“Do I not have the right
that you should
listen to me and obey?” They said: “Yes.” He
said: “And if I command
you to do something, will you not do it?”
They said: “Of course.” He
said: “Then I command you to jump
into this fire.” Some people got up
and got ready to jump, and when
he saw that they were about to jump,
he said: “Restrain yourselves,
for I was joking with you.” When we
came to Al-Madinah, they
mentioned that to the Prophet (ﷺ), and the
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
said: “Whoever among you commands you to do
something that involves
disobedience to Allah, do not obey him.”
Narrated by It was
narrated from Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah
(ﷺ) sent ‘Alqamah bin Mujazziz at the head of a detachment, and I
was among them. When he reached the battle site, or when he was
partway there, a group of the army asked permission to take a
different route, and he gave them permission, and appointed ‘Abdullah
bin Hudhafah bin Qais As-Sahmi as their leader, and I was one of
those
who fought alongside with him. When we were partway there, the
people
lit a fire to warm themselves and cook some food. ‘Abdullah,
who was a
man who liked to joke, said:
Context
In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) addresses a situation where a leader jokingly commands his followers to jump into a fire. This incident highlights the importance of leadership and the responsibility that comes with authority. The Prophet (ﷺ) later emphasizes that obedience should not extend to commands that involve disobedience to Allah, reinforcing the principle that moral integrity must guide leadership.
Modern Application
In today's world, this principle reminds us of the importance of ethical leadership. Leaders in various fields, such as business or community organizations, should be aware that their influence carries weight, and they must act responsibly. It encourages followers to discern between rightful guidance and harmful commands.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Leadership and Authority and Prophetic Conduct because it illustrates the responsibilities of leaders and the ethical standards expected in their guidance.
And they swear by Allah their strongest oaths that if you ordered them, they would go forth [in Allah 's cause]. Say, "Do not swear. [Such] obedience is known. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with that which you do."
Say, "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon him is only that [duty] with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged. And if you obey him, you will be [rightly] guided. And there is not upon the Messenger except the [responsibility for] clear notification."
They said, "Have you come to us that we should worship Allah alone and leave what our fathers have worshipped? Then bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful."
This hadith is #2599 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of The Chapters on Jihad. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was
narrated from Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah
(ﷺ) sent ‘Alqamah bin Mujazziz at the head of a detachment, and I
was among them. When he reached the battle site, or when he was
partway there, a group of the army asked permission to take a
different route, and he gave them permission, and appointed ‘Abdullah
bin Hudhafah bin Qais As-Sahmi as their leader, and I was one of
those
who fought alongside with him. When we were partway there, the
people
lit a fire to warm themselves and cook some food. ‘Abdullah,
who was a
man who liked to joke, said:.
