33/78. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2266 — Consultation and Good Rule
When The Surface Of The Earth Is Better Than Its Belly, And When It Is Worse
Hadith About Consultation and Good Leadership
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2266
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2266
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَشْقَرُ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَهَاشِمُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا صَالِحٌ الْمُرِّيُّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ النَّهْدِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا كَانَ أُمَرَاؤُكُمْ خِيَارَكُمْ وَأَغْنِيَاؤُكُمْ سُمَحَاءَكُمْ وَأُمُورُكُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَكُمْ فَظَهْرُ الأَرْضِ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ بَطْنِهَا وَإِذَا كَانَ أُمَرَاؤُكُمْ شِرَارَكُمْ وَأَغْنِيَاؤُكُمْ بُخَلاَءَكُمْ وَأُمُورُكُمْ إِلَى نِسَائِكُمْ فَبَطْنُ الأَرْضِ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ ظَهْرِهَا " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ صَالِحٍ الْمُرِّيِّ . وَصَالِحٌ الْمُرِّيُّ فِي حَدِيثِهِ غَرَائِبُ يَنْفَرِدُ بِهَا لاَ يُتَابَعُ عَلَيْهَا وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said: "When Your Leaders Are The Best Of You, The Richest Are The Most Generous Among You, And Your Affairs Are Consulted Among You, Then The Surface Of The Earth Is Better For You Than Its Belly. And When Your Leaders Are The Worst Of You, The Richest Are The Stingiest Among You, And Your Affairs Are Referred To Your Women, Then The Belly Of The Earth Is Better For You Than Its Surface."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2266In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 109English translation : Vol. 4, Book 7, Hadith 2266
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2266
This hadith about consultation and leadership gives two opposite pictures of community life. In the better picture, leaders are the best people, the rich are generous, and public affairs are decided through consultation. In that state, living on the earth is described as better. In the worse picture, leaders are the worst people, the rich are stingy, and affairs are referred in the way mentioned in the narration. Then the belly of the earth is described as better than its surface. The wording is very strong. It shows how leadership, wealth, generosity, and consultation affect the health of society. The hadith should not be stretched beyond its listed signs.
What we learn from this hadith
- Good leadership is tied to the moral quality of those in charge.
- Generosity among wealthy people benefits the wider community.
- Consultation is presented as a sign of a better public condition.
- Stinginess and bad leadership are warning signs for society.
