The Book of the Etiquette of Judges

كتاب آداب القضاة

Chapter 7: If People Appoint a Man as Judge, and He Passes Judgment Among Them

It was narrated from Shuraih bin Hani' from his father, that

When he came to the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and he heard them calling Hani' by the nickname of Abu Al-Hakam, the Messenger of Allah [SAW] called him and said to him: "Allah is Al-Hakam (the Judge) and judgment is His. Why are you known as Abu Al-Hakam?" He said: "If my people differ concerning something, they come to me, and I pass judgment among them, and both sides accept it." He said: "How good this is. Do you have any children?" He said: "I have Shuraih, and 'Abdullah, and Muslim." He said: "Who is the eldest of them?" He said: "Shuraih." He said: "Then you are Abu Shuraih," and he supplicated for him and his son.

Chapter 9: Passing Judgment on the Basis of a Comparison or Similarities, and Mentioning the Differences Reported From Al-Walid Bin Muslim In The Hadith Of Ibn 'Abbas

It was narrated from Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas that

He was riding behind the Messenger of Allah [SAW] on the morning of the Day of Sacrifice, when a woman from Khath'am came to him and said: "O Messenger of Allah, the command of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, to His slaves to perform Hajj has come while my father is an old man and cannot ride unless he is tied crossways on a mount; can I perform Hajj on his behalf?" He said: "Yes, perform Hajj on his behalf, for if he owed a debt you would pay it off for him."

It was narrated from Sulaiman bin Yasar that Ibn 'Abbas told him

"A woman from Khath'am asked the Messenger of Allah [SAW] a question when Al-Fadl was riding behind the Messenger of Allah [SAW]. She said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the command of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, to His slaves to perform Hajj has come while my father is an old man, he cannot sit upright in the saddle. Will it suffice if I perform Hajj on his behalf?' He said: 'Yes.'"

Chapter 11: Ruling According to the Consensus of the Scholars

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said

"There was a time when we did not pass so many judgments, but now that time is over. Now Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has decreed that we reach a time when, as you see, (we are asked to pass many judgments). Whoever among you is asked to pass a judgment after this day, let him pass judgment according to what is in the Book of Allah. If he is faced with a matter that is not mentioned in the Book of Allah, let him pass judgment according to the way His Prophet [SAW] passed judgment. If he is faced with a matter that is not mentioned in the Book of Allah, and concerning which His Prophet did not pass judgment, then let him pass judgment according to the way the righteous passed judgment. And let him not say 'I am afraid, I am afraid.' For that which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between them are matters which are not as clear. Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt."

Chapter 13: Judgment Based on What is Apparent

It was narrated from Umm Salamah that

The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "You refer your disputes to me, but I am only human, and some of you may be more eloquent in arguing their case than others. If I pass judgment in favor of one of you, against his brother's rights, let him not take it, for it is a piece of fire that I am giving him."

Chapter 14: Ruling of a Judge Based on His Knowledge

Abu Hurairah narrated that

The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "There were two woman who had two children, and the wolf came and took away the son of one of them. She said to her companion: 'It took away your son.' The other one said: 'No, it took away your son.' They referred the matter to Dawud, peace be upon him, for judgment (about the remaining child) and he ruled in favor of the older one. Then they went out to Sulaiman bin Dawud and told him (about that). He said: 'Give me a knife and I will cut him in half (to be shared) between you.' The younger one said: 'Do not do that, may Allah have mercy on you; he is her son.' So he ruled that (the child) belonged to the younger woman." Abu Hurairah said: "By Allah! I never heard 'Sikkin' used until that day. We would only say: 'Mudyah.'"

Chapter 19: Concession Allowing a Trustworthy Judge to Pass Judgment When He is Angry

It was narrated from Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam that

He disputed with a man among Ansar who had been present at Badr with the Messenger of Allah [SAW], concerning a stream in Al-Harrah from which they both used to water their date palm trees. The Ansari said: "Let the water flow." But he (Az-Zubair) refused. The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "Irrigate (your land), O Zubair! Then let the water flow to your neighbor." The Ansari became angry and said, "O Messenger of Allah, is it because he is your cousin?" The face of the Messenger of Allah [SAW] changed color (because of anger) and he said: "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) then block the water, until it flows back to the walls." So the Messenger of Allah [SAW] allowed Az-Zubair to take his rights in full, although before that he had suggested to Az-Zubair a middle way that benefited both him and the Ansari. But when the Ansari made the Messenger of Allah [SAW] angry, he gave Az-Zubair his rights in full, as stated clearly in his ruling. Az-Zubair said: "I think that this Verse was revealed concerning this matter: 'But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them.'"

Chapter 20: The Judge Passing Judgment in His House

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Ka'b, from his father, that

He asked Ibn Abi Hadrad to pay off a debt that he owed him. Their voices grew so loud that the Messenger of Allah [SAW] heard them when he was inside his house. He came out to them, drew back the curtain of his room and called out: "O Ka'b!" He said: "Here I am, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "Drop his debt to half." He said: "I will do that." He said (to the debtor): "Go and pay it off."

Chapter 21: Seeking Help Against Another Person

It was narrated that 'Abbad bin Shurahbil said

"I came to Al-Madinah with my paternal uncles and entered one of its gardens, where I rubbed an ear of grain (to take some grains). The owner of the garden came, took my cloak and hit me. I came to the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and sought his help against him. He sent for the man and they brought him. He said: 'What made you do that?' He said: 'O Messenger of Allah, he entered my garden and took one of the ears of grain and rubbed it.' The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'You did not teach him if he was ignorant, nor feed him if he was hungry. Give him back his cloak.' And the Messenger of Allah [SAW] ordered me with a Wasq or half a Wasq."

Chapter 26: The Ruler Suggesting That the Disputant Should Pardon

It was narrated that Wa'il said

"I saw the Messenger of Allah [SAW] when a killer was brought by the heir of the victim by a string. The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said to the heir of the victim: 'Will you forgive him?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Will you accept the Diyah?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Will you kill him?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Take him away.' When he went and turned away from him, he called him back and said: 'Will you forgive him?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Will you accept the Diyah?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Will you kill him?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Take him away.' When he went and turned away from him, he called him back and said: 'Will you forgive him?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Will you accept the Diyah?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Will you kill him?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Take him away.' At that point the Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'But if you forgive him, he will carry his own sin and the sin of your companion.' So he forgave him, and I saw him dragging his string."

Chapter 29: The Ruler Preventing His Flock From Wasting Their Wealth When They Have Need Of It

It was narrated that Jabir bin 'Abdullah said

"A man among the Ansar stated that his salve was to be set free after he died; he was in need, and he owed a debt. The Messenger of Allah [SAW] sold him (the slave) for eight hundred Dirhams, and he gave (the money) to him and said: 'Pay off your debt and spend on your dependents.'"

Chapter 33: What May Cancel a Judgment

It was narrated that Umm Salamah said

"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'You refer your disputes to me, but I am only human. And some of you may be more eloquent in arguing their case than others, and I may pass judgment on the basis of what I hear. If I pass judgment in favor of one of you against his brother's rights, then it is a piece of the fire that I am giving him.'"

Chapter 37: How the Judge is to Ask People to Swear for an Oath

It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri said

"Mu'awiyah, (may Allah be pleased with him,) said: 'The Messenger of Allah [SAW] went out to a circle - meaning, of his Companions - and said: 'What are you doing?' They said: 'We have come together to pray to Allah and praise Him for guiding us to His religion, and blessing us with you.' He said: 'I ask you, by Allah, is that the only reason?' They said: 'By Allah, we have not come together for any other reason.' He said: 'I am not asking you to swear to an oath because of any suspicion; rather Jibril came to me and told me that Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, is boasting of you to the angels.'"

Chapter 2: The Just Ruler

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that

The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "There are seven whom Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will shade with His shade on the Day of Resurrection, the Day when there will be no shade but His: A just ruler, a young man who grows up worshipping Allah, the Mighty and Sublime; a man who remembers Allah when he is alone and his eyes flow (with tears); a man whose heart is attached to the Masjid; two men who love each other for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime; a man who is called (to commit sin) by a woman of high status and beauty, but he says: 'I fear Allah'; and a man who gives charity and conceals it, so that his left hand does not know what his right hand is doing."

Chapter 4: Not Appointing One Who is Eager to be a Judge

It was narrated that Abu Musa said

"Some people from among the Ash'aris came to me and said: 'Go with us to the Messenger of Allah [SAW], for we have something to ask him.' So I went with them, and they said: 'O Messenger of Allah, use us to do your work.'" Abu Musa said: "I apologized for what they said, and I told him that I did not know what they were going to ask. He believed me and excused me, and said: 'We do not appoint for our work anyone who asks for that.'"

It was narrated from Usaid bin Hudair that

A man from among the Ansar came to the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and said: "Will you not appoint me as you appointed so-and-so?" He said: "You will encounter selfishness after I am gone, so be patient until you meet me at the cistern (Al-Hawd)."

Chapter 5: Prohibition of Asking for Governorship

It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah said

"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Do not ask for governorship. For if it is given to you because of asking, you will be left to your own devices, but if it is given to you without asking, you will be helped (by Allah).'"

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that

The Prophet [SAW] said: "You will be keen for governorship but it will be regret and loss on the Day of Resurrection. What a good position it is when they are alive, but how miserable their state when they die (and leave it behind)."

Chapter 9: Passing Judgment on the Basis of a Comparison or Similarities, and Mentioning the Differences Reported From Al-Walid Bin Muslim In The Hadith Of Ibn 'Abbas

It was narrated from Ibn Shihab that Sulaiman bin Yasar told him that Ibn 'Abbas told him that

A woman from Khath'am said: "O Messenger of Allah, the command of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, to His slaves to perform Hajj has come while my father is an old man, and he cannot sit upright in the saddle. Will it discharge his duty if I perform Hajj on his behalf?" The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said to her: "Yes." Al-Fadl starting turning toward her, for she was a beautiful woman, and the Messenger of Allah [SAW] turned Al-Fadl's face to the other side.

Chapter 10: Mentioning the Different Reports from Yahya Ibn Abi Ishaq

It was narrated from Sulaiman bin Yasar, who narrated from Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas, who said

"A man came to the Prophet [SAW] and said: 'O Prophet of Allah, my father is an old man and cannot perform Hajj. If I put him on a mount he cannot sit firm. Can I perform Hajj on his behalf?' He said: 'Perform Hajj on behalf of your father.'"