Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

The son of Hazrat Khuzaymah bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed someone as a governor, he would make a group of the Ansar and other Muslims witnesses over him and would say: I have not appointed you as a leader over the lives and honors of the Muslims, but I have appointed you as a leader over them so that you may distribute among them with justice, and establish prayer among them. And he (may Allah be pleased with him) would stipulate as a condition that he would not eat bread made from sifted flour, nor wear fine clothes, nor ride a horse of noble breed. And at the time of people's needs, he would not close his door to them.

Hazrat Abu Firas (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered a sermon and said: Beware! By Allah, I have not sent governors to you so that they may beat you or seize your wealth. Rather, I have sent them to you so that they may teach you your religion and the Sunnah of your Prophet ﷺ. If anyone is treated in any other way, let him present this matter before me. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, I will surely take retribution on his behalf.

At this, Hazrat Amr bin Al-Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: O Commander of the Faithful! What is your opinion if a man from among the Muslims is appointed as a leader over a group and he disciplines someone from his subjects—will you also take retribution on his behalf? He (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: Yes! By the One in Whose hand is Umar’s soul, I will surely take retribution on his behalf as well. And I said, can I take retribution on his behalf when I have seen the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) taking retribution on his own behalf? Beware! Do not beat the Muslims in such a way that you humiliate them. And do not withhold their rights from them so that you force them to bow before you. And do not send them to the frontiers and then prevent them from returning home, lest you put them into trial. And do not settle them in places with dense gardens so that they become scattered and thus you cause them to be lost.

Hazrat Abu Uthman (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote a letter to Hazrat Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: Separate yourselves from the camels and ride horses. And take off your leather socks and wear sandals. Leave the trousers and tie the izar (waist cloth). And abandon the pleats, and adopt the dress of the tribe of Ma'ad. And protect yourselves from the customs of the non-Arabs, because the worst customs are those of the non-Arabs.

Hazrat Buraidah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed someone as the leader of a group or an army, he would especially advise him to fear Allah. And he would advise him to treat the Muslims who were with him well. And he would say: Strive in the path of Allah, fight those who disbelieve in Allah, go forth and do not be treacherous, nor act deceitfully. Do not mutilate by cutting off people's hands or feet. And do not kill children.

Hazrat Aslam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I saw Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) appoint his freed slave Hani as the leader over the pasture. The narrator says: I heard him (may Allah be pleased with him) saying to him: Woe to you, O Hani! Deal gently with the people, and beware of the supplication of the oppressed. For the supplication of the oppressed is accepted. You have entered as the manager of the trees and the spoils of war. And leave me concerning the animals of Ibn Affan and Ibn Awf, for if the livestock of Ibn Awf and Ibn Affan perish, both of them will return to their date palms and fields in Madinah. But if the livestock of these poor people perish, they will come to me crying: O Commander of the Faithful! O Commander of the Faithful! And providing water and pasture is easier for me than giving them gold and silver in exchange. By Allah! By Allah! By Allah!