Imaam Ibn Hajar Al-‘Asqalaani – rahimahullaah – said:
It is reported from Ma’qil Ibn Yasar radiyallaahu anhu- who said – The Messenger of Allah salallaahu alayhi wasallam said:
“Any governor in charge of Muslim subjects or matters who dies while acting dishonestly towards them will be excluded by Allah from Paradise.”
Transmitted and recorded by Imaam Bukhaari in his “Sahih”#7151 and Imaam Muslim in his “Sahih”#142.
COMMENTARY
The hadith shows the importance of the following:
♦ It shows that any leader of the Muslims that dies while acting dishonestly towards the Muslim ummah will be excluded from entering the Paradise. However, this does not implies that he is going to be in hell for eternity and he will not be forgiven forever, but it is only when one commits an act of shirk ( i.e associating partner with Allah) and dies while perpetuating the act that makes one to be in hell forever and he will not be forgiven forever.
Allah says in Suratul An-Nisa, Verse 116:
“Surely Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with Him, and He forgives what is besides this to whom He pleases; and whoever associates anything with Allah, he indeed strays off into a remote error.”
♦ It indicates that deceiving the public and being dishonest with them is a great sin because it prevents them from getting their rights. More to it, the punishment for the sin was mentioned in the hadith and this shows that the sin is a major sin.
♦ It indicates that leadership is an Amanah (trust) or moral responsibility that must not be taken as inconsequential or joke. Thus, it has to be handle with care and Taqwah (piety) of Allah.
Otherwise, the leader will earn Allah’s wrath on the day of judgement as stated in the above hadith.
Allaahu A’alam!
Baarakallaahu feekum!
