33/16. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1854a — Disapproving Bad Deeds of Leaders
The obligation to denounce rulers for that in which they go against Shari'ah, but they should not be fought so long as they pray regularly, etc
Hadith About Disapproving Wrongdoing From Leaders
Sahih Muslim : 1854a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1854a
حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الأَزْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ ضَبَّةَ بْنِ مِحْصَنٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " سَتَكُونُ أُمَرَاءُ فَتَعْرِفُونَ وَتُنْكِرُونَ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ بَرِئَ وَمَنْ أَنْكَرَ سَلِمَ وَلَكِنْ مَنْ رَضِيَ وَتَابَعَ " . قَالُوا أَفَلاَ نُقَاتِلُهُمْ قَالَ " لاَ مَا صَلَّوْا " .
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: In the near future there will be Amirs and you will like their good deeds and dislike their bad deeds. One who sees through their bad deeds (and tries to prevent their repetition by his band or through his speech), is absolved from blame, but one who hates their bad deeds (in the heart of his heart, being unable to prevent their recurrence by his hand or his tongue), is (also) safe ( so far as God's wrath is concerned). But one who approves of their bad deeds and imitates them is spiritually ruined.People asked (the Holy Prophet): Shouldn't we fight against them? He replied: No, as long as they say their prayers.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1854aIn-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 97USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4569
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1854a
This hadith about rulers doing good and bad deeds gives balanced guidance. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that leaders would come, and people would recognize some actions as good and reject others as bad. The person who sees through the bad and tries to prevent it is free from blame, and the person who hates it in the heart is also safe. But the one who approves and follows the bad deeds is spiritually ruined. When asked whether to fight such leaders, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said no, as long as they pray. For searches like hadith about rulers good and bad deeds and disapproving evil in the heart, the core teaching is to reject wrong without approving or copying it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Recognizing good and bad actions from leaders is part of the text.
- Rejecting bad deeds can be by action, speech, or the heart as stated in the translation.
- Approving and following bad deeds is warned against.
- The hadith says not to fight them as long as they pray.
