Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “The sultan is God’s shade on the earth to which each one of His servants who is wronged repairs. When he is just he will have a reward, and it is the duty of the common people to be grateful; but when he acts tyrannically the burden rests on him, and it is the duty of the common people to show endurance.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman.

‘Umar b. al-Khattab reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The one among God’s servants who will have the best position with God on the day of resurrection will be a just and kindly iman, but the man who will have the worst position with God on the day of resurrection will be a tyrannical and harsh imam.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone gives his brother a look which frightens him, God will frighten him on the day of resurrection.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman.

Abud Darda’ reported God’s Messenger as saying that God most high says, "I am God than whom there is no god, Master of kings, King of kings, in whose hands are the hearts of kings. When men obey me I turn the hearts of kings to them with mercy and gentleness, but when they disobey me I turn their hearts against them with displeasure and vengeance, and they inflict grievous punishment upon them. So do not occupy yourselves with invoking curses on kings, but occupy yourselves with remembrance of me and supplication that I may protect you against your kings.” Abu Nu'aim transmitted it in al-Hilya.

Abu Sa'id reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “Every perfidious one will have a standard at his anus on the day of resurrection.” A version has, “On the day of resurrection every perfidious one will have a standard which will be raised for him according to the amount of his perfidy, and no one is more perfidious than the ruler of a community.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Murra told that he said to Mu'awiya he had heard God’s Messenger say, "If anyone is put by God in authority over any matter concerning the Muslims and turns away from dealing with their need, destitution and poverty, God will turn away from dealing with his need, destitution and poverty.” Mu'awiya then appointed a man to deal with the needs of the people. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it. A version by Ahmad and Tirmidhi has, “God will lock the gates of heaven upon his destitution, need and poverty.”

Abush Shammakh al-Azdi was told by a cousin of his on his father’s side who was a companion of the Prophet (ﷺ) that he had gone to Mu'awiya, entered his presence and told him he had heard God's Messenger say, "If one who has been given any authority over the people locks his gate against Muslims, or one who has been wronged, or one who has a need, God will lock the gates of His mercy against him when he has a need or is in poverty, however much he is in need of Him.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman.

When 'Umar b. al-Khattab sent out his governors he laid on them the condition that they should not ride a horse not of Arabian breed,* or eat white bread, or wear fine clothing, or shut their gates against the needs of the people, telling them that if they did any of these things punishment would befall them. Then he would accompany them some distance. Baihaqi transmitted in Shuab al iman. * Birdhaun. This word is used of a horse of poor breed, a horse not of Arab breed, or more specifically a Turkish horse. It is suggested that the reason for the wording is to warn governors against riding horses, this being a sign of pride. Prohibiting a breed considered second-rate makes it obvious that to ride horses of the best Arab breed would be even a greater sign of pride.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who has been appointed a qadi among the people has been killed without a knife.”* Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it. *This phrase has troubled commentators. Perhaps the best explanation is that he will have reason to repent of his manner of life, for there are many traditions which express disapproval of undertaking such an office. A somewhat ingenious explanation is that his evil characteristics must be cut away, this being a kind of slaughter.

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone desires and asks for the office of qadi he will be left to his own devices, but if anyone is forced to accept it God will send down an angle who will direct him aright.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Buraida reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Qadis are of three types, one of whom will go to paradise and two to hell. The one who will go to paradise is a man who knows what is right and gives judgment accordingly; but a man who knows what is right and acts tyrannically in his judgment will go to hell, and a man who gives judgment for people when he is ignorant will go to hell.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone seeks the office of qadi among Muslims till he gets it and his justice prevails over his tyranny, he will go to paradise; but the man whose tyranny prevails over his justice will go to hell." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mu'adh b. Jabal told that when God’s Messenger sent him to the Yemen he asked him how he would judge when the occasion arose, and he replied that he would judge in accordance with God’s Book. He asked what he would do if he could not find guidance in God’s Book, and he replied that he would act in accordance with God’s Messenger’s sunnah. He asked what he would do if he could find no guidance in God’s Messenger’s sunnah, and he replied that he would do his best to form an opinion and spare no pains. God’s Messenger then tapped him on the breast and said, “Praise be to God who has disposed His Messenger’s Messenger to something with which God’s Messenger is pleased!" Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Ali said: God's Messenger sent me to the Yemen as qadi and I said, “Messenger of God, are you sending me when I am young and have no knowledge of the duties of qadi He replied, “God will guide your heart and keep your tongue true. When two men bring a case before you do not decide in favour of the first till you hear what the other has to say, for it is best that you should have a clear idea of the best decision." He said he had no doubts about a decision afterwards. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No judge who pronounces judgment among men will fail to come on the day of resurrection with an angel holding the back of his neck. He* will then raise his head to heaven, and if God gives orders to cast him down, he will cast him into an abyss forty years deep." Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-lman transmitted it. *i.e. the angel.

‘A’isha reported God's Messenger as saying, “The day of resurrection will come to the just qadi and he will wish he had never given judgment between two men about a single date.”* Ahmad transmitted it. * He will wish he had never given judgment even about the most insignificant matters.

'Abdallah b. Abu Aufa reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God is with the qadi as long as he is not tyrannical, but when he is He departs from him and the devil attaches himself to him.” A version has, “When he is tyrannical He leaves him to his own devices.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Said b. al-Musayyib told that a Muslim and a Jew brought a dispute before ‘Umar, and as he considered the Jew was in the right he pronounced judgment in his favour; but when the Jew said, “I swear by God that you have pronounced just judgment,” he struck him with the whip and asked him what caused him to know that. The Jew replied, “I swear by God that we find in the Torah that no qadi judges rightly without having an angel at his right hand and an angel at his left who direct him and dispose him to what is right as long as he adheres to the right; but when he abandons the right they ascend and leave him.” Malik transmitted it.

Ibn Mauhib told that when ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan asked Ibn ‘Umar to act as qadi among the people he asked the commander of the faithful to excuse him. He asked him what objection he had to that when his father had been holding such an office, and he replied that it was because he had heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone is a qadi and fulfils the office with justice he should rather turn away from it with neither credit nor blame.”* After that he did not ask him again. Tirmidhi transmitted it. * Or, ‘without reward or punishment’. Razin’s version on the authority of Nafi' tells that Ibn ‘Umar said to ‘Uthman, “Commander of the faithful, I shall not pronounce judgment between two men.” He replied, “Your father used to do so.” He said, “If anything was dubious to my father he asked God’s Messenger, and if anything was dubious to God’s Messenger he asked Gabriel, but I can find no one to ask, and I heard God’s Messenger say, ‘He who seeks refuge in God has sought refuge in a great One.’ I also heard him say, ‘Grant refuge to him who seeks refuge in God’, and I seek refuge in God from your making me a qadi." So he excused him, but said, “Do not tell anyone.” Razin.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “What I give you and do not withhold from you I am just distributing, putting it where I have been commanded." Bukhari transmitted it.