Gentleness of rulers with the subjects

`A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) supplicating in my house: "O Allah! Treat harshly those who rule over my Ummah with harshness, and treat gently those who rule over my Ummah with gentleness." [Reported by Muslim].[1]

An-Nawawy wrote a chapter on it entitled: Chapter on the virtue of a just ruler, the punishment of an oppressor, exhortation to gentleness with the subjects, and prohibition of placing burdens over them.

He commented on it with his saying: "These are the most eloquent words in deterring rulers to place burdens over people and a great exhortation to show gentleness with them; and many Hadiths supported one another in this regard."[2]

It was reported to `Umar ibn Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that a group of people of his subjects complained of his rulers. He told them to come to him, and when they came, he stood up, thanked Allah and praised Him then said: O subjects, we have rights over you which are: Advice and helping in goodness. O rulers, the subjects have rights over you, so let it be known that nothing is more beloved to Allah than the patience and gentleness of a ruler.[3]

`Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) used to address people saying: (One of the beloved things to Allah is moderation in spending money when it exists,[4] pardon when gaining power, and gentleness in governing. And no person treats gently with another in the world but Allah will treat him leniently on the Day of Resurrection." [Reported by Ibn Abu Shaybah].[5]

Ahmad ibn Yazid Al Muhallaby reported from his father that he said: Al Mutawakkil said to me one day: O Muhallaby, Caliphs used to be harsh with the subjects so that they would obey them, but I lower my wing to them to come and obey me."[6]

Sulayman ibn Buraydah reported from his father who said: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) appointed an emir over the army or detachment, he would command him and his soldiers to obey Allah." [Reported by Imam Muslim].[7]

Imam An-Nawawy (May Allah show mercy to him) said about these words: The desirability of an imam's will to his emirs and soldiers to obey Allah and show leniency to their subjects.[8]

Part of the Prophet's leniency with his Companions is that he was keen to comfort them and pushing away fear:

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was the (most handsome), most generous and the bravest of all the people. Once the people of Medina got frightened having heard an uproar at night. So, the Prophet (peace be upon him) met the people while he was riding an unsaddled horse belonging to Abu Talhah and carrying his sword (slung over his shoulder). He said (to them): Do not get scared, do not get scared. Then he added: I found it (i.e. the horse) very fast."[9]

Ibn Hajar said: As for the Prophet's saying: "So, the Prophet (peace be upon him) met the people while he was riding an unsaddled horse belonging to Abu Talhah and carrying his sword (slung over his shoulder)," i.e., he went to explore the area before them and did not find anything, so he returned to comfort them. As for his saying: "Do not get scared," it is a word said to calm down fear and show leniency to the addressed.[10].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to look in the interests of his Companions and command them with the things which contain gentleness:

Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) came to know that one of his companions had given the promise of freeing his slave after his death,[11] but as he had no other property than that slave, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sold that slave for 800 dirhams and sent the price to him." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].[12]

Imam An-Nawawy said: This Hadith contains: The imam's care for the interests of his subjects, commanding them to adhere to gentleness, and prohibiting the behavior that may harm them.[13]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned rulers and the officials to go against gentleness:

Jundub ibn `Abdullah Al Bajali (may Allah be pleased with him) said in Hadith Marfu` (a Hadith narrated from the Prophet with a connected or disconnected chain of narration):"If anyone harms (others), Allah will harm him..." [Reported by Al Bukhari].[14]

Ibn Hajar said: The meaning is: Whoever causes harm to people, Allah will put hardship on him, for retribution is a sort of work.[15] End of quotation.

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[1] Sahih Muslim The book of princedom, chapter on the virtue of a just ruler; 3: 1458, Hadith No. 19 (1828).

[2] Commentary of Sahih Muslim by An-Nawawy 12: 213.

[3] Ihiya' `Ulum Ad-Din 3: 198.

[4] The meaning is: Integrity and moderation in spending money with the existence of money without wastefulness nor avarice. Look up the dictionary.

[5] Al Musannaf 7: 182 (35078).

[6] Tarikh Baghdad 7: 166.

[7] Sahih Muslim the book of Jihad and biographies, chapter on an imam's appointment of emirs on detachments; 3: 1357 Hadith No. 3 (1731).

[8] Commentary of Sahih Muslim by An-Nawawy 12: 37.

[9] Sahih Al Bukhari the book of literature, chapter on good manners and generosity (6033).

[10] Fathul-Bary 10: 472.

[11] i.e., after his death. It is said: I made the servant Mudabbar when I connect between his emancipation and my death. An-Nihayah 2: 98.

[12] Sahih Al Bukhari: The book of Judgments, chapter on the selling of an imam's selling to peoples' money and properties (7186) and Sahih Muslim: The book of oaths, chapter on the permissibility of selling a Mudabbar servant 3: 1289 Hadith No. (997).

[13] Commentary of Sahih Muslim by An-Nawawy 11: 142.

[14] Sahih Al Bukhari: The book of Judgments, chapter on whoever harms people, Allah will harm him (7152).

[15] Fathul-Bary 13: 138.