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 Ibn Majah, which contains 4,345 hadiths across 38 books. It is hadith number 2049 in the Book of The Chapters on Rulings.

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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#2048

#2049

Sunan Ibn Majah

#2050

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Sunan Ibn Majah #2049

Q: What is Sunan Ibn Majah 2049 about?

This hadith from Sunan Ibn Majah (Book of The Chapters on Rulings), narrated by Abu Hashim said:, states: "“Were it not for the Hadith of Ibn Buraidah from his father, from the Prophet (ﷺ) who said: 'Judges are of three types, two of whom will be in Hell and one will be in Paradise. The man who knows the t…"

The Chapters on Rulings

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ تَوْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَلَفُ بْنُ خَلِيفَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هَاشِمٍ، قَالَ لَوْلاَ حَدِيثُ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ الْقُضَاةُ ثَلاَثَةٌ اثْنَانِ فِي النَّارِ وَوَاحِدٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ رَجُلٌ عَلِمَ الْحَقَّ فَقَضَى بِهِ فَهُوَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَرَجُلٌ قَضَى لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى جَهْلٍ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ وَرَجُلٌ جَارَ فِي الْحُكْمِ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ لَقُلْنَا إِنَّ الْقَاضِيَ إِذَا اجْتَهَدَ فَهُوَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ ‏.‏

“Were it not for the Hadith of Ibn Buraidah from his father, from the Prophet (ﷺ) who said: 'Judges are of three types, two of whom will be in Hell and one will be in Paradise. The man who knows the truth and rules in accordance with it, will be in Paradise. The man who passes judgment on the people in ignorance will be in Hell' - we would have said that if the judge does his best he will be in Paradise.”

Narrated by Abu Hashim said:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) discusses the roles of judges and their moral responsibilities. He categorizes judges into three types, highlighting that only one type will be rewarded in Paradise. This statement serves as a warning about the consequences of ignorance and injustice in judgment, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and fairness in legal matters.

Modern Application

This principle is relevant today, especially in legal and judicial systems. It encourages judges and decision-makers to seek knowledge and act justly, ensuring that their rulings are based on truth and fairness, which is essential for maintaining public trust in the justice system.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Ethical Conduct because it emphasizes the moral responsibilities of judges in delivering justice.

Ethical Conduct