đź“–Sahih al-Bukhari 7138
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Surely! Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges: The Imam (ruler) of the people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; a man is the guardian of his family (household) and is responsible for his subjects; a woman is the guardian of her husband’s home and of his children and is responsible for them; and the Servent of a man is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it. Surely, everyone of you is a guardian and responsible for his charges.”
This Hadith of Responsibility and Guardianship in Islam is a foundational text in Islamic ethics and social theory, outlining the responsibility that every individual has towards those under their care. Here are ten points that summarize the key teachings of this hadith:
- Every individual is a guardian and is responsible for those under their care.
- The Imam or ruler of the people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects.
- A man is the guardian of his family (household) and is responsible for his subjects.
- A woman is the guardian of her husband’s home and of his children and is responsible for them.
- A servant is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it.
The Hadith of Responsibility and Guardianship serves as a guiding principle for Muslims in their daily lives and encourages them to be responsible and dutiful towards their families, society, and the world at large. It emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one’s responsibilities towards those under their care and highlights the concept of accountability in Islam.
