Speaking Truth to Unjust Rulers
Total Hadiths 3
What Islam Teaches About Speaking Truth to Unjust Rulers
According to these prophetic teachings, standing firm against oppression and corruption is a vital part of faith. The Messenger of Allah warns us about future leaders who will spread lies and wrong their people. He clearly states that anyone who supports these unjust rulers or validates their falsehoods cuts themselves off from his guidance and will be denied access to the Cistern on the Day of Judgment. Conversely, those who refuse to assist in wrongdoing and reject these lies are truly aligned with the Prophet. In fact, speaking a word of truth directly to an unjust ruler is described as the absolute best form of jihad. These authentic narrations emphasize the massive spiritual reward for maintaining honesty, choosing integrity over political favor, and bravely standing up for justice even under difficult circumstances.
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَصِينٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ الْعَدَوِيِّ، عَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ، قَالَ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ تِسْعَةٌ فَقَالَ " إِنَّهُ سَتَكُونُ بَعْدِي أُمَرَاءُ مَنْ صَدَّقَهُمْ بِكَذِبِهِمْ وَأَعَانَهُمْ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَلَسْتُ مِنْهُ وَلَيْسَ بِوَارِدٍ عَلَىَّ الْحَوْضَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُصَدِّقْهُمْ بِكَذِبِهِمْ وَلَمْ يُعِنْهُمْ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ فَهُوَ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُ وَهُوَ وَارِدٌ عَلَىَّ الْحَوْضَ " .
Ka'b bin 'Ujrah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah came out to us, and there were nine of us. He said; 'After me there will be rulers, whoever believes in their lies and helps them in their wrongdoing is not of me, and I am not of him, and he will not come to me at the Cistern. Whoever does not believe their lies and does not help them in their wrongdoing, he is of me, and I am of hi, and he will come to me at the Cistern.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4207In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 59English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4212
أَخْبَرَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مِسْعَرٌ، عَنْ أَبِي حَصِينٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ الْعَدَوِيِّ، عَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ، قَالَ خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ تِسْعَةٌ خَمْسَةٌ وَأَرْبَعَةٌ أَحَدُ الْعَدَدَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ وَالآخَرُ مِنَ الْعَجَمِ فَقَالَ " اسْمَعُوا هَلْ سَمِعْتُمْ أَنَّهُ سَتَكُونُ بَعْدِي أُمَرَاءُ مَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَصَدَّقَهُمْ بِكَذِبِهِمْ وَأَعَانَهُمْ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَلَسْتُ مِنْهُ وَلَيْسَ يَرِدُ عَلَىَّ الْحَوْضَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَمْ يُصَدِّقْهُمْ بِكَذِبِهِمْ وَلَمْ يُعِنْهُمْ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ فَهُوَ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُ وَسَيَرِدُ عَلَىَّ الْحَوْضَ " .
Ka'b bin 'Ujrah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah came out to us and we were nine, five and four, some 'Arabs and some non- 'Arabs. He said: 'Listen. Have you heard that after me there will be rulers, whoever enters upon them and believes their lies and help them in their wrongdoing is not of me, and I am not of him, and he will not come to me at the Cistern? Whoever does not enter upon them or believe their lies or help them in their wrongdoing is of me and I am of him, and he will come to me at the Cistern.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4208In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 60English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4213
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
