Hadith on Authority: Dishonest leaders never smell Paradise

Ma’qil ibn Yasar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “No servant is given authority by Allah, but he does not fulfill its duties sincerely, except that he will never smell the fragrance of Paradise.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7150, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 142

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

عن مَعْقِل بْن يَسَارٍ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ اسْتَرْعَاهُ اللَّهُ رَعِيَّةً فَلَمْ يَحُطْهَا بِنَصِيحَةٍ إِلَّا لَمْ يَجِدْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ

7150 صحيح البخاري كتاب الأحكام باب من استرعي رعية فلم ينصح

142 صحيح مسلم كتاب الإمارة باب فضيلة الإمام العادل وعقوبة الجائر والحث على الرفق بالرعية والنهي عن إدخال المشقة عليهم

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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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