What is Sunan Abu Dawud 3573 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah)), narrated by Narrated Abu Hurayrah:, states: "The Prophet (ﷺ) said: He who has been appointed a judge among the people has been killed without a knife."

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Da'if in chain. The grade indicates the level of authenticity based on the chain of narration and content analysis.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 3573 in the Book of The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

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#3572

#3573

Sunan Abu Dawud

#3574

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Sunan Abu Dawud #3573

The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah)

Da'if in chain

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، أَخْبَرَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الأَخْنَسِيِّ، عَنِ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، وَالأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنْ جُعِلَ قَاضِيًا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَقَدْ ذُبِحَ بِغَيْرِ سِكِّينٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: He who has been appointed a judge among the people has been killed without a knife.

Narrated by Narrated Abu Hurayrah:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) warns about the heavy responsibility of being a judge among people. He metaphorically states that such an appointment is akin to being killed without a knife, indicating the immense pressure and accountability judges face in making fair and just decisions.

Modern Application

Today, this principle reminds us of the ethical responsibilities that come with leadership roles. Whether in community service or workplace management, individuals must approach their responsibilities with integrity and fairness, understanding the impact of their decisions on others.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Community Responsibility and Ethical Conduct because it underscores the serious obligations that come with positions of authority and the ethical considerations required in making judgments.

Community Responsibility Ethical Conduct

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ

Al-Israa (The Night Journey)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًۭا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِۦ سُلْطَٰنًۭا فَلَا يُسْرِف فِّى ٱلْقَتْلِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ مَنصُورًۭا

And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in [the matter of] taking life. Indeed, he has been supported [by the law].

سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ

Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّۢ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah and kill the prophets without right and kill those who order justice from among the people - give them tidings of a painful punishment.

وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ۚ وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

It is not [attributable] to any prophet that he would act unfaithfully [in regard to war booty]. And whoever betrays, [taking unlawfully], will come with what he took on the Day of Resurrection. Then will every soul be [fully] compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.

سُورَةُ الأَنبِيَاءِ

Al-Anbiyaa (The Prophets)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قَٰلَ رَبِّ ٱحْكُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَرَبُّنَا ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ

[The Prophet] has said, "My Lord, judge [between us] in truth. And our Lord is the Most Merciful, the one whose help is sought against that which you describe."

سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ

Al-Maaida (The Table)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

لَئِنۢ بَسَطتَ إِلَىَّ يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِى مَآ أَنَا۠ بِبَاسِطٍۢ يَدِىَ إِلَيْكَ لِأَقْتُلَكَ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

If you should raise your hand against me to kill me - I shall not raise my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Common Words

87 total77 unique8 repeated

ٱلله3x

ما3x

بٱلحق2x

ومن2x

كان2x

ٱلذين2x

ويقتلون2x

رب2x

ولا1x

تقتلوا1x

ٱلنفس1x

ٱلتى1x

حرم1x

إلا1x

قتل1x

مظلوما1x

فقد1x

جعلنا1x

لوليه1x

سلطنا1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #3573 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah). It is graded Da'if in chain and narrated by Narrated Abu Hurayrah:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #3573

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith