Someone said to Usama, "Will you not talk to this (Uthman)?" Usama said, "I talked to him (secretly) without being the first man to open an evil door. I will never tell a ruler who rules over two men or more that he is good after I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, 'A man will be brought and put in Hell (Fire) and he will circumambulate (go around and round) in Hell (Fire) like a donkey of a (flour) grinding mill, and all the people of Hell (Fire) will gather around him and will say to him, O so-and-so! Didn't you use to order others for good and forbid them from evil?' That man will say, 'I used to order others to do good but I myself never used to do it, and I used to forbid others from evil while I myself used to do evil.' "
Hadith Context and Narration
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 7098, transmitted through Usama ibn Zayd, addresses the grave danger of religious hypocrisy and the severe consequences for those who command righteousness while neglecting it themselves.
Scholarly Commentary on the Dialogue
Usama's reluctance to openly counsel Uthman demonstrates the wisdom of avoiding public criticism of rulers, which could open doors to civil strife (fitnah). His private counsel reflects the balanced Islamic approach to advising authority.
The phrase "without being the first man to open an evil door" indicates the scholar's awareness that public criticism of legitimate authority often leads to greater societal harm than the original issue being addressed.
Exposition of the Prophetic Parable
The vivid description of the hypocrite circling Hell like a mill donkey illustrates the perpetual torment and humiliation awaiting those who knew truth but abandoned it in practice.
The gathering of Hell's inhabitants around this particular sinner emphasizes how severely Allah punishes those given religious knowledge who failed to act upon it, making them examples for others.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This hadith establishes the obligation of consistency between one's speech and actions, particularly for scholars and callers to Islam. Knowledge must be accompanied by implementation.
The narration serves as a severe warning against the sin of "commanding good while abandoning it" and "forbidding evil while committing it" - a form of hypocrisy that invalidates one's testimony to truth.
Relevance to Afflictions and the End Times
As recorded in "Afflictions and the End of the World", this teaching becomes increasingly relevant near the Final Hour when religious hypocrisy becomes widespread.
The hadith warns that among the greatest tribulations is the prevalence of scholars and preachers whose actions contradict their teachings, leading masses astray while claiming guidance.