Encyclopedia of Translated Hadiths (HadeethEnc) · Da‘wah and Hisbah
Number: 6384
The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you, and who invoke Allah's blessings upon you and you invoke His blessings upon them. And the worst of your leaders are those whom you hate and they hate you, and whom you curse and they curse you
عن عوف بن مالك رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «خِيَارُ أئمتكم الذين تحبونهم ويحبونكم، وتُصَلُّون عليهم ويصلون عليكم. وشِرَارُ أئمتكم الذين تبُغضونهم ويبغضونكم، وتلعنونهم ويلعنونكم!»، قال: قلنا: يا رسول الله، أفلا نُنَابِذُهُم؟ قال: «لا، ما أقاموا فيكم الصلاة. لا، ما أقاموا فيكم الصلاة».
‘Awf ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you, and who invoke Allah's blessings upon you and you invoke His blessings upon them. And the worst of your leaders are those whom you hate and they hate you, and whom you curse and they curse you." He was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, shouldn't we overthrow them?" He said: "No, as long as they establish prayer amongst you. No, as long as they establish prayer amongst you."
Translation by HadeethEnc.com
Grade[Authentic hadith][Narrated by Muslim]
Explanation
This Hadīth indicates that Muslim leaders may be righteous and may be unrighteous and disobedient to Allah. However, it is not permissible to rebel against them as long as they uphold the rituals of Islam, the most important of which is the prayer. In other words, as long as they do not prevent (congregational) prayer.
HadeethEnc.com · English edition v1.25.0, updated 2026-05-10 · Open on HadeethEnc.com