Chapter on the Etiquettes of Judgment
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 1|Chapter 10
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Volume 3, Book 1, Chapter 10
Chapter on the Etiquettes of Judgment
10 hadiths · 2 commentaries
قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "مَنِ اُبْتُلِيَ بِالْقَضَاءِ فَلاَ يَقْضِيَنَّ وَ هُوَ غَضْبَانُ".
The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Whoever is tested with judging should not pass judgment while he is angry."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "إِذَا كَانَ اَلْحَاكِمُ يَقُولُ لِمَنْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَ لِمَنْ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ مَا تَقُولُ مَا تَرَى فَعَلَى ذَلِكَ "لَعْنَةُ اَللّٰهِ وَ اَلْمَلاٰئِكَةِ وَ اَلنّٰاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ" أَلاَّ يَقُومُ مِنْ مَجْلِسِهِ وَ يُجْلِسُهُمَا مَكَانَهُ ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "If the judge turns to those on his right and left, asking, 'What do you say? What do you think?' then upon him is the curse of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the angels, and all people. He should rise from his seat and let them sit in his place."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ إِنَّ رَجُلاً نَزَلَ بِعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَمَكَثَ عِنْدَهُ أَيَّاماً ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ فِي حُكُومَةٍ لَمْ يَذْكُرْهَا لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "أَ خَصْمٌ أَنْتَ" قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ "تَحَوَّلْ عَنَّا فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ نَهَى أَنْ يُضَافَ اَلْخَصْمُ إِلاَّ وَ مَعَهُ خَصْمُهُ".
A man stayed as a guest with Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام for a few days. Then he presented a legal dispute to him, which he had not previously mentioned to Imam Ali عليه السلام. So Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said to him: "Are you a litigant?" He replied: "Yes." Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "Then leave us, for the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) forbade hosting a litigant except when his opponent is also present."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "مَنْ أَنْصَفَ اَلنَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ رُضِيَ بِهِ حَكَماً لِغَيْرِهِ ".
Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Whoever treats people with fairness from himself is accepted as a judge for others."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "إِذَا تَقَاضَى إِلَيْكَ رَجُلاَنِ فَلاَ تَقْضِ لِلْأَوَّلِ حَتَّى تَسْمَعَ مِنَ اَلْآخَرِ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ تَبَيَّنَ لَكَ اَلْقَضَاءُ " قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "فَمَا زِلْتُ بَعْدَهَا قَاضِياً" وَ قَالَ لَهُ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ " اَللَّهُمَّ فَهِّمْهُ اَلْقَضَاءَ ".
It is narrated from Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام that Imam عليه السلام said: The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) said: "If two men bring a case before you, do not judge in favor of the first until you hear from the other, for if you do so, the judgment will become clear to you." Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "After that, I continued to serve as a judge." And the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said to him: "O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, grant him understanding in judgment."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لِشُرَيْحٍ: "يَا شُرَيْحُ لاَ تُسَارَّ أَحَداً فِي مَجْلِسِكَ وَ إِذَا غَضِبْتَ فَقُمْ وَ لاَ تَقْضِيَنَّ وَ أَنْتَ غَضْبَانُ ".
Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said to Shurayh: "O Shurayh, do not speak privately with anyone in your court. And if you become angry, stand up and do not pass judgment while you are angry."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "قَضَى رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَنْ يُقَدَّمَ صَاحِبُ اَلْيَمِينِ فِي اَلْمَجْلِسِ بِالْكَلاَمِ".
Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated from Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام who said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) ruled that the one on the right should speak first in a gathering."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 184
وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "إِذَا تَقَدَّمْتَ مَعَ خَصْمٍ إِلَى وَالٍ أَوْ إِلَى قَاضٍ فَكُنْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ".
Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Abdullah ibn Sinan, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام who said:"If you appear with an opponent before a governor or a judge, stand to his right."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 184
وَ قَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "مَنِ اُبْتُلِيَ بِالْقَضَاءِ فَلْيُسَاوِ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي اَلْإِشَارَةِ وَ اَلنَّظَرِ فِي اَلْمَجْلِسِ ".
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Whoever is tested with judging should treat them equally in gestures and glances within the gathering."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لِشُرَيْحٍ: "يَا شُرَيْحُ اُنْظُرْ إِلَى أَهْلِ اَلْمَعْكِ وَ اَلْمَطْلِ وَ اَلاِضْطِهَادِ وَ مَنْ يَدْفَعُ حُقُوقَ اَلنَّاسِ مِنْ أَهْلِ اَلْمَقْدُرَةِ وَ اَلْيَسَارِ وَ مَنْ يُدْلِي بِأَمْوَالِ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى اَلْحُكَّامِ فَخُذْ لِلنَّاسِ بِحُقُوقِهِمْ مِنْهُمْ وَ بِعِ اَلْعَقَارَ وَ اَلدِّيَارَ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَقُولُ "مَطْلُ اَلْمُسْلِمِ اَلْمُوسِرِ ظُلْمٌ لِلْمُسْلِمِ " وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ وَ لاَ عَقَارٌ وَ لاَ دَارٌ فَلاَ سَبِيلَ عَلَيْهِ وَ اِعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَحْمِلُ اَلنَّاسَ عَلَى اَلْحَقِّ إِلاَّ مَنْ وَزَعَهُمْ عَنِ اَلْبَاطِلِ ثُمَّ وَاسِ بَيْنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ بِوَجْهِكَ وَ مَنْطِقِكَ وَ مَجْلِسِكَ حَتَّى لاَ يَطْمَعَ قَرِيبُكَ فِي حَيْفِكَ وَ لاَ يَيْأَسَ عَدُوُّكَ مِنْ عَدْلِكَ وَ رُدَّ اَلْيَمِينَ عَلَى اَلْمُدَّعِي مَعَ بَيِّنَةٍ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَجْلَى لِلْعَمَى وَ أَثْبَتُ فِي اَلْقَضَاءِ وَ اِعْلَمْ أَنَّ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ عُدُولٌ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ إِلاَّ مَجْلُوداً فِي حَدٍّ لَمْ يَتُبْ مِنْهُ أَوْ مَعْرُوفاً بِشَهَادَةِ اَلزُّورِ أَوْ ظَنِيناً وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ اَلضَّجَرَ وَ اَلتَّأَذِّيَ فِي مَجْلِسِ اَلْقَضَاءِ اَلَّذِي أَوْجَبَ اَللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِيهِ اَلْأَجْرَ وَ أَحْسَنَ فِيهِ اَلذُّخْرَ لِمَنْ قَضَى بِالْحَقِّ وَ اِجْعَلْ لِمَنِ اِدَّعَى شُهُوداً غُيَّباً أَمَداً بَيْنَهُمْ فَإِنْ أَحْضَرَهُمْ أَخَذْتَ لَهُ بِحَقِّهِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يُحْضِرْهُمْ أَوْجَبْتَ عَلَيْهِ اَلْقَضِيَّةَ وَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُنَفِّذَ حُكْماً فِي قِصَاصٍ أَوْ حَدٍّ مِنْ حُدُودِ اَلنَّاسِ أَوْ حَقٍّ مِنْ حُقُوقِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَتَّى تَعْرِضَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيَّ وَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَجْلِسَ فِي مَجْلِسِ اَلْقَضَاءِ حَتَّى تَطْعَمَ شَيْئاً إِنْ شَاءَ اَللَّهُ تَعَالَى".
Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Amr ibn Abi al-Miqdam, from his father, from Salamah ibn Kuhayl, from Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, who said to Shurayh: "O Shurayh, observe those who procrastinate, delay payments, oppress others, and deny people their rights despite having wealth and resources. Take the rights of the people from them and sell their properties and houses if necessary. I heard the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) say: 'Delaying payment by a wealthy Muslim is injustice to another Muslim.' As for the one who has no wealth, property, or house, there is no recourse against him. Know that no one can enforce the truth upon people except one who restrains them from falsehood. Treat the Muslims equally in your appearance, speech, and seating so that your relatives do not hope for favoritism, nor do your enemies despair of your justice. Return the oath to the claimant along with evidence, for this is clearer for truth and firmer in judgment. Know that Muslims are trustworthy over one another, except for one who has been punished for a crime and has not repented, one who is known for false testimony, or one who is under suspicion. Beware of irritation and annoyance in the court, which Allah سبحانه وتعالى has made a place of reward and the best form of provision for those who judge with justice. Grant the claimant time to bring witnesses if they are absent. If he produces them, give him his right, and if not, decide the case against him. Beware of executing a judgment involving retaliation, legal punishments, or any right of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, without presenting it to me first. And do not sit in the court until you have eaten something, if Allah سبحانه وتعالى wills."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
- رَوَى ذَلِكَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَبِي الْمِقْدَامِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع.
Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Amr ibn Abi al-Miqdam, from his father, from Salamah ibn Kuhayl, from Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام.
Commentary #1