Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "You will eagerly seek out the office of governorship, but it will become a cause of regret on the Day of Resurrection. How excellent it is as a Murdi'ah (wet nurse)! And how evil it is as a Fatimah (one who weans)![Reported by al-Bukhari].
Hadith Text & Reference
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "You will eagerly seek out the office of governorship, but it will become a cause of regret on the Day of Resurrection. How excellent it is as a Murdi'ah (wet nurse)! And how evil it is as a Fatimah (one who weans)!" [Reported by al-Bukhari, Bulugh al-Maram 1399]
Meaning of the Metaphor
The Prophet (ﷺ) employs the beautiful metaphor of a wet nurse (Murdi'ah) and a weaning mother (Fatimah) to describe leadership. A wet nurse nourishes and cares for the infant with compassion, representing the ruler who serves his people with justice, mercy, and provision.
A weaning mother, while acting for the child's eventual good, initially causes distress and hardship through the difficult process of separation. This symbolizes the ruler who burdens his subjects with oppression, injustice, and hardship, even if he believes his actions are ultimately beneficial.
Warning Against Eagerly Seeking Authority
The initial part of the hadith contains a severe warning against coveting positions of authority. The eagerness to attain power is condemned because it often stems from selfish desires for status, control, or worldly gain, rather than a sincere intention to serve Allah and His creation.
On the Day of Judgment, such a position will become a "cause of regret" due to the immense responsibility and accountability it entails. Every decision, every judgment, and every action taken while in authority will be scrutinized by Allah.
Scholarly Commentary from Bulugh al-Maram
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, in his commentary, explains that leadership is a sacred trust (amanah). The one who seeks it is deemed unworthy of it, as the truly qualified are those who are sought for their piety and capability, not those who actively campaign for power.
The regret on the Day of Resurrection is for two types of people: The unjust ruler who will be held to account for his tyranny, and the just ruler who, despite his justice, may still fear that he fell short of fulfilling the immense rights of those under his care. This highlights the gravity of the trust.
Legal & Ethical Ruling
The ruling derived from this hadith is that it is reprehensible (makruh) to actively seek a position of leadership. If a person is the most qualified and is appointed without seeking it, it becomes an obligation (wajib) upon them to accept it and discharge its duties with the utmost fear of Allah, justice, and consultation.
The ultimate goal of Islamic leadership is service, not domination. The leader is a servant (khadim) of the people, responsible for their welfare in both religious and worldly affairs, mirroring the care of a compassionate wet nurse.