Mishkat al-Masabih #3543
The Offices of Commander and Qadi
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
وَعَنْ غَالِبٍ الْقَطَّانِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «إِن العرافة حق ولابد لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ عُرَفَاءَ وَلَكِنَّ الْعُرْفَاءَ فِي النَّارِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد
Ghalib al-Qattan quoted a man who stated on the authority of his father that his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The office of a chief is necessary, for people must have chiefs, but the chiefs will go to hell.”*
Abu Dawud transmitted it.
* Mirqat. iv, 133 says this means those who are unjust, or is a warning against the temptations to injustice arising from their office.
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About Mishkat al-Masabih
This hadith is #3543 from Mishkat al-Masabih, in the Book of The Offices of Commander and Qadi.