Al-Aqra', the mu'adhdhin (announcer) of Umar ibn al-Khattab said: Umar sent me to a bishop and I called him.
Umar said to him: Do you find me in the Book? He said: Yes. He asked: How do you find me? He said: I find you (like a) castle. Then he raised a whip to him, saying: What do you mean by castle? He replied: An iron castle and severely trustworthy. He asked: How do you find the one who will come after me? He said: I find him a pious caliph, except that he will prefer his relatives. Umar said: May Allah have mercy on Uthman: He said it three times. He then asked: How do you find the one who will come after him?
He replied: I find him like rusty iron. Umar then put his hand on his head, and said: O filthy! O filthy! He said: Commander of the Faithful! He is a pious caliph, but when he is made caliph, the sword will be unsheathed and blood will be shed.
Abu Dawud said: Al-dafr means filth or evil smell.
Narrated by Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:
Context
In this hadith, Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) seeks insight from a bishop about his leadership qualities and those of his successors. The bishop compares Umar to a strong castle, indicating his reliability. However, he warns that the next caliph, Uthman, will favor his relatives, and the one after him will lead to turmoil. This highlights the challenges of leadership and the importance of integrity in authority.
Modern Application
In today's world, leaders are often faced with the challenge of balancing personal relationships with their responsibilities. This hadith reminds us of the importance of integrity and fairness in leadership, encouraging leaders to prioritize the common good over personal interests.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Leadership and Authority and Prophetic Authority because it discusses the qualities of leadership and the expectations of a caliph as conveyed through the Prophet's teachings.
Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it [as if] setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. Allah said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."
[Hud] said, "Already have defilement and anger fallen upon you from your Lord. Do you dispute with me concerning [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allah has not sent down any authority? Then wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait."
And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is an ear." Say, "[It is] an ear of goodness for you that believes in Allah and believes the believers and [is] a mercy to those who believe among you." And those who abuse the Messenger of Allah - for them is a painful punishment.
سُورَةُ عَبَسَ
Abasa (He frowned)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ
But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be purified
And mention, [O Muhammad], the brother of 'Aad, when he warned his people in the [region of] al-Ahqaf - and warners had already passed on before him and after him - [saying], "Do not worship except Allah. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."
This hadith is #4658 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:.
