Seerah / His character & the Companions
Abu Dharr asks for a public office
- Date
- Madinan period · date unknown
- Location
- Madinah
- People
- Abu Dharr (RA)
Abu Dharr (RA) reports in Sahih Muslim that when he asked to be appointed, the Prophet ﷺ patted his shoulder, told him he was weak and that office is a trust which will be regret on the Day of Judgement except for one who takes it rightly and fulfils it.
As it was narrated
The story, in the words of those who were there
Read slowly. These are the Companions' own words, from the verified hadith collections.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ اللَّيْثِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي شُعَيْبُ بْنُ اللَّيْثِ، حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ، بْنُ سَعْدٍ حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ حُجَيْرَةَ الأَكْبَرِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ تَسْتَعْمِلُنِي قَالَ فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى مَنْكِبِي ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَا أَبَا ذَ…
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr who said:I said to the Prophet (ﷺ): Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me to a public office? He stroked my shoulder with his hand and said: Abu Dharr, thou art weak and authority is a trust. and on the Day of judgment it is a cause of humiliation and repentance except for one who fulfils its obligations and (properly) discharges the duties attendant thereon
Lessons
- Honest feedback, given with love, protects people from roles that would harm them.
- Authority is a trust before it is an honour.
Lessons are editorial reflections drawn from the event and its sources.
Pause for a moment
Which moment of your own life does this remind you of? Sit with it for a minute, then send salawat on the one who lived it ﷺ.
Send salawat ﷺBibliography
- Sahih Muslim (Abu Dharr) · primary source
- Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum (further reading)