49/32. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5421 — Do Not Judge While Angry
Prohibition of Passing Two Judgments on One Issue
Hadith About Judging While Angry and Fair Decisions
Sunan an-Nasai : 5421
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5421
أَخْبَرَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُبَشِّرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ إِيَاسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، - وَكَانَ عَامِلاً عَلَى سِجِسْتَانَ - قَالَ كَتَبَ إِلَىَّ أَبُو بَكْرَةَ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ يَقْضِيَنَّ أَحَدٌ فِي قَضَاءٍ بِقَضَاءَيْنِ وَلاَ يَقْضِي أَحَدٌ بَيْنَ خَصْمَيْنِ وَهُوَ غَضْبَانُ " .
'Abdullah bin Abi Bakrah Narrated from:
Abu Bakrah wrote to me, saying: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah [SAW] say: No one should pass two judgments on one issue, and no one should pass judgment between two disputing parties while he is angry.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5421In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 43English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5423
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5421
This hadith about judging while angry speaks directly to people who carry responsibility in disputes. Abu Bakrah wrote to a governor and passed on what he heard from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. A person should not give two judgments on one issue, and he should not judge between two disputing parties while angry. The lesson is simple: anger can cloud a decision. It can make a person rush, speak harshly, or miss what is fair. The hadith also points to consistency. One issue should not be handled with clashing rulings. Islamic judicial ethics in this text call for calm, care, and a steady mind. That applies to judges and to anyone asked to settle a dispute.
What we learn from this hadith
- A judge should avoid ruling between people while angry.
- One case should not be handled with conflicting judgments.
- Fair decisions need calm thinking and controlled speech.
