Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour." It was asked, "How will honesty be lost, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He said, "When authority is given to those who do not deserve it, then wait for the Hour."
Hadith Text and Context
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour." It was asked, "How will honesty be lost, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He said, "When authority is given to those who do not deserve it, then wait for the Hour." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6496)
This profound hadith from the chapter "To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)" addresses the moral decay that precedes the Day of Judgment, highlighting the critical connection between leadership integrity and societal collapse.
Meaning of "Honesty" (Amanah)
The term "Amanah" encompasses all forms of trust - from financial trusts and promises to the ultimate trust of leadership positions. Scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that Amanah represents the comprehensive responsibility Allah has placed upon humanity to fulfill rights and obligations properly.
When this fundamental trust is violated systematically, it indicates a society's spiritual bankruptcy and moral disintegration, making it ripe for divine reckoning.
The Corruption of Leadership
The Prophet's clarification that authority given to undeserving people constitutes the loss of honesty reveals a profound truth. Imam al-Qurtubi comments that when leadership positions are granted based on lineage, wealth, or political connections rather than merit and piety, the entire social fabric unravels.
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes that such misplacement of authority leads to incompetent governance, injustice in rulings, and the squandering of public resources - all manifestations of breached trust that ultimately destroy civilizations.
Spiritual Implications
Classical scholars emphasize that this hadith serves as both a warning and a diagnostic tool. Al-Nawawi explains that the loss of Amanah begins in the heart when people prioritize worldly gains over religious principles, then manifests in public life through corrupt leadership.
The connection to the Hour reminds believers that moral decay isn't merely a social issue but a spiritual crisis with eschatological significance, urging immediate repentance and reform.
Contemporary Relevance
Modern scholars draw attention to how this prophecy manifests today through nepotism, unqualified appointments, and the elevation of corrupt individuals to positions of power. This hadith calls Muslims to uphold personal integrity while working to establish merit-based systems that preserve the Amanah in all affairs.
The preservation of trust, particularly in leadership selection, becomes an individual and collective responsibility that can delay or mitigate the signs of the Final Hour.