23/28. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1706 — Obeying Just Leadership
What Has Been Related Abou Obeying The Imam
Hadith About Obeying a Leader Who Upholds the Quran
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1706
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1706
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى النَّيْسَابُورِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْعَيْزَارِ بْنِ حُرَيْثٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ الْحُصَيْنِ الأَحْمَسِيَّةِ، قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْطُبُ فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ وَعَلَيْهِ بُرْدٌ قَدِ الْتَفَعَ بِهِ مِنْ تَحْتِ إِبْطِهِ قَالَتْ فَأَنَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى عَضَلَةِ عَضُدِهِ تَرْتَجُّ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَإِنْ أُمِّرَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَبْدٌ حَبَشِيٌّ مُجَدَّعٌ فَاسْمَعُوا لَهُ وَأَطِيعُوا مَا أَقَامَ لَكُمْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَعِرْبَاضِ بْنِ سَارِيَةَ . وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ أُمِّ حُصَيْنٍ .
Umm Al-Husain Al-Ahmasiyyah Narrated from:
I Heard The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Delivering Khutbah During The Farewell Hajj, And He Was Wearing A Burd Which He Had Wrapped From Under His Armpit." She Said: "I Was Look At Muscle Of His Upper Arm Quivering And I Heard Him Saying: O You People! Have Taqwa Of Allah. If A Mutilated Ethiopian Slave Is Put In Command Over You, Then Listen To Him And Obey Him, As Long As He Upholds The Book Of Allah Among You.'" [Abu 'Eisa Said:] There Are Narrations On This Topic From Abu Hurairah And 'Irbad Bin Sariyah. This Hadith Is Hasan Sahih, It Has Been Reported Through Other Routes From Umm Husain.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1706In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 38English translation : Vol. 3, Book 21, Hadith 1706
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1706
This hadith about obeying a leader was spoken during the Farewell Hajj. Umm al-Husain heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم say to the people: have taqwa of Allah. He then said that even if a mutilated Ethiopian slave is placed in command, people should listen and obey as long as he upholds the Book of Allah among them. The wording makes the condition clear: obedience is tied to upholding Allah’s Book. The hadith also removes pride based on social status, appearance, or background. What matters in the text is obedience within the boundary of the Book of Allah and fear of Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Taqwa of Allah is placed at the center of obedience.
- Leadership should not be rejected because of social status or appearance.
- Obedience is connected to upholding the Book of Allah.
- The hadith gives a clear limit, not blind obedience without condition.
