Beware. every one of you is a shepherd and every one is answerable with regard to his flock. The Caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs). A man is a guardian over the members of his family and shal be questioned about them (as to how he looked after their physical and moral well-being). A woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children). A slave is a guardian over the property of his master and shall be questioned about it (as to how he safeguarded his trust). Beware, every one of you is a guardian and every one of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust.
The Book on Government - Sahih Muslim 1829 a
This profound hadith establishes the universal principle of responsibility (mas'uliyyah) in Islam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ begins with "Beware" (Ala) to emphasize the gravity of what follows, awakening the hearts to this crucial matter of accountability.
The Shepherd Metaphor
The term "shepherd" (ra'in) signifies one who protects, guides, and provides for those under their care. Just as a shepherd ensures his flock's safety, nourishment, and guidance to pastures, each Muslim must fulfill similar duties in their respective domains of responsibility.
Hierarchy of Responsibilities
The Caliph's responsibility encompasses justice, protection of rights, and ensuring the welfare of all subjects. The man's guardianship over his family includes providing religious education, material sustenance, and moral guidance. The woman's role as guardian of the household involves maintaining its Islamic character and nurturing righteous children. Even the slave's responsibility over his master's property teaches that no trust is too small to be neglected.
Universal Accountability
The repetition of "every one of you" underscores that none are exempt from this divine trust. Each will stand before Allah and be questioned about how they discharged their responsibilities. This establishes that Islamic society functions through a network of interconnected trusts, where each person's proper fulfillment of duty contributes to the community's wellbeing.
Spiritual Implications
This hadith transforms mundane responsibilities into acts of worship when performed with consciousness of divine accountability. It elevates social roles to spiritual stations where proper fulfillment becomes a means of drawing closer to Allah and securing success in the Hereafter.