedience to Allah.
- The commander appointed by him is treated with serious respect.
- The narration records a difference in wording between transmitters.
- The teaching should be understood from the wording given, without adding extra details.
