Mukhtasar Muslim

Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Shumasah says: I came to Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) to ask something, so she said: “Which people are you from?” I said: “From the people of Egypt.” She said: “What is the condition of your ruler in your conflict?” (Meaning Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, whom Sayyiduna Ali Murtaza (may Allah be pleased with him) had appointed as the ruler of Egypt after removing Qais bin Sa’d.) I said: “We have not seen anything bad from him. If anyone among us lost a camel, he would give him a camel; if a slave died, he would give a slave; and if someone needed expenses, he would provide expenses.” Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “What happened to my brother Muhammad bin Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) (that he was killed, his body was thrown among the dead, and then it was burned) does not prevent me from telling you what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said in this chamber: ‘O Allah! Whoever becomes a ruler over any affair of my Ummah and is harsh with them, then be harsh with him; and whoever becomes a ruler over any affair of my Ummah and is gentle with them, then be gentle with him.’”