39/37. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4209 — Speak Truth to an Unjust Ruler
The Virtue Of The One Who Speaks The Truth Before An Unjust Ruler
A Word of Truth Before an Unjust Ruler
Sunan an-Nasai : 4209
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4209
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ، عَنْ طَارِقِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَدْ وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الْغَرْزِ أَىُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ " كَلِمَةُ حَقٍّ عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ " .
Tariq bin Shihab Narrated from:
A man asked the Prophet, when he had put his leg in the stirrup: "Which kind of Jihad is best?'" He said: " a word of truth spoken before an unjust rulers."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4209In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 61English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4214
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4209
This hadith about speaking truth to power answers a direct question: which kind of jihad is best? The Prophet replied, “A word of truth spoken before an unjust ruler.” The answer places moral courage in speech at the center of the hadith. The act described is not flattery, silence, or support for injustice. It is a truthful statement delivered in the presence of a ruler who is acting unjustly. The hadith is brief, so the explanation should remain close to its words. It praises truth spoken where power and injustice meet. It also shows that jihad is not described here only through physical action. In this specific answer, openly stating the truth before an unjust authority is given a high place.
What we learn from this hadith
- Speaking truth before unjust power is highly praised.
- The word spoken must be a word of truth.
- Fear of authority should not turn falsehood into acceptable speech.
- Moral courage can take the form of honest speech.
