Source: Sharh al-Jami‘ min Bulugh al-Maram by Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani | Translation: Hafiz Abd al-Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Narrated by Ma‘qil bin Yasar (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"No servant whom Allah appoints as a ruler over a group of people dies while he is deceiving his subjects, except that Allah makes Paradise forbidden for him."
[Agreed upon – Bukhari 7150; Muslim, al-Iman 142]
The wording of this Hadith mentioned in Bulugh al-Maram is from one of the narrations in Sahih Muslim. Another narration in Muslim reads:
ما من امير يلي امر المسلمين ثم لا يجهد لهم وينصح إلا لم يدخل معهم الجنة
[Muslim / al-Iman 366]
"Whoever is appointed over the affairs of the Muslims and does not strive for them or sincerely advise them will not enter Paradise with them."
For such rulers, Paradise is declared forbidden. This is because they will not be able to fulfill the rights of so many people on the Day of Judgment. Allah will not personally compensate the people on their behalf by granting them rights from His side while sending the oppressive rulers to Paradise. Rather, He will certainly cast them into Hell as retribution for those violated rights.
The meaning of Paradise being forbidden in this Hadith is that such a person will not enter Paradise immediately; instead, they will enter only after facing punishment. This interpretation is based on the understanding that eternal deprivation from Paradise is reserved only for disbelievers.
Allah says:
إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّـهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ
[Surah al-Ma’idah 5:72]
And about the provisions of Paradise, He says:
إِنَّ اللَّـهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ
[Surah al-A‘raf 7:50]
Therefore, when it is said that Paradise is forbidden for a Muslim, it implies a delay in entry rather than eternal deprivation. The aforementioned second narration from Muslim supports this understanding as it states:
لم يدخل معهم الجنة – “He will not enter Paradise with them (i.e., the righteous believers).”
However, if after receiving punishment, such a person eventually enters Paradise, it will be a separate matter.
✔ Desiring for them what one desires for oneself.
✔ Protecting their lives, wealth, honor, and dignity.
✔ Preventing the spread of immorality and corruption.
✔ Enforcing the prescribed punishments of Allah on crimes like murder, theft, robbery, fornication, slander, and drinking alcohol.
✔ Listening to the complaints of the oppressed.
✔ Avoiding isolation or distance from the people.
✔ Judging based on justice rather than personal desires.
✔ Striving to protect Islam and Muslims through Jihad.
✔ Ensuring the spread of Qur’an and Sunnah-based education.
✔ Appointing only the most qualified individuals to positions of responsibility after careful evaluation.
✔ Ensuring justice in the distribution of wealth and other communal benefits.
Such a ruler will be held in high esteem by Allah.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Seven types of people will be granted shade under the Throne of Allah on the Day of Judgment, when there will be no shade but His. The first among them is the just ruler."
[Bukhari – Kitab al-Adhan, Hadith 36]
‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
إن المقسطين عند الله على منابر من نور عن يمين الرحمن عز وجل وكلتا يديه يمين الذين يعدلون في حكمهم واهليهم وما ولوا
[Muslim / al-Imarah 4721]
"Those who are just will be upon pulpits of light to the right of the Most Merciful, and both His hands are right hands. They are those who are just in their rulings, with their families, and with all over whom they have authority."
✖ Prioritizing personal desires over the well-being of the people.
✖ Destroying the lives, wealth, and honor of the citizens.
✖ Abolishing the enforcement of Islamic penal laws and Jihad.
✖ Misappropriating public wealth.
✖ Failing to compensate the victims of injustice.
✖ Imposing unjust taxes and making people's lives miserable.
✖ Allowing oppressors and corrupt individuals to harm the public freely.
✖ Appointing incompetent and sycophantic individuals over deserving ones in public offices.
✖ Collaborating with the enemies of Muslims, thereby harming Islam and the Ummah.
For such treacherous and unjust rulers, the Prophet (ﷺ) has clearly warned of the deprivation from Paradise.
✦ The Hadith
عن معقل بن يسار رضى الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم يقول: ما من عبد يسترعيه الله رعية يموت يوم يموت وهو غاش لرعيته إلا حرم الله عليه الجنة [متفق عليه]Narrated by Ma‘qil bin Yasar (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"No servant whom Allah appoints as a ruler over a group of people dies while he is deceiving his subjects, except that Allah makes Paradise forbidden for him."
[Agreed upon – Bukhari 7150; Muslim, al-Iman 142]
✿ Important Points and Explanations
➊ Context and Background
Imam Bukhari (رحمه الله) narrates a version of this Hadith from Hasan (رحمه الله), which includes an incident where ‘Ubaydullah bin Ziyad came to visit Ma‘qil bin Yasar (رضي الله عنه) during his illness—an illness from which he eventually passed away. At that time, ‘Ubaydullah was the governor of Basrah during the reigns of Mu‘awiyah (رضي الله عنه) and his son Yazid. It was on this occasion that Ma‘qil (رضي الله عنه) narrated this Hadith to him.The wording of this Hadith mentioned in Bulugh al-Maram is from one of the narrations in Sahih Muslim. Another narration in Muslim reads:
ما من امير يلي امر المسلمين ثم لا يجهد لهم وينصح إلا لم يدخل معهم الجنة
[Muslim / al-Iman 366]
"Whoever is appointed over the affairs of the Muslims and does not strive for them or sincerely advise them will not enter Paradise with them."
➋ Severe Warning for Unjust Rulers
This Hadith contains a stern warning for those rulers who:- Do not sincerely work for the welfare of their subjects.
- Fail to offer sincere advice and loyalty.
- Deceive their people.
- Die without repenting for such actions.
For such rulers, Paradise is declared forbidden. This is because they will not be able to fulfill the rights of so many people on the Day of Judgment. Allah will not personally compensate the people on their behalf by granting them rights from His side while sending the oppressive rulers to Paradise. Rather, He will certainly cast them into Hell as retribution for those violated rights.
The meaning of Paradise being forbidden in this Hadith is that such a person will not enter Paradise immediately; instead, they will enter only after facing punishment. This interpretation is based on the understanding that eternal deprivation from Paradise is reserved only for disbelievers.
Allah says:
إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّـهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ
[Surah al-Ma’idah 5:72]
And about the provisions of Paradise, He says:
إِنَّ اللَّـهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ
[Surah al-A‘raf 7:50]
Therefore, when it is said that Paradise is forbidden for a Muslim, it implies a delay in entry rather than eternal deprivation. The aforementioned second narration from Muslim supports this understanding as it states:
لم يدخل معهم الجنة – “He will not enter Paradise with them (i.e., the righteous believers).”
However, if after receiving punishment, such a person eventually enters Paradise, it will be a separate matter.
➌ Definition of Sincere Care for the People
Sincere care and goodwill for the subjects includes:✔ Desiring for them what one desires for oneself.
✔ Protecting their lives, wealth, honor, and dignity.
✔ Preventing the spread of immorality and corruption.
✔ Enforcing the prescribed punishments of Allah on crimes like murder, theft, robbery, fornication, slander, and drinking alcohol.
✔ Listening to the complaints of the oppressed.
✔ Avoiding isolation or distance from the people.
✔ Judging based on justice rather than personal desires.
✔ Striving to protect Islam and Muslims through Jihad.
✔ Ensuring the spread of Qur’an and Sunnah-based education.
✔ Appointing only the most qualified individuals to positions of responsibility after careful evaluation.
✔ Ensuring justice in the distribution of wealth and other communal benefits.
Such a ruler will be held in high esteem by Allah.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Seven types of people will be granted shade under the Throne of Allah on the Day of Judgment, when there will be no shade but His. The first among them is the just ruler."
[Bukhari – Kitab al-Adhan, Hadith 36]
‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
إن المقسطين عند الله على منابر من نور عن يمين الرحمن عز وجل وكلتا يديه يمين الذين يعدلون في حكمهم واهليهم وما ولوا
[Muslim / al-Imarah 4721]
"Those who are just will be upon pulpits of light to the right of the Most Merciful, and both His hands are right hands. They are those who are just in their rulings, with their families, and with all over whom they have authority."
➍ What Constitutes Betrayal of the People?
Betrayal and deception, in contrast to sincere care, includes:✖ Prioritizing personal desires over the well-being of the people.
✖ Destroying the lives, wealth, and honor of the citizens.
✖ Abolishing the enforcement of Islamic penal laws and Jihad.
✖ Misappropriating public wealth.
✖ Failing to compensate the victims of injustice.
✖ Imposing unjust taxes and making people's lives miserable.
✖ Allowing oppressors and corrupt individuals to harm the public freely.
✖ Appointing incompetent and sycophantic individuals over deserving ones in public offices.
✖ Collaborating with the enemies of Muslims, thereby harming Islam and the Ummah.
For such treacherous and unjust rulers, the Prophet (ﷺ) has clearly warned of the deprivation from Paradise.
