Hadith on Imamah: The Muslim leader is a shield who defends them

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the leader is only a shield behind whom they fight, and he protects them. If he commands the fear of Allah Almighty and justice, he will have a reward. If he commands something else, it will be held against him.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1841

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ يُقَاتَلُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ وَيُتَّقَى بِهِ فَإِنْ أَمَرَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعَدَلَ كَانَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ أَجْرٌ وَإِنْ يَأْمُرْ بِغَيْرِهِ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهُ

1841 صحيح مسلم كتاب الإمارة باب الإمام جنة يقاتل من ورائه ويتقى به

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Abu Amina Elias
Abu Amina Elias (Justin Parrott) is an academic librarian, researcher, and translator specializing in the Quran, Hadith, and their commentaries. He is a former instructor of Islamic Creed for Mishkah University.
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