English
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: While the Prophet (ﷺ) was speaking, a Bedouin came and asked, “When is the Hour?” He said: “When trust is lost, then expect the Hour.” He asked, “How is it lost?” He said: “When authority is given to 1 those unfit for it, then expect the Hour.”
Possible references (unverified, pending editorial review)
- Candidate: Sahih al-Bukhari 59 (unverified) 99% confidence
- Candidate: Sahih al-Bukhari 6496 (unverified) 98% confidence
Confidence and text similarity are not editorial verification.
Commentary and footnotes (2)
Note 1
(1) His statement: “to those unfit for it” refers to those lacking the qualifications for leadership, such as women, children, the ignorant, the wicked, the miserly, the cowardly, or those not from Quraysh, even if they are from the lineage of the era’s sultans. This applies to the caliph. Similarly, it applies to all those in authority, such as teachers, muftis, imams, preachers, and others who take pride in such roles. (As stated in Al-Mirqat)
Note 1
(۱) قوله: إلى غير أهله : أي ممن لم يوجد فيه شرائط الاستحقاق كالنساء والصبيان والجهلة والفسقة والبخيل والجبان ومن لم يكن قرشيا، ولو كان من نسل سلاطين الزمان، هذا في الخليفة، وقس على هذا سائر أولي الأمر والشأن وأرباب المناصب من التدريس والفتوى والإمامة والخطابة وأمثال ذلك مما يفتخر به الأقران. كذا في «المرقاة».