The Book of the Etiquette of Judges

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As that: The Prophet [SAW] said: "Those who are just and fair will be with Allah, Most High, on thrones of light, at the right hand of the Most Merciful, those who are just in their rulings and in their dealings with their families and those of whom they are in charge." Muhammad (one of the narrators) said in his Hadith: "And both of His hands are right hands."

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."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'If a judge passes judgment and strives to reach the right conclusion and gets it right, he will have two rewards; if he strives to reach the right conclusion but gets it wrong, he will still have one reward."

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)."

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)."

'Abdullah bin Az-Zubair narrated that: A group from Banu Tamim came to the Prophet [SAW]. Abu Bakr said: "Appoint Al-Qa'qa' bin Ma'bad (as commander or governor)," and 'Umar said: "No, (appoint) Al-Aqra' bin Habis." They argued until they began to raise their voices, then the words were revealed: "O you who believe! Make not (a decision) in advance before Allah and His Messenger..." until the end of the Verse: "And if they had patience till you could come out to them, it would have been better for 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.

It was narrated that Abu Bakrah said: "Allah protected me with something that I heard from the Messenger of Allah [SAW]. When Chosroes died, he said: 'Whom have they appointed as his successor?' They said: 'His daughter.' He said: 'No people will ever prosper who entrust their leadership to a woman.'"

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.'"

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas said: "Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas was riding behind the Messenger of Allah [SAW] when a woman from Khath'am came to ask him a question. Al-Fadl started looking at her, and she at him, and the Messenger of Allah [SAW] turned the face of Al-Fadl the other way. 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, and he cannot sit firmly in the saddle; can I perform Hajj on his behalf?' He said: 'Yes.' That was during the Farewell Pilgrimage."

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.

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas that: A man asked the Messenger of Allah [SAW]: "The (command to perform) Hajj has come while my father is an old man and cannot sit firmly in the saddle, and if I tie him, I fear that he may die. Can I perform Hajj on his behalf?" He said: "Do you think that if he owed a debt you would pay it off for him?" He said: "Yes." He said: "Then perform Hajj on behalf of your father."

It was narrated from Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas, that: He was riding behind the Messenger of Allah [SAW], when a man came and said: "O Messenger of Allah, my mother is an old woman; if I put her on a mount she cannot sit firmly, and if I tie her, I fear that I may kill her." He said: "Do you think that if your mother owed a debt you would pay it off for her?" He said: "Yes." He said: "Then perform Hajj on behalf of your mother."

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.'"

It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that: A man came to the Prophet [SAW] and said: "My father is an old man, can I perform Hajj on his behalf?" He said: "Yes. Don't you think that if he owed a debt and you paid it off, that would suffice him?"

It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahman bin Yazid said: "The people asked 'Abdullah too many questions one day, and 'Abdullah 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. If he is faced with a matter that is not mentioned in the Book of Allah, and concerning which His Prophet and the righteous did not pass judgment, then let him strive to work it out, 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.'"

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."

It was narrated from Shuraih that: He wrote to 'Umar, to ask him (a question), and 'Umar wrote back to him telling him: "Judge according to what is in the Book of Allah. If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allah, then (judge) according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah [SAW]. If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allah or the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah [SAW], then pass judgment according to the way the righteous passed judgment. If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allah, or the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah [SAW], and the righteous did not pass judgment concerning it, then if you wish, go ahead (and try to work it out by yourself) or if you wish, leave it. And I think that leaving it is better for you. And peace be upon you."

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "There were kings after 'Isa bin Mariam who altered the Tawrah and the Injil, but there were among them believers who read the Tawrah. It was said to their kings: 'We have never heard of any slander worse than that of those (believers) who slander us and recite: "And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the disbelievers." In these Verses, they are criticizing us for our deeds when they recite them.' So he called them together and gave them the choice between being put to death, or giving up reading the Tawrah and Injil, except for what had been altered. They said: 'Why do you want us to change? Leave us alone.' Some of them said: 'Build us a tower and let us go up there, and give us something to lift up our food and drink so we do not have to mix with you.' Others said: 'Let us go and wander throughout the land, and we will drink as the wild animals drink, and if you capture us in your land, you may kill us.' Others said: 'Build houses for us in the wilderness, and we will dig wells and grow vegetables, and we will not mix with you or pass by you, for there is no one of the tribes among whom we do not have close relatives.' So they did that, and Allah revealed the words: 'But the monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them, but (they sought it) only to please Allah therewith, but that they did not observe it with the right observance.' Then others said: 'We will worship as so-and-so worshipped, and we will wander as so-and-so wandered, and we will adopt houses (in the wilderness) as so-and-so did.' But they were still following their Shirk with no knowledge of the faith of those whom they claimed to be following. When Allah sent the Prophet [SAW], and they were only a few of them left, a man came down from his cell, and a wanderer came from his travels, and a monk came from his monastery, and they believed in him. And Allah said: 'O you who believe! Fear Allah, and believe in His Messenger (Muhammad), He will give you a double portion of His mercy - meaning, two rewards, because of their having believed in 'Isa and in the Tawrah and Injil, and for having believing in Muhammad [SAW]; and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight), - meaning, the Qur'an, and their following the Prophet [SAW]; and He said: 'So that the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) may know that they have no power whatsoever over the Grace of Allah.'"

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."

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.'"

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "Two women went out with two children of theirs, and the wolf attacked one of them and took her child. The next day they referred their dispute over the remaining child to Dawud, peace be upon him, and he ruled that (the child) belonged to the older woman. Then they passed by Sulaiman and he said: 'What is your story?' So they told him. He said: 'Bring me a knife and I will cut him in half (to be shared) between you.' The younger one said: 'Will you cut him in half?' He said: 'Yes.' She said: 'Do not do that; I will give my share of him to her.' He said: 'He is your child' and he ruled that he belonged to her."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that : The Prophet [SAW] said: "Two women went out with their two children, and the wolf took one of the children from them. They referred their dispute to Prophet Dawud, peace be upon him, and he ruled that (the remaining child) belonged to the older woman. Then they passed by Sulaiman, peace be upon him, and he said: 'How did he judge between you?' She said: 'He ruled that (the child) belongs to the older woman.' Sulaiman said: 'Cut him in half, and give half to one and half to the other.' The older woman said: 'Yes, cut him in half.' The younger woman said: 'Do not cut him, he is her child.' So he ruled that the child belonged to the woman who refused to let him be cut."

It was narrated from Salim that his father said: "The Prophet [SAW] sent Khalid bin Al-Walid to Banu Jadhimah. He called them to Islam, but they could not say Aslamna (we submitted, i.e., became Muslim) so they started to say Saba'na (we changed our religion). Khalid started killing and taking prisoners, and he gave a prisoner to each man. The next day Khalid bin Al-Walid issued orders that each man among us kill his prisoner." Ibn 'Umar said: "I said: 'By Allah, I will not kill my prisoner, and no one (among my companions) will kill his prisoner.' We came to the Prophet [SAW], and he was told of what Khalid had done. The Prophet [SAW] said: 'I disavow what Khalid has done,' twice."

It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah said: "My father wrote to 'Ubaidullah bin Abi Bakrah - who was the judge of Sijistan - saying: 'Do not pass judgment between two people when you are angry, for I heard the Messenger of Allah [SAW] say: No one should pass judgment between two people 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.'"

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."