Umm Salama reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I am only a human being and you bring your disputes to me, some perhaps being more eloquent in their plea than others, so that I give judgment on their behalf according to what I hear from them. Therefore whatever I decide for anyone which by right belongs to his brother he must not take, for I am granting him only a portion of hell.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
The Offices of Commander and Qadi
A commentary on the hadith from Mishkat al-Masabih 3761 by classical scholar Mishkat al-Masabih
Context and Meaning
This profound hadith establishes crucial principles regarding judicial authority and human fallibility in Islamic governance. The Prophet (peace be upon him), while divinely guided in matters of revelation, emphasizes his human nature when functioning as a judge in worldly disputes.
The phrase "I am only a human being" serves as a foundational reminder that judges must recognize their limitations and that litigants should not assume judicial decisions are necessarily based on absolute truth when evidence is incomplete or misleading.
Scholarly Analysis
Classical scholars explain that judges rule based on apparent evidence (zahir) and testimony presented, not necessarily the actual reality (haqiqa). When a judge rules based on convincing but false evidence, the ruling stands in worldly matters but the true right remains with its legitimate owner in the sight of Allah.
The warning "I am granting him only a portion of hell" serves as a severe caution against taking property through deceptive means in litigation. Even if one obtains a favorable judgment through eloquent but misleading arguments, the divine right remains with the true owner, and the usurper accumulates sin.
Legal Implications
This hadith establishes that judicial rulings based on apparent evidence do not transform unlawful gain into lawful possession. The moral and spiritual responsibility remains with individuals to ensure they do not take what rightfully belongs to others.
Scholars derive from this that one who receives a favorable judgment knowing it deprives another of their right must return the property, as the judicial process cannot sanctify what Allah has prohibited.
Contemporary Relevance
This teaching remains vital for modern legal systems, emphasizing that procedural justice must be coupled with personal integrity. Litigants should seek truth rather than merely victory in court.
For judges, it underscores the importance of thorough investigation and recognizing the limitations of human judgment, while for citizens it emphasizes the eternal consequences of unjust acquisition, regardless of legal technicalities.