Book 14: Judgments

Narrated Buraida (RA) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "al-Qudat (judges) are of three types, two of whom will go to Hell and one to Paradise. The one who will go to Paradise is a man who knows what is right and gives judgement accordingly. However, a man who knows what is right, and does not give judgement accordingly and acts unjustly in his judgement, will be in the Hell-fire. Likewise, a man who does not know what is right and judges people with ignorance, will be in the Hell-fire." [Reported by al-Arba'a, and al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "He who has been appointed a Qadi (judge) has been slaughtered without a knife." [Reported by Ahmad and al-Arba'a. Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated [Abu Hurairah (RA)]: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "You will eagerly seek out the office of governorship, but it will become a cause of regret on the Day of Resurrection. How excellent it is as a Murdi'ah (wet nurse)! And how evil it is as a Fatimah (one who weans)! [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Narrated 'Amr bin al-'Aas (RA): He heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say, "When a judge gives a ruling, having tried his best to decide correctly, and is right (in his decision), he will have a double reward; and when he gives a ruling having tried his best to decide correctly, and is wrong (in his decision), he will have a single reward." [Agreed upon].

Narrated Abu Bakrah (RA): I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say, "No judge should give judgement between two people while he is angry." [Agreed upon].

Narrated 'Ali (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "When two men bring a case before you, do not decide in favor of the first till you hear what the other has to say, then you will know how to judge." 'Ali (RA) said, "Since then, I have continued to judge (in accordance with that)." [Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi. The latter graded it Hasan (good), while Ibn al-Madini graded it Qawi (strong), and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic).]

It has a Shahid (supporting narration) reported by al-Hakim from the Hadith of Ibn 'Abbas.

Narrated Umm Salamah (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Indeed, you bring your disputers to me, and perhaps some of you are more eloquent in their plea than others, so that I give judgement on their behalf according to what I hear from them. Therefore, whatever I rule for anyone which by right belongs to his brother, I am only granting him a portion of Hell-fire." [Agreed upon].

Narrated Jabir (RA): I heard Allah's Messenger (SAW0 saying, "How could an Ummah (people) be purified (of its sins) where the right of its weak is not taken from its strong." [Reported by Ibn Hibban].

It has a Shahid (supporting narration) from the Hadith of Buraida, reported by al-Bazzar.

And another [Shahid (supporting chain)] from the Hadith of Abu Sa'id, reported by Ibn Majah.

Narrated 'Aishah (RA): I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "the just Qadi (judge) will be called (forth) on the Day of Resurrection and he will wish he had never given judgement even between two men throughout his life, due to the severity of the account he will face." [Reported by Ibn Hibban. al-Baihaqi reported it with the wording: "...concerning a single tamrah (date fruit).

Narrated Abu Bakrah (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A people who make a woman their ruler will never be successful." [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Narrated Abu Maryam al-Azdi (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever is placed by Allah over any matter of the affairs of the Muslims, and then conceals himself (i.e. holds back) from dealing with their needs and their poor (people), Allah will conceal Himself (i.e. hold back) from fulfilling his needs." [Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi reported it].

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes bribes to influence the judgement. [Reported by Ahmad and al-Arba'a. at-Tirmidhi graded it Hasan (good), and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic).

It has a Shahid (supporting narration) from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr's Hadith, reported by al-Arba'a except an-Nasa'i].

Narrated 'Abdullah bin az-Zubair (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ruled that the two opposing parties in a dispute should sit in front of the judge. [Reported by Abu Dawud. al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated Zaid bin Khaled al-Juhani (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Shall I not inform you who is the best witness? He is the one who produces his testimony before he is asked for it." [Reported by Muslim].

Narrated 'Imran bin Husain (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Verily! The best of you (i.e. Muslims) are my generation, then their immediate followers, then their immediate followers. After them there will be people who will give (false) testimony without being asked (to testify), who will be treacherous and are not to be trusted, who will make vows and will not fulfill them, among whom obesity will appear." [Agreed upon].

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "It is not permissible to accept the testimony of a man or a woman who does not fulfill their trusts, or of one who harbors a grudge against his brother, or the testimony of one who is dependent on a family (to testify) for members of the family." [Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud].