Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said regarding the verse of the Holy Qur'an: { یَا أَیُّہَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا کُونُوا قَوَّامِینَ بِالْقِسْطِ } that when two persons sit before a judge, then the judge's strictness and displeasure will be upon one of them.

Hazrat Abdullah says that any ruler who makes (wrong) judgments among the people, on the Day of Resurrection, his condition will be such that an angel will seize him and make him stand over Hell, then he will raise his head towards the Most Merciful, and it will be said, "Throw him into Hell," and he will be thrown at a distance of forty autumns. Hazrat Masruq says that for me, making one judgment with truth and justice in a day is more beloved than striving in Allah's path for a whole year.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that Hazrat Sulaiman (peace be upon him) was tested regarding making a judgment among the people of Jaradah. Jaradah is the name of a woman. Sulaiman (peace be upon him) wished that the truth would be with the people of Jaradah so that he could pronounce the decision in their favor.

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the ruler of the earth will be destroyed before the Ruler of the heavens on the day when the earthly ruler meets the Ruler above. Except for that ruler who judged with justice and fairness, and was not overcome by desire, kinship, inclination, or fear, and who kept the Book of Allah as a mirror before his eyes.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said that judges are of three types: two will go to Hell and one will go to Paradise. Then he mentioned the two who will go to Hell: one is the person who knowingly commits injustice; he will go to Hell. The second is the person who intends to do justice and fairness but makes a mistake; he too will go to Hell. And the third is the one whose intention was also for the truth and whose judgment was also correct; such a person will go to Paradise. The narrator says that I asked Hazrat Rafi’ why, in your opinion, will the person who intended the truth but made a mistake go to Hell? He replied: If he did not have knowledge of judgment, then he should not have become a judge.

Hazrat Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) says that it is not appropriate for a judge to pass a verdict until the truth becomes as clear to him as the night is distinct from the day. When this statement reached Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) has spoken the truth.

Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) said that by the verse of the Noble Qur’an and “fasl al-khitab” is meant the knowledge of judgment.

Hazrat Shurayh says that witness and oath are meant.

Hazrat Mujahid, regarding the Quranic verse "Yu'til hikmata man yashaa," states that Prophethood is not meant by this. Rather, knowledge, the Quran, and jurisprudence are meant.

Hazrat Ziyad says that by "fasl al-khitab" is meant "amma ba'd".

Hazrat Shurayh says that what is meant is witness and oath.

The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: No judge should decide between two people while he is in a state of anger.

Hazrat Shurayh says that I have never paid attention to the unnecessary words of the litigant, nor have I ever tried to explain his argument to him myself.

Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a judge should not pass judgment between two people while in a state of anger.