39/32. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4203 — Choose Righteous Advisers
The Inner Circle Of The Imam
Choose Righteous Advisers and Avoid Harmful Counsel
Sunan an-Nasai : 4203
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4203
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنِ اللَّيْثِ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَا بُعِثَ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ وَلاَ كَانَ بَعْدَهُ مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ إِلاَّ وَلَهُ بِطَانَتَانِ بِطَانَةٌ تَأْمُرُهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَاهُ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَبِطَانَةٌ لاَ تَأْلُوهُ خَبَالاً فَمَنْ وُقِيَ بِطَانَةَ السُّوءِ فَقَدْ وُقِيَ " .
Abu Ayyub Narrated from:
I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'No prophet has eve been sent, nor has there been any Khalifah after him, but he has two groups of advisers, a group that tells him to do good and a group that tells him to do evil. Whoever is protected from the evil group, then he is indeed protected.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4203In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 55English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4208
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4203
This hadith about righteous advisers repeats a clear warning for people in authority. A prophet or a Khalifah may have one circle that commands what is right and forbids what is wrong, and another circle that keeps trying to cause corruption. The two groups do not offer equal guidance. One supports moral action, while the other seeks harm. The hadith then says that whoever is protected from the evil group has indeed been protected. Its focus is not on public image or political skill. It is on the moral effect of the people closest to a leader. The wording also shows that bad advice may be persistent. A leader should not treat close influence as harmless, because repeated counsel can affect choices, conduct, and the people under his care.
What we learn from this hadith
- Righteous advisers command good and forbid evil.
- Harmful advisers may keep working toward corruption.
- Close counsel can strongly affect a person in authority.
- Being kept safe from an evil inner circle is a form of protection.
