39/32. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4202 — Protection From Evil Advisers
The Inner Circle Of The Imam
Protection From Evil Advisers in Islamic Leadership
Sunan an-Nasai : 4202
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4202
أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ وَلاَ اسْتَخْلَفَ مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ إِلاَّ كَانَتْ لَهُ بِطَانَتَانِ بِطَانَةٌ تَأْمُرُهُ بِالْخَيْرِ وَبِطَانَةٌ تَأْمُرُهُ بِالشَّرِّ وَتَحُضُّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَالْمَعْصُومُ مَنْ عَصَمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ " .
Abu Sa'eed Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "Allah never sends a prophet or appoints a Khalifah but he has two groups of advisers: A group that tells him to do good and a group that tells him to do evil and urges him to do it. And the one who is truly protected is the one who is protected by Allah, the Mighty and Sublime."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4202In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 54English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4207
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4202
This hadith on advisers in Islamic leadership says that every prophet sent by Allah and every appointed Khalifah had two groups of advisers. One group called him toward good. The other called him toward evil and actively urged him to do it. The hadith therefore presents leadership as a place where competing voices may be close at hand. A title alone does not remove the pressure of harmful advice. The closing words give the main lesson: the person who is truly protected is the one protected by Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. The text encourages awareness of influence without claiming that human strength alone is enough. Good counsel matters, evil counsel is dangerous, and protection from being drawn toward wrong is a blessing from Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Leaders may hear both righteous and harmful advice.
- Evil advisers may actively urge a leader toward wrongdoing.
- A leadership title does not remove the test of influence.
- True protection from evil influence comes from Allah.
