Sayyiduna Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I fear misguided leaders for my Ummah."
Hadith Referenceمسند الشهاب / 1166
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«صحيح ، وأخرجه أبو داود : 4252 ، والترمذي : 2229 ، ابن ماجه : 3952 ، وأحمد فى «مسنده» برقم: 22828»
Brief Explanation
Explanation: From this hadith, it is understood that the thing which most severely fragments the unity of Muslims and causes the greatest harm to their religion is the misguidance of those who lead and guide the Muslims—whether they are religious or political leaders. This is because when an individual goes astray, the harm is limited to that person alone; however, when a leader or guide goes astray, the harm affects the entire nation and community.