The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah)

Sunan Abi Dawud - Hadith 3573

Hadith Text

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Judges are of three types, one of whom will go to Paradise and two to Hell. The one who will go to Paradise is a man who knows what is right and gives judgment accordingly; but a man who knows what is right and acts tyrannically in his judgment will go to Hell; and a man who gives judgment for people when he is ignorant will go to Hell.

Abu Dawud said: On this subject this is the soundest tradition, that is, the tradition of Ibn Buraidah: Judges are of three types.

Scholarly Commentary

This profound hadith establishes the grave responsibility of judicial authority in Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) categorizes judges into three distinct types based on their knowledge and conduct, with eternal consequences for each.

The first type - who attains Paradise - possesses both knowledge of divine law (Sharia) and implements it with justice and integrity. This judge embodies the Quranic injunction: "Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice" (4:58).

The second type - who merits Hellfire - possesses knowledge but deliberately judges with tyranny and injustice. This represents the most severe betrayal of trust, as such a judge knowingly perverts justice, violating his covenant with Allah and the community.

The third type - also destined for Hell - judges while ignorant of Islamic jurisprudence. This emphasizes that judicial positions require qualified scholarship, not mere appointment. Ignorance in matters of law does not excuse the judge from accountability before Allah.

Abu Dawud's authentication of this tradition through Ibn Buraidah's chain underscores its reliability and the critical importance of its message for Islamic governance and judicial ethics.