Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 82

Appointment of Pious Governors, Advisors and Judges

باب حث السلطان والقاضي وغيرهما من ولاة الأمور على اتخاذ وزير صالح وتحذيرهم من قرناء السوء والقبول منهم

This short chapter looks at the company a leader keeps, and how decisively that company shapes him. The Arabic word is bitanah, the inner circle so close it is likened to the lining of a garment, the advisers and confidants whose voices reach a ruler in private.

Read together, the two hadith present a single truth from two sides. Every person of authority is pulled between counsel toward good and counsel toward evil, and a sign of Allah's favour upon a leader is that He grants him a sincere adviser who corrects and supports him. The lesson reaches beyond rulers to all of us: who we let close to our ear quietly steers where we go.

Hadith 677

Abu Sa'id and Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

-عن أبي سعيد وأبي هريرة رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ‏:‏ “ما بعث الله من نبي، ولا استخلف من خليفة إلا كانت له بطانتان بطانة تأمره بالمعروف وتحضه عليه، وبطانة تأمره بالشر وتحضه عليه، والمعصوم من عصم الله” ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخارى‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah neither raised up any Prophet nor did He authorize any person with ruling power but for whom there were two types of entourage: one enjoins upon him to do good and incites him to carry it out, and the other enjoins evil and goads him; and the protected (from the bad entourage) is the one whom Allah protects." [Al-Bukhari].

In plain words

Every prophet and ruler has two kinds of close advisers, one urging good and one urging evil, and the one truly protected is whoever Allah protects. The voices we keep near us pull us one way or the other.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 677 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 677

Hadith 678

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ “إذا أراد الله بالأمير خيراً، جعل له وزير صدق، إن نسي ذكره، وإن ذكر أعانه، وإذا أراد به غير ذلك جعل له وزير سوء، إن نسي لم يذكره، وإذ ذكر لم يعنه” ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود بإسناد جيد على شرط مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When Allah desires good for a ruler, He appoints for him a sincere adviser who will remind him if he forgets and helps him if he remembers. When Allah wishes for him the contrary, He appoints for him a bad adviser who will not remind him if he forgets, nor will he help him if he remembers." [Abu-Dawud].

In plain words

When Allah wants good for a leader, He gives him a sincere adviser who reminds and helps him; when He wills otherwise, the adviser does neither. A truthful counselor is a sign of Allah's favor.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 678 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 678