Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 94

كِتَاب الْأَحْكَامِ

The Book of Al-Ahkam (Judgements)

85 hadith · 53 chapters

The chapter divisions

Chapters in this book

11- بَابُ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ}:(1) Chapter. The Statement of Allah: “(O you who believe!) Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)) and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority…" (V.4:59)22- بَابُ الأُمَرَاءُ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ:(2) Chapter. The (chief) rulers (of all Muslims must be) from the Quraish.33- بَابُ أَجْرِ مَنْ قَضَى بِالْحِكْمَةِ:(3) Chapter. The reward of the person who judging according to (the principles of) Al-Hikmah.44- بَابُ السَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ لِلإِمَامِ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ مَعْصِيَةً:(4) Chapter. To listen to and obey one’s Imam (Muslim ruler) as long as his orders involve not one in disobedience (to Allah).55- بَابُ مَنْ لَمْ يَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ أَعَانَهُ اللَّهُ:(5) Chapter. If somebody does not seek authority of ruling, then Allah will surely help him (if he is given such authority).66- بَابُ مَنْ سَأَلَ الإِمَارَةَ وُكِلَ إِلَيْهَا:(6) Chapter. He who seeks to be a ruler will be held responsible for that (i.e., Allah will not help him in his duty).77- بَابُ مَا يُكْرَهُ مِنَ الْحِرْصِ عَلَى الإِمَارَةِ:(7) Chapter. What is disliked regarding being keen to have the authority of ruling.88- بَابُ مَنِ اسْتُرْعِيَ رَعِيَّةً فَلَمْ يَنْصَحْ:(8) Chapter. If somebody is assigned the authority of ruling some people but, he does not look after them in an honest manner!99- بَابُ مَنْ شَاقَّ شَقَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ:(9) Chapter. Whoever puts the people into troubles and difficulties will be put into troubles and difficulties by Allah.1010- بَابُ الْقَضَاءِ وَالْفُتْيَا فِي الطَّرِيقِ:(10) Chapter. To give judgements and legal opinions on the road.1111- بَابُ مَا ذُكِرَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ بَوَّابٌ:(11) Chapter. It is mentioned that there was no gatekeeper for the Prophet (p.b.u.h.).1212- بَابُ الْحَاكِمِ يَحْكُمُ بِالْقَتْلِ عَلَى مَنْ وَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ دُونَ الإِمَامِ الَّذِي فَوْقَهُ:(12) Chapter. A governor (of a province, etc.,) who is under can sentence to death a person who deserve such punishement without consulting the Imam.1313- بَابُ هَلْ يَقْضِي الْحَاكِمُ أَوْ يُفْتِي وَهْوَ غَضْبَانُ:(13) Chapter. Can a judge give a judgement or a formal legal opinion while he is in an angry mood?1414- بَابُ مَنْ رَأَى لِلْقَاضِي أَنْ يَحْكُمَ بِعِلْمِهِ فِي أَمْرِ النَّاسِ إِذَا لَمْ يَخَفِ الظُّنُونَ وَالتُّهَمَةَ:(14) Chapter. Whosoever thinks that a judge can give judgements for the people according to his knowledge if he is not afraid of being suspected or blamed.1515- بَابُ الشَّهَادَةِ عَلَى الْخَطِّ الْمَخْتُومِ:(15) Chapter. To bear witness as to the writer of a stamped letter.1617- بَابُ رِزْقِ الْحُكَّامِ وَالْعَامِلِينِ عَلَيْهَا:(17) Chapter. The salaries of rulers and those employed to administer the funds.1718- بَابُ مَنْ قَضَى وَلاَعَنَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ:(18) Chapter. Whoever gave judgements of Lian in the mosque.1819- بَابُ مَنْ حَكَمَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَى عَلَى حَدٍّ أَمَرَ أَنْ يُخْرَجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَيُقَامَ:(19) Chapter. Whoever passed a judgement in the mosque and when the actual legal punishement was to be put to action,he ordered the guilty person to be taken outside the mosque so that the punishment might be carried out.1920- بَابُ مَوْعِظَةِ الإِمَامِ لِلْخُصُومِ:(20) Chapter. The advice of the Imam (ruler) to the litigants.2021- بَابُ الشَّهَادَةِ تَكُونُ عِنْدَ الْحَاكِمِ فِي وِلاَيَتِهِ الْقَضَاءِ أَوْ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ لِلْخَصْمِ:(21) Chapter. If a judge has to witness in favour of a litigant when he is a judge or he had it before he became a judge (can he pass a judgement in his favour accordingly or should he refer the case to another judge before whom he would bear witness?).2122- بَابُ أَمْرِ الْوَالِي إِذَا وَجَّهَ أَمِيرَيْنِ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ أَنْ يَتَطَاوَعَا وَلاَ يَتَعَاصَيَا:(22) Chapter. The order of the Wali (chief ruler) sending two Amir (governors) to one place that they should coopertae and agree with each other and should not differ with one another.2223- بَابُ إِجَابَةِ الْحَاكِمِ الدَّعْوَةَ:(23) Chapter. The ruler’s acceptance of invitation.2324- بَابُ هَدَايَا الْعُمَّالِ:(24) Chapter. The gifts taken by the employees.2425- بَابُ اسْتِقْضَاءِ الْمَوَالِي وَاسْتِعْمَالِهِمْ:(25) Chapter. To appoint the Maula (freed slaves) as judges and officials.2526- بَابُ الْعُرَفَاءِ لِلنَّاسِ:(26) Chapter. The Urafa appointed to look after the people’s affairs.2627- بَابُ مَا يُكْرَهُ مِنْ ثَنَاءِ السُّلْطَانِ، وَإِذَا خَرَجَ قَالَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ:(27) Chapter. What is disliked as regards praising the Sultan (ruler) (in his presence) and saying something differently after leaving him.2728- بَابُ الْقَضَاءِ عَلَى الْغَائِبِ:(28) Chapter. Passing a Judgement against an absent person.2829- بَابُ مَنْ قُضِيَ لَهُ بِحَقِّ أَخِيهِ فَلاَ يَأْخُذْهُ، فَإِنَّ قَضَاءَ الْحَاكِمِ لاَ يُحِلُّ حَرَامًا وَلاَ يُحَرِّمُ حَلاَلاً:(29) Chapter. Whoever is given the right of his brother (by error) through a judicial decision, then he should not take it as the judge’s judgement cannot render what is illegal, legal or what is legal, illegal.2930- بَابُ الْحُكْمِ فِي الْبِئْرِ وَنَحْوِهَا:(30) Chapter. Judgement regarding cases involving wells, etc.3031- بَابُ الْقَضَاءِ فِي كَثِيرِ الْمَالِ وَقَلِيلِهِ:(31) Chapter. To judge (all) cases involving wealth weather it is much or little in amount, in one and the same.3132- بَابُ بَيْعِ الإِمَامِ عَلَى النَّاسِ أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَضِيَاعَهُمْ:(32) Chapter. The selling of the people’s real or personal estates by the ruler on their behalf.3233- بَابُ مَنْ لَمْ يَكْتَرِثْ بِطَعْنِ مَنْ لاَ يَعْلَمُ فِي الأُمَرَاءِ حَدِيثًا:(33) Chapter. Whoever does not care slanders made by ignorant people against the Amirs (leaders).3334- بَابُ الأَلَدِّ الْخَصِمِ:(34) Chapter. The one who is the most contentious of enemies; and that is, the most quarrelsome person of the opponents.3435- بَابُ إِذَا قَضَى الْحَاكِمُ بِجَوْرٍ أَوْ خِلاَفِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ فَهْوَ رَدٌّ:(35) Chapter. If a judge passes an unjust judgement or a judgement which differs from that of the learned religious men, such a judgement is to be rejected.3536- بَابُ الإِمَامِ يَأْتِي قَوْمًا فَيُصْلِحُ بَيْنَهُمْ:(36) Chapter. The Imam (ruler) going to some people to establish peace among them.3637- بَابُ يُسْتَحَبُّ لِلْكَاتِبِ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَمِينًا عَاقِلاً:(37) Chapter. It is desirable that a scribe should be honest and wise.3738- بَابُ كِتَابِ الْحَاكِمِ إِلَى عُمَّالِهِ، وَالْقَاضِي إِلَى أُمَنَائِهِ:(38) Chapter. The writing of a letter by the ruler to his representatives (in the provinces), and by judge to his workers who look after the problems of the people.3839- بَابُ هَلْ يَجُوزُ لِلْحَاكِمِ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ رَجُلاً وَحْدَهُ لِلنَّظَرِ فِي الأُمُورِ:(39) Chapter. Is ir permissible for a ruler to send one man only to manage certain affairs?3940- بَابُ تَرْجَمَةِ الْحُكَّامِ، وَهَلْ يَجُوزُ تُرْجُمَانٌ وَاحِدٌ:(40) Chapter. The translators of a ruler; and is it permissible to keep one translator?4041- بَابُ مُحَاسَبَةِ الإِمَامِ عُمَّالَهُ:(41) Chapter. The ruler calling his employees to account.4142- بَابُ بِطَانَةِ الْإِمَامِ وَأَهْلِ مَشُورَتِهِ الْبِطَانَةُ الدُّخَلَاءُ :(42) Chapter. The courtiers and advisers of the Imam (ruler).4243- بَابُ كَيْفَ يُبَايِعُ الإِمَامُ النَّاسَ:(43) Chapter. How do the people give the Baia (pledge) to the Imam (ruler).4344- بَابُ مَنْ بَايَعَ مَرَّتَيْنِ:(44) Chapter. Whosoever gave the Baia (pledge) twice.4445- بَابُ بَيْعَةِ الأَعْرَابِ:(45) Chapter. The giving of the Baia (pledge) by the bedouins.4546- بَابُ بَيْعَةِ الصَّغِيرِ:(46) Chapter. The Baia (pledge) of a child.4647- بَابُ مَنْ بَايَعَ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَالَ الْبَيْعَةَ:(47) Chapter. Whoever gave the Baia (pledge) and then cancelled it.4748- بَابُ مَنْ بَايَعَ رَجُلاً لاَ يُبَايِعُهُ إِلاَّ لِلدُّنْيَا:(48) Chapter. The person who gives the Baia (pledge) to a man just for worldly benefits.4849- بَابُ بَيْعَةِ النِّسَاءِ:(49) Chapter. The Baia (pledge) given by women.4950- بَابُ مَنْ نَكَثَ بَيْعَةً:(S0) Chapter. Whoever violates a Baia (pledge).5051- بَابُ الاِسْتِخْلاَفِ:(51) Chapter. The appointment of a caliph (to succeed another).5151 م- بَابٌ:(51b) Chapter.5252- بَابُ إِخْرَاجِ الْخُصُومِ وَأَهْلِ الرِّيَبِ مِنَ الْبُيُوتِ بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ:(52) Chapter. The expulsion of quarrelsome people and people accused of something, from houses after having a firm proof against them.5353- بَابُ هَلْ لِلإِمَامِ أَنْ يَمْنَعَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ وَأَهْلَ الْمَعْصِيَةِ مِنَ الْكَلاَمِ مَعَهُ وَالزِّيَارَةِ وَنَحْوِهِ:(53) Chapter. Is it legal for the Imam to forbid the criminals and those who commit sin to talk to or visit him, etc.?

Opening leaves

First narrations

Bukhari · 7138أَلَا كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ ، وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ ، فَالْإِمَامُ الَّذِي عَلَى النَّاسِ رَاعٍ ، وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ ، وَالرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ ، وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِAllah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Surely! Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges The Imam (ruler) of the people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; a man is the guardian of his family 4 narratorsBukhari · 7139أَمَّا بَعْدُ ، فَإِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ رِجَالًا مِنْكُمْ يُحَدِّثُونَ أَحَادِيثَ لَيْسَتْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تُوثَرُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، وَأُولَئِكَ جُهَّالُكُمْ ، فَإِيَّاكThat while he was included in a delegation of Quraish staying with Muawiya, Muawiya heard that `Abdullah bin `Amr had said that there would be a king from Qahtan tribe, whereupon he became very angry. He stood up, and af10 narrators·parallel chainBukhari · 7140لَا يَزَالُ هَذَا الْأَمْرُ فِي قُرَيْشٍ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْهُمُ اثْنَانِAllah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "This matter (caliphate) will remain with the Quraish even if only two of them were still existing."4 narratorsBukhari · 7141لَا حَسَدَ إِلَّا فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ : رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا فَسَلَّطَهُ عَلَى هَلَكَتِهِ فِي الْحَقِّ ، وَآخَرُ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ حِكْمَةً فَهُوَ يَقْضِي بِهَا وَيُعَلِّمُهَاAllah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do not wish to be like anyone, except in two cases (1) A man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously. (2) A man whom Allah has given wisdom (knowledge of the Qur'an and the H5 narratorsBukhari · 7142اسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا ، وَإِنِ اسْتُعْمِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَبْدٌ حَبَشِيٌّ كَأَنَّ رَأْسَهُ زَبِيبَةٌAllah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "You should listen to and obey, your ruler even if he was an Ethiopian (black) slave whose head looks like a raisin."5 narratorsBukhari · 7143مَنْ رَأَى مِنْ أَمِيرِهِ شَيْئًا فَكَرِهَهُ فَلْيَصْبِرْ ، فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ يُفَارِقُ الْجَمَاعَةَ شِبْرًا فَيَمُوتُ ، إِلَّا مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةًThe Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If somebody sees his Muslim ruler doing something he disapproves of, he should be patient, for whoever becomes separate from the Muslim group even for a span and then dies, he will die as those who5 narratorsBukhari · 7144السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ عَلَى الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ فِيمَا أَحَبَّ وَكَرِهَ مَا لَمْ يُؤْمَرْ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ ، فَإِذَا أُمِرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ فَلَا سَمْعَ وَلَا طَاعَةَThe Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A Muslim has to listen to and obey (the order of his ruler) whether he likes it or not, as long as his orders involve not one in disobedience (to Allah), but if an act of disobedience (to Allah) is5 narratorsBukhari · 7145بَعَثَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَرِيَّةً ، وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يُطِيعُوهُ ، فَغَضِبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ، وَقَالَ : أَلَيْسَ قَدْ أَمَرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُThe Prophet (ﷺ) sent an army unit (for some campaign) and appointed a man from the Ansar as its commander and ordered them (the soldiers) to obey him. (During the campaign) he became angry with them and said, "Didn't the6 narratorsBukhari · 7146يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ ، لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا ، وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا ، وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يThe Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O 'Abdur-Rahman! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking (for it), then you will be4 narratorsBukhari · 7147يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ ، لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ ، فَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا ، وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا ، وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ ،Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O `Abdur-Rahman bin Samura! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand, you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking for it, then 5 narratorsBukhari · 7148إِنَّكُمْ سَتَحْرِصُونَ عَلَى الْإِمَارَةِ وَسَتَكُونُ نَدَامَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ، فَنِعْمَ الْمُرْضِعَةُ وَبِئْسَتِ الْفَاطِمَةُThe Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You people will be keen to have the authority of ruling which will be a thing of regret for you on the Day of Resurrection. What an excellent wet nurse it is, yet what a bad weaning one it is!"10 narrators·parallel chainBukhari · 7149دَخَلْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَا وَرَجُلَانِ مِنْ قَوْمِي ، فَقَالَ أَحَدُ الرَّجُلَيْنِ : أَمِّرْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، وَقَالَ الْآخَرُ مِثْلَهُ ، فَقَالَ : إِنَّا لَا نُوَلِّي هَذَاTwo men from my tribe and I entered upon the Prophet. One of the two men said to the Prophet, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Appoint me as a governor," and so did the second. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "We do not assign the author5 narrators