Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 25, Hadith 12

Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me to the Yemen as judge, and I asked: Messenger of Allah, are you sending me when I am young and have no knowledge of the duties of a judge? He replied: Allah will guide your heart and keep your tongue true. When two litigants sit in front of you, do not decide till you hear what the other has to say as you heard what the first had to say; for it is best that you should have a clear idea of the best decision. He said: I had been a judge (for long); or he said (the narrator is doubtful): I have no doubts about a decision afterwards.

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شَرِيكٌ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنْ حَنَشٍ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى الْيَمَنِ قَاضِيًا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تُرْسِلُنِي وَأَنَا حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ وَلاَ عِلْمَ لِي بِالْقَضَاءِ فَقَالَ ‏
“‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ وَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ فَإِذَا جَلَسَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ الْخَصْمَانِ فَلاَ تَقْضِيَنَّ حَتَّى تَسْمَعَ مِنَ الآخَرِ كَمَا سَمِعْتَ مِنَ الأَوَّلِ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَى أَنْ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الْقَضَاءُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَمَا زِلْتُ قَاضِيًا أَوْ مَا شَكَكْتُ فِي قَضَاءٍ بَعْدُ ‏.‏

Sunan Abi Dawud: Book 25, Hadith 12

 
This hadith is from the Sunan Abi Dawud collection of hadiths. For those new to Islamic texts, Sunan Abi Dawud is a classic, respected collection of the teachings and life example of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Written over a thousand years ago by a dedicated scholar named Abu Dawud, it sits among the religion’s six most important source books. It contains thousands of entries that are thoughtfully sorted by practical topics like how to worship, how to conduct business fairly, and how to treat one’s family with kindness. The compiler was renowned for his meticulous fact-checking of each story’s origins, which is why it remains a profoundly trusted and widely studied guide for Muslims on how to live a good and faithful life.

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For more Hadith in Book 25: The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah)
 

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