That he heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charge; the ruler is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian in his family and responsible for his charges; a woman is a guardian of her husband's house and responsible for her charges; and the servant is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for his charge." I definitely heard the above from the Prophet (ﷺ) and think that the Prophet (ﷺ) also said, "A man is a guardian of his father's property and responsible for his charges; so everyone of you is a guardian and responsible for his charges."
Hadith on Guardianship and Responsibility
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahih al-Bukhari 2558: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charge; the ruler is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian in his family and responsible for his charges; a woman is a guardian of her husband's house and responsible for her charges; and the servant is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for his charge."
Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith establishes the Islamic principle of responsibility (mas'uliyyah) that permeates all aspects of life. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) delineates various spheres of authority where individuals bear accountability before Allah.
The ruler's guardianship entails justice, protection of rights, and proper administration of public affairs. The man's guardianship over his family requires providing religious guidance, material sustenance, and moral upbringing. The woman's guardianship of her husband's home involves preserving its sanctity, managing domestic affairs, and raising children upon Islamic values.
The servant's responsibility toward his master's property demonstrates Islam's recognition of contractual obligations and trustworthiness in all relationships. The additional mention of a man's guardianship over his father's property emphasizes familial responsibilities and proper stewardship of inheritance.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This hadith forms the foundation of Islamic social structure, where every individual bears accountability according to their capacity and position. It establishes that leadership is not merely privilege but profound responsibility before Allah.
The repetition of "everyone of you is a guardian" emphasizes the universality of this principle. No Muslim is exempt from accountability in their respective domains. This teaching cultivates consciousness of Allah in all actions and reinforces that we shall all be questioned about our responsibilities on the Day of Judgment.