Hadith+
    Beta 2
Help
 
X
GO
Browse All Books    Browse All Topics
LiteView
 
Quick Search 
Sahih Muslim 1832a (Book 33, Hadith 37) #11847
Honesty in Public Service

SUMMARY: This hadith is about the importance of honesty and integrity in public service, and the consequences of taking advantage of one's position for personal gain.

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Humaid as-Sa'idi who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ appointed a man from the Asad tribe who was called Ibn Lutbiyya in charge of Sadaqa (i. e. authorised hign to receive Sadaqa from the people on behalf of the State. When he returned (with the collictions), he said: This is for you and (this is mine as) it was presented to me as a gift. The narrator said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) stood on the pulpit and praised God and extolled Him. Then he said: What about a State official whom I give an assignment and who (comes and) says: This is for you and this has been presented to me as a gift? Why didn't he remain in the house of his father or the house of his mother so that he could observe whether gifts were presented to him or not. By the Being in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, any one of you will not take anything from it but will bring it on the Day of Judgment, carrying on his neck a camel that will be growling, or a cow that will be bellowing or an ewe that will be bleating. Then he raised his hands so that we could see the whiteness of his armpits. Then he said twice: O God, I have conveyed (Thy Commandments).
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، قَالَ اسْتَعْمَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَسْدِ يُقَالُ لَهُ ابْنُ اللُّتْبِيَّةِ - قَالَ عَمْرٌو وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ عَلَى الصَّدَقَةِ - فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ قَالَ هَذَا لَكُمْ وَهَذَا لِي أُهْدِيَ لِي قَالَ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا بَالُ عَامِلٍ أَبْعَثُهُ فَيَقُولُ هَذَا لَكُمْ وَهَذَا أُهْدِيَ لِي ‏.‏ أَفَلاَ قَعَدَ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِيهِ أَوْ فِي بَيْتِ أُمِّهِ حَتَّى يَنْظُرَ أَيُهْدَى إِلَيْهِ أَمْ لاَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لاَ يَنَالُ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا إِلاَّ جَاءَ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَحْمِلُهُ عَلَى عُنُقِهِ بَعِيرٌ لَهُ رُغَاءٌ أَوْ بَقَرَةٌ لَهَا خُوَارٌ أَوْ شَاةٌ تَيْعِرُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى رَأَيْنَا عُفْرَتَىْ إِبْطَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ مَرَّتَيْنِ
TOPICS
integrity  *  honesty  *  service  *  accountability  *  istihqaq  *  sadaqa  *  lutbiyya

QUICK LESSONS:
Be honest in your positions no matter what; strive to do what is right even if no one else knows about it or sees you doing it; obey Allah's commands without question; respect authority figures; follow instructions given by those above you without hesitation; treat others fairly regardless of your own personal feelings towards them .

EXPLANATIONS:
This hadith speaks to the importance of honesty and integrity when it comes to public service. The Prophet Muhammad appointed a man from the Asad tribe called Ibn Lutbiyya to collect sadaqa on behalf of the state. When he returned with his collections, he said that some was for them and some was a gift for him. The Prophet Muhammad then stood up on the pulpit and praised God before warning against such behavior. He said that anyone who takes something from their position will have to bring it back on Judgment Day, carrying an animal like a camel or cow or ewe around their neck as punishment. He then raised his hands so they could see his armpits, emphasizing how serious this issue is by saying “O God, I have conveyed” twice. This hadith teaches us that we must be honest in our positions no matter what because we will be held accountable for our actions in front of God one day. We should not take advantage of our positions just because we can get away with it now; instead, we should always strive to do what is right even if no one else knows about it or sees us doing it because ultimately God knows all things and will judge us accordingly when our time comes.

Please use the feedback below to report any discrepancies or concerns.

Feedback           Discuss      Disclaimer     

haluk
  
Prev    Next