Fadilat al-Adilin min al-Wulat li-Abi Nuaym
- Author died
- 430 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Waṭan
Fadilat al-Adilin min al-Wulat ("The Virtue of Just Rulers") is a hadith treatise by the traditionist Abu Nuaym al-Asbahani (336–430 AH / 948–1038 CE) on the principles of righteous governance, political accountability, and the spiritual standing of just rulers.
Scope and Content
The work is also referenced under the longer title Fadilat al-Adilin min al-Wulat wa-Man An'ama al-Nazar fi Hal al-Ummal wa-l-Su'at ("The Virtue of Just Rulers and Whoever Closely Examines the Condition of Governors and Collectors"). In his opening remarks, Abu Nuaym writes that leaders whom God has granted power and entrusted with the political administration of subjects are duty-bound to assign authority only to individuals endowed with sound intellect and justice. He warns that appointing incapable individuals who lack knowledge of political affairs creates administrative disorder, and that delegating authority to the unqualified constitutes one of the gravest breaches of trust.
The treatise compiles prophetic narrations equipped with their chains of transmission (isnad) concerning governance, judicial fairness, and the protection of the weak against the strong. Among the primary traditions cited is the hadith of Ibn Umar: كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ، وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ، فَالْإِمَامُ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ ("Every one of you is a shepherd, and every one of you is responsible for his flock; the ruler is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock"). Abu Nuaym also includes reports on the reward of fair leadership, such as narrations stating that a just leader is sheltered under the shade of God's Throne on the Day of Resurrection, as well as counsel on offering sincere advice to rulers, observing that "whoever advises rulers and leaders is rightly guided, and whoever deceives them strays and transgresses."
Transmission and Reception
The text was transmitted directly from Abu Nuaym by his student Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn Ahmad al-Haddad. The collection became an established source for later scholars compiling traditions on Islamic statecraft and leadership, being cited by authors such as Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn al-Mubarrad.
In the 9th century AH, the traditionist al-Sakhawi authored a dedicated hadith extraction and critical evaluation of its contents titled Takhrij Ahadith al-Adilin li-Abi Nuaym (also referred to as Takhrij Ahadith al-Mu'adilin).
Manuscripts and Editions
Manuscripts of the treatise are preserved in historical collections, including the Zahiriyya Library in Damascus (within majmu' no. 63). The work was edited by Mashhur ibn Hasan Al Salman and published by Dar Ammar in Jordan in 1408 AH, followed by an edition issued by Dar al-Watan in Riyadh in 1418 AH (1997 CE), which included al-Sakhawi's takhrij as an appendix.
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