حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ حَدَّثَنِی زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ حَدَّثَنِي وَرْقَائُ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنْ الْأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ يُقَاتَلُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ وَيُتَّقَی بِهِ فَإِنْ أَمَرَ بِتَقْوَی اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعَدَلَ کَانَ لَهُ بِذَلِکَ أَجْرٌ وَإِنْ يَأْمُرْ بِغَيْرِهِ کَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهُ
صحیح مسلم · Hadith 4772
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) said: A commander (of the Muslims) is a shield for them. They fight behind him and they are protected by (him from tyrants and aggressors). If he enjoins fear of God, the Exalted and Glorious, and dispenses justice, there will be a (great) reward for him; and if he enjoins otherwise, it redounds on him.
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020