49/8. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5388 — A Warning About Entrusting Leadership
Prohibition of Appointing Women for Judgment
Hadith About Leadership and the Appointment After Chosroes
Sunan an-Nasai : 5388
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5388
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، قَالَ عَصَمَنِي اللَّهُ بِشَىْءٍ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمَّا هَلَكَ كِسْرَى قَالَ " مَنِ اسْتَخْلَفُوا ". قَالُوا بِنْتَهُ. قَالَ " لَنْ يُفْلِحَ قَوْمٌ وَلَّوْا أَمْرَهُمُ امْرَأَةً ".
Abu Bakra Narrated from:
Allah protected me with something that I heard from the Messenger of Allah [SAW]. When Chosroes died, he said: 'Whom have they appointed as his successor?' They said: 'His daughter.' He said: 'No people will ever prosper who entrust their leadership to a woman.'
[1] Allāh protected me: i.e., from joining the "Army of the Camel" which was led by 'A'ishah.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5388In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 10English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5390
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5388
This hadith about leadership records what Abu Bakrah said protected him. When Chosroes died, the Prophet [SAW] asked who had been appointed after him. The people said that his daughter had been appointed. The Prophet [SAW] then said that no people will prosper who entrust their leadership to a woman. The wording of the hadith is direct, and the explanation here stays with the text. It speaks about a people handing their affair of leadership to a woman after Chosroes. It is often searched as a hadith about women leadership, but the wording should be quoted carefully and not mixed with stories or rulings not present in this input.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet [SAW] asked who was appointed after Chosroes died.
- The report says the successor was Chosroes' daughter.
- Abu Bakrah said this statement from the Prophet [SAW] protected him.
