This chapter turns to the person who holds power and asks what it looks like to carry it well. The Arabic word is 'adl, justice, the act of putting every right in its proper place. A ruler here is anyone given charge over others, from a head of state down to a parent or a manager, and the chapter celebrates the one who handles that trust fairly.
Notice how high Islam lifts the just leader. He stands first among the seven sheltered under Allah's shade on the Day of Resurrection, he is seated on a pulpit of light, and he is named among the people of Jannah. Read together, these hadith make justice not a dry administrative duty but an act of worship that draws a person close to Allah.
Hadith 658
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “سبعة يظلهم الله في ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله: إمام عادل، وشاب نشأ في عبادة الله تعالى، ورجل قلبه معلق بالمساجد، ورجلان تحابا في الله اجتمعا عليه وتفرقا عليه، ورجل دعته امرأة ذات منصب وجمال، فقال: إنى أخاف الله، ورجل تصدق بصدقة فأخفاها حتى لا تعلم شماله ما تنفق يمينه، ورجل ذكر الله خالياً ففاضت عيناه” ((متفق عليه))
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Seven are (the persons) whom Allah will give protection with His Shade* on the Day when there will be no shade except His Shade (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection), and they are: A just ruler; a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosque; two persons who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom a beautiful and high ranking woman seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer by saying): 'I fear Allah'; a person who gives a charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the left hand might not know what the right has given; and a person who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes well up." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. * The Shade of Allah to which this Hadith refers to is the shade of His Throne.
In plain words
The Prophet named seven kinds of people Allah will shade on the Day when there is no other shade, beginning with the just ruler. Sincere, hidden devotion and fairness earn this special protection.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 658 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 658
Hadith 659
'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "إن المقسطين عند الله على منابر من نور: الذين يعدلون في حمكهم وأهليهم وما ولوا" ((رواه مسلم )).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The just will be seated upon pulpits of light." Those who are fair with regards to their judgement and their family and those who are under them." [Muslim].
In plain words
Those who judge fairly, in public office and within their own families, will be honored on pulpits of light. Justice toward everyone in your care is richly rewarded.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 659 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 659
Hadith 660
'Auf bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن عوف بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: “خياركم أئمتكم الذين تحبونهم ويحبونكم، وتصلون عليهم ويصلون عليكم، وشرار أئمتكم الذين تبغضونهم ويبغضونكم، وتلعنونهم ويلعنونهم!” قال: قلنا يا رسول الله، أفلا ننابذه؟ قال: لا، ما أقاموا فيكم الصلاة، لا ما أقاموا فيكم الصلاة” ((رواه مسلم)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The best of your rulers are those whom you love and who love you, and those who supplicate Allah in your favour and you supplicate Allah in their favour. The worst of your rulers are those whom you hate and who hate you; and whom you curse and who curse you." It was asked (by those who were present): "Should not we oppose them?" He said, "No, as long as they establish Salat; as long as they establish Salat in your midst." [Muslim].
In plain words
The best leaders are those who love their people and pray for them and are loved in return, while the worst are met with mutual hatred. Affection between leader and led is a sign of good leadership.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 660 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 660
Hadith 661
'Iyad bin Himar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن عياض بن حمار رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: “أهل الجنة ثلاثة: ذو سلطان مقسط موفق، ورجل رحيم رفيق القلب لكل ذي قربى ومسلم، وعفيف متعفف ذو عيال”. ((رواه مسلم)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The people of Jannah will be of three kinds: A just successful ruler, a man who shows mercy to his relatives, and a pious believer who has a large family and refrains from begging." [Muslim].
In plain words
Among the people of Paradise the Prophet named a just and successful ruler, one merciful to relatives, and a chaste believer with a large family who keeps from begging. Fair authority places a person among the blessed.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 661 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 661