33/47. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2224 — Respecting Authority Without Insult
It is Disliked to Insult The Sultan
Hadith About Insulting Authority in Islam
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2224
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2224
حَدَّثَنَا بُنْدَارٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ كُسَيْبٍ الْعَدَوِيِّ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ تَحْتَ مِنْبَرِ ابْنِ عَامِرٍ وَهُوَ يَخْطُبُ وَعَلَيْهِ ثِيَابٌ رِقَاقٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو بِلاَلٍ انْظُرُوا إِلَى أَمِيرِنَا يَلْبَسُ ثِيَابَ الْفُسَّاقِ . فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرَةَ اسْكُتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ أَهَانَ سُلْطَانَ اللَّهِ فِي الأَرْضِ أَهَانَهُ اللَّهُ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Ziyad bin Kusaib Al-'Adawi said: "I Was With Abu Bakrah Under The Minbar Of Ibn 'Amir While He Was Giving A Khutbah Wearing A Fine Garment. Abu Bilal Said: 'Look At Our Amir Wearing Clothes Of Wickedness!' So Abu Bakrah Said: Be Quiet! I Heard The Messenger Of Allah(S.A.W) Saying: "Whoever Insults Allah'S Sultan On The Earth, Allah Disgraces Him."
[1] 'Abdullāh bin 'Āmir who was the governor of Al-Baṣrah under 'Uthmān, and in As-Siyar (3:20 Ar-Risālah) Adh-Dhahabi said: "Abū Bilāl is Mirdās bin Udiyyah from the Khawārij ."Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2224In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 67English translation : Vol. 4, Book 7, Hadith 2224
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2224
This Hadith teaches restraint in speech toward authority. Ziyad bin Kusaib was with Abu Bakrah while Ibn Amir was giving a khutbah in fine clothing. Abu Bilal criticized the ruler’s clothing with harsh words. Abu Bakrah told him to be quiet and mentioned that he heard the Prophet say that whoever insults Allah’s sultan on earth, Allah disgraces him. The Hadith does not discuss every case of advice, correction, or political judgment. It focuses on public insult and disrespectful speech. The main lesson is that even when someone dislikes what a leader does, the tongue must be guarded from humiliating and reckless words.
What we learn from this hadith
- Public insult is treated seriously in this narration.
- Abu Bakrah corrected harsh speech by referring to the Prophet’s warning.
- A believer should guard the tongue even when upset with someone in authority.
