The Book on Government

كتاب الإمارة

Chapter 28: The virtue of Jihad and going out (to fight) in the cause of Allah

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

If it were not hard upon my Umma (to follow my example), I would not lag behind any expedition-as in the traditions gone before.

Chapter 29: The virtue of Martyrdom in the cause of Allah

This tradition has been handed down through a different chain of transmitters.

Chapter 30: The virtue of going out in the morning or the evening in the cause of Allah

It has been narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

Leaving (for Jihad) in the way of Allah in the morning or in the evening (will merit a reward) better than the world and all that is in it.

It has been narrated on the authority of Sahl b. Sa'd as-Sa'idi that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

The journey undertaken by a person in the morning (for Jihad) in the way of Allah (will merit a reward) better than the world and all that is in it.

Chapter 32: If a person is killed in the cause of Allah, all his sins will be expiated except debt

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Qatada that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up among them (his Companions) to deliver his sermon in which he told them that Jihad in the way of Allah and belief in Allah (with all His Attributes) are the most meritorious of acts. A man stood up and said

Messenger of Allah, do you think that if I am killed in the way of Allah, my sins will be blotted out from me? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Yes, in case you are killed in the way of Allah and you were patient and sincere and you always fought facing the enemy, never turming your back upon him. Then he added: What have you said (now)? (Wishing to have further assurance from him for his satisfaction), he asked (again): Do you think if I am killed in the way of Allah, all my sins will be obliterated from me? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Yes, it you were patient and sincere and always fought facing the enemy and never turning your back upon him, (all your lapses would be forgiven) except debt. Gabriel has told me this.

It has been reported on the authority of 'Amr b. al-'As that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

All the sins of a Shahid (martyr) are forgiven except debt.

Chapter 34: The virtue of Jihad and keeping watch over the frontier

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri that a man came to the Prophet (may peace he upon him) and said

Who is the best of men? He replied: A man who fights in the way of Allah spending his wealth and staking his life. The man then asked: Who is next to him (in excellence)? He said: Next to him is a believer who lives in a mountain gorge worshipping hid Lord and sparing men from his mischief.

A version of the tradition narrated on the authority of Ibn Shihab has a little differently worded ending. i. e." A man in a mountain valley." but did not mention" next to him a man who...."

Chapter 36: One who kills a disbeliever then keeps to the right path

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

No two such persons shall be together in Hell as if one of them is such that his presence hurts the other. It was asked: Messenger of Allah, who are they? He said: A believer who killed a disbeliever and (then) kept to the right path."

Chapter 38: The virtue of helping the warrior who is fighting in the cause of Allah with mounts etc., and looking after his family in his absence

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari who said

A man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: My riding beast has been killed, so give me some animal to ride upon. He (the Holy Prophet) said: I have none with me. A man said: Messenger of Allah, I can guide him to one who will provide him with a riding beast. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.

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Chapter 1: The people follow the Quraish and the Caliphate belongs to the Quraish

It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir b. 'Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

People are the followers of Quraish in good as well as evil (i. e. in the customs of Islamic as well as pre-Islamic times).

It has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

The Caliphate will remain among the Quraish even if only two persons are left (on the earth),

It has been reported on the authority of Jabir b. Samura who said

I went with my father to the Messenger of Allah (may peeace be upon him) and I heard him say: This religion would continue to remain powerful and dominant until there have been twelve Caliphs. Then he added something which I couldn't catch on account of the noise of the people. I asked my father: What did he say? My father said: He has said that all of them will be from the Quraish.

Chapter 4: It is disliked to be appointed to a position of authority unnecessarily

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr who said

I said to the Prophet (ﷺ): Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me to a public office? He stroked my shoulder with his hand and said: Abu Dharr, thou art weak and authority is a trust. and on the Day of judgment it is a cause of humiliation and repentance except for one who fulfils its obligations and (properly) discharges the duties attendant thereon.

Chapter 5: The virtue of a just ruler and the punishment of a tyrant; Encouragement to treat those under one's authority with kindness and the prohibition against causing them hardship

It has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

Behold! the Dispensers of justice will be seated on the pulpits of light beside God, on the right side of the Merciful, Exalted and GlorioUS. Either side of the Being is the right side both being equally mrneritorious. (The Dispensers of justice are) those who do justice in their rules, in matters relating to their families and in all that they undertake to do.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn 'Umar, but there is (a slight change of wording) in the hadith transmitted through Zuhri that he said

" I think that he (the narrator) said: The man is a custodian of the wealth of his father, and he would be answerable for what is in his custody."

Chapter 6: Emphatic prohibition against stealing from the spoils of war (Ghulul)

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira who said

One day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood among us (to deliver a sermon). He talked about the misappropriation of booty, and declared it to be a serious matter and a grave sin. Then he said: I shouldn't find that any of you should come on the Day of Judgment with a growling camel mounted on his neck, and should appeal to me for help saying:" Messenger of Allah, help me." and I should say: I have no authority to help you; I already communicated to you. I shouldn't find that any of you should come on the Day of Judgment with a bleating ewe mounted on his neck, and he should say to me:" Messenger of Allah, help me," and I should say: I have no authority to help you; I conveyed to you. I shouldn't find that one of you should come on the Day of Judgment with a Person crying loudly mounted on his neck, and he should say to me:" Messenger of Allah, help me," and I should say: I have no authority to help you; I conveyed to you. I shouldn't find that any one of you should come on the Day of Judgment with fluttering clothes wrapped round his neck and he should say to me:" Messenger of Allah, help me," and I should say: I have no authority to help you; I conveyed to you. I shouldn't find that any of you should come on the Day of Judgment with a heap of gold and silver placed on his neck and he should say to me:" Messenger of Allah, help me." and I should say: I have no authority to help you; I already conveyed to you (the warning from the Almighty).

Abu Huraira has narrated this hadith similar to the above mentioned hadith.

Chapter 7: The prohibition of giving gifts to agents

It has been reported on the authority of Abu Humaid as-Sa'idi who said

The Prophet (ﷺ) appointed Ibn Lutbiyya, a man from the Azd tribe, in charge of Sadaqa (authorising him to receive gifts from the people on behalf of the State). He came with the collection, gave it to the Prophet (ﷺ), and said: This wealth is for you and this is a gift presented to me. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: Why didn't you remain in the house of your father and your mother to see whether gifts were presented to you or not. Then he stood up to deliver a sermon. Here follows the tradition like the tradition of Sufyan.