Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/212



It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "He who obeys me, has obeyed God; and he who disobeys me, has disobeyed God. And whoever obeys the ruler, has obeyed me; and whoever disobeys the ruler, has disobeyed me. And the ruler is only a shield behind whom men fight and through whom they are protected. Then if he orders the fear of God and just dealing, then verily he gains rewards thereby; but if he says anything else, then on him will fall its penalty."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Ummuʾl-Ḥuṣain that she said, 'The Apostle of God said, " If a mutilated slave be appointed over you as ruler, and he leads you according to the Book of God; then give ear to him and obey him."'—Muslim.

It is related from Ibn ʿAbbás that, 'The Apostle of God said, "Whoever sees in his ruler that which he dislikes; let him be patient. There is no one who divides a community by a span, and dies, but dies the death of one in the time of ignorance."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from ʿAwf bin Málikuʾl-Ashjai that, 'The Apostle of God said, "The best of your rulers are those whom ye love, and who love you; and for whom ye pray, and who pray for you. And the worst of your rulers are those whom ye hate, and who hate you; and whom ye curse, and who curse you." ʿAwf said, " We replied, 'O Apostle of God, under such circumstances should we not repudiate them?' He said, 'No, so long as they keep the observance of the prayers amongst you. No, so long as they keep the observance of the prayers amongst you. Beware! whoever has a ruler placed over him, and sees him do something contrary to the law of God; let him feel displeasure at what he does contrary to the law of God, but let him not withdraw a hand from obeying him.'"'—Muslim.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Prophet said, "The rulers of the Children of Israel were the Prophets.