Sincere counsel to rulers and how it is given

Shurayh bin Ubayd and others narrate: Once Sayyiduna Iyad bin Ghanm (may Allah be pleased with him) had the owner of a house flogged; this was after that territory had been conquered. Hisham bin Hakim expressed strong displeasure with him over this, until Sayyiduna Iyad bin Ghanm (may Allah be pleased with him) became angry. Then, after some days had passed, Hisham bin Hakim came to him and offered his apology. Then Hisham said: "Have you not heard this saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): 'Among people, the most severe punishment will be for the one who used to punish people most severely in this world'?" Sayyiduna Iyad bin Ghanm (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Hisham bin Hakim! What you have heard, we have heard too, and what you have seen, we have seen too. Have you not heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: 'Whoever intends to give sincere advice to a ruler about some matter should not disclose it to him publicly; rather, he should take him by the hand and go aside with him in private. If that ruler accepts what he says, well and good; otherwise he has fulfilled the duty that was upon him.' O Hisham! You are bold in this respect: you have shown boldness before the ruler appointed by Allah Almighty. Why were you not afraid that the ruler could have you killed, and you would become one killed by the ruler of Allah?" (Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: a part of this narration, the part narrated from Hisham, is recorded in the "Sahih".
This narration has been recorded by Imam Ahmad, and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy); however, I have not found any report of Shurayh having heard from Sayyiduna Iyad bin Ghanm (may Allah be pleased with him) or Sayyiduna Hisham bin Hakim (may Allah be pleased with him), even though he is a Tabi'i.

Jubayr bin Nufayr narrates: Once Sayyiduna Iyad bin Ghanm (may Allah be pleased with him) had the owner of a house flogged; this was after that territory had been conquered. Hisham bin Hakim expressed strong displeasure with him over this. After some days had passed, Hisham bin Hakim came to him, offered his apology and said: "O Iyad! Do you not know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Among people, the most severe punishment on the Day of Resurrection will be for the one who used to punish people most severely in this world'?" Sayyiduna Iyad bin Ghanm (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "What you have heard, we have heard too; what you have seen, we have seen too; and we are Companions just as you are a Companion. But, O Hisham, have you not heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: 'Whoever has some advice'" After this the narrator mentioned the narration as before, and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy) and its chain is muttasil (connected).

Sa'id bin Jumhan narrates: I met Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him); his eyesight had gone. I greeted him with salam, and he asked: "Who are you?" I replied: "I am Sa'id bin Jumhan." He asked: "How is your father?" I said: "The Azariqah have killed him." He said: "May Allah Almighty curse the Azariqah! The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told us that they are the dogs of Hell." I asked: "Only the Azariqah, or all the Khawarij?" He said: "Rather, all the Khawarij." I asked: "What if a ruler oppresses the people and treats them badly?" The narrator says: He took hold of my hand, squeezed it hard and then said: "Woe to you, O Ibn Jumhan! You must stay with the great majority (al-sawad al-a'zam)." He said this twice and then said: "If the ruler listens to you, go to him in his house and inform him according to what you know. If he accepts what you say, well and good; otherwise leave him to his state, for you are not more knowledgeable than him."
(Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: Imam Ibn Majah has recorded a part of this narration.
This narration has been recorded by Imam Ahmad and Imam al-Tabarani; the narrators of Imam Ahmad are thiqat (trustworthy).