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سنن ابن ماجه
Ibn Majah
كتاب الأحكامThe Chapters on Rulings
بَابُ : ذِكْرِ الْقُضَاةِChapter: Mention Of Judges
Hadith 2308
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَلَّى بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، عَنْ الْمَقْبُريِّ ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : " مَنْ جُعِلَ قَاضِيًا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَقَدْ ذُبِحَ بِغَيْرِ سِكِّينٍ " .
´It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:` “Whoever is appointed judge between the people, he has been slaughtered without a knife.”
Related hadith on this topic
Brief Explanation
1؎: That is, he died without being killed. The meaning is that the position of judge (qada) is a matter of great danger and accountability, and there is fear of a bad end in the Hereafter, except for the one whom Allah protects. For this reason, most of the predecessors (aslaf) endured hardships and accepted humiliation, but did not accept the position of judge. For example, Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah was beaten and imprisoned by Caliph Mansur, but he did not accept to become a judge, so that he could save himself from the warning mentioned in the hadith. And those scholars who did accept these responsibilities fulfilled a religious obligation; by Allah’s grace, they had confidence in themselves that through this position they would serve the country and the people, and would be deserving of reward with Allah, Lord of Majesty.
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
➊ Deciding the disputes of people is an important responsibility, but it is a very delicate responsibility because correct decisions establish peace and tranquility in society, while incorrect decisions result in unrest and corruption.
➋ Due to a wrong decision, even the life of an innocent person can be lost, and the right of one person may be given to another. Therefore, it is necessary for the judge to be conscious of this responsibility and to make every possible effort to reach the correct decision.
➌ The phrase “being slaughtered without a knife” points to the delicacy of this position and the difficulty of fulfilling this duty. Despite this, the existence of this position in society is necessary; therefore, whoever possesses the capability should accept this responsibility and fulfill it with justice as it is due.
➊ Deciding the disputes of people is an important responsibility, but it is a very delicate responsibility because correct decisions establish peace and tranquility in society, while incorrect decisions result in unrest and corruption.
➋ Due to a wrong decision, even the life of an innocent person can be lost, and the right of one person may be given to another. Therefore, it is necessary for the judge to be conscious of this responsibility and to make every possible effort to reach the correct decision.
➌ The phrase “being slaughtered without a knife” points to the delicacy of this position and the difficulty of fulfilling this duty. Despite this, the existence of this position in society is necessary; therefore, whoever possesses the capability should accept this responsibility and fulfill it with justice as it is due.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 2308
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1:
According to one opinion, the intended meaning of "slaughter" here is metaphorical, because if he gives a correct judgment, people of the world will pursue him, and if he gives an incorrect judgment, he will become deserving of punishment in the Hereafter.
And another opinion is that this expression has been chosen in order to warn and alert him that what is meant by this destruction is the ruin and devastation of his religion and Hereafter, not of his body.
Or, it is that in slaughtering with a knife, there is relief for the slaughtered, whereas strangling or killing in some other way causes greater pain; therefore, mentioning it here is an exaggerated way of instilling fear and warning.
1:
According to one opinion, the intended meaning of "slaughter" here is metaphorical, because if he gives a correct judgment, people of the world will pursue him, and if he gives an incorrect judgment, he will become deserving of punishment in the Hereafter.
And another opinion is that this expression has been chosen in order to warn and alert him that what is meant by this destruction is the ruin and devastation of his religion and Hereafter, not of his body.
Or, it is that in slaughtering with a knife, there is relief for the slaughtered, whereas strangling or killing in some other way causes greater pain; therefore, mentioning it here is an exaggerated way of instilling fear and warning.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 1325
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
Benefit: The position of judge (qada) is an extremely responsible and testing position.
There can be no other reason for someone to seek or be eager for it,
except that the seeker of this office either wants to gain financial benefit from it,
or desires status and position.
Both of these matters
are such that, because of them, a person becomes unfit for this office.
However, if this position is entrusted to someone who does not desire it,
and he remains steadfast upon truth and justice, then this is a great act of resolve and there is a great reward with Allah.
Benefit: The position of judge (qada) is an extremely responsible and testing position.
There can be no other reason for someone to seek or be eager for it,
except that the seeker of this office either wants to gain financial benefit from it,
or desires status and position.
Both of these matters
are such that, because of them, a person becomes unfit for this office.
However, if this position is entrusted to someone who does not desire it,
and he remains steadfast upon truth and justice, then this is a great act of resolve and there is a great reward with Allah.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 3572
