33/78. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2265 — Responding to Bad Leaders
When The Surface Of The Earth Is Better Than Its Belly, And When It Is Worse
Hadith About Leaders You Like and Dislike
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2265
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2265
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْخَلاَّلُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ ضَبَّةَ بْنِ مِحْصَنٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَئِمَّةٌ تَعْرِفُونَ وَتُنْكِرُونَ فَمَنْ أَنْكَرَ فَقَدْ بَرِئَ وَمَنْ كَرِهَ فَقَدْ سَلِمَ وَلَكِنْ مَنْ رَضِيَ وَتَابَعَ " . فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلاَ نُقَاتِلُهُمْ قَالَ " لاَ مَا صَلَّوْا " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
The Prophet(s.a.w) said: "Indeed There Shall Come Upon You A'Immah Whom You Like (What They Do) And Some (Of What They Do) You Dislike. So Whoever Rejects, Then He Is Innocent, And Whoever Loathes, Then He Is Safe. But Whoever Is Pleased And Follows." It Was Said: "O Messenger Of Allah! Shall We Fight Them?" He Said: "No, As Long As They Offer Salat."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2265In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 108English translation : Vol. 4, Book 7, Hadith 2265
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2265
This hadith about leaders speaks about a time when people will see rulers whose actions include things they recognize and things they reject. The Prophet (S.A.W) says that whoever rejects is innocent, and whoever loathes is safe. But the danger is with the one who is pleased and follows. When asked whether such leaders should be fought, the Prophet (S.A.W) said no, as long as they offer Salat. The explanation should stay with these words. The hadith teaches a moral response: do not approve of what is wrong, do not follow it with pleasure, and understand the limit mentioned in the narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- Wrong actions should not be accepted with approval.
- Disliking and rejecting wrong can protect a person from sharing in it.
- The danger mentioned is being pleased with wrong and following it.
- The hadith gives a clear limit: no fighting as long as they offer Salat.
