What is Sunan an-Nasa'i 4221 about?

This hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i (Book of The Book of al-Bay'ah), narrated by it was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said:, states: ""You will become keen for positions of authority, but that will become a regret and loss. What a good life they will live, but how hard it will be for them when they die.""

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan an-Nasa'i, which contains 5,768 hadiths across 52 books. It is hadith number 4221 in the Book of The Book of al-Bay'ah.

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

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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Sunan an-Nasa'i

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Sunan an-Nasa'i #4221

The Book of al-Bay'ah

Sahih

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

أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ آدَمَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّكُمْ سَتَحْرِصُونَ عَلَى الإِمَارَةِ وَإِنَّهَا سَتَكُونُ نَدَامَةً وَحَسْرَةً فَنِعْمَتِ الْمُرْضِعَةُ وَبِئْسَتِ الْفَاطِمَةُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

"You will become keen for positions of authority, but that will become a regret and loss. What a good life they will live, but how hard it will be for them when they die."

Narrated by it was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said:

Context

In this narration, the Prophet ﷺ warns that people will desire positions of authority, but such ambitions will lead to regret and sorrow. He contrasts the allure of leadership with the burdens it carries, suggesting that while it may seem desirable, it often results in hardship. This hadith serves as a cautionary reminder about the responsibilities and potential pitfalls associated with seeking power.

Modern Application

This principle is relevant today as many aspire to leadership roles without fully understanding the challenges involved. It encourages individuals to reflect on their motivations and the responsibilities that come with authority, promoting a more thoughtful approach to leadership.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Teachings because it conveys a lesson from the Prophet ﷺ regarding the nature of authority and its consequences.

Prophetic Teachings