حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شَرِيکٌ عَنْ سِمَاکٍ عَنْ حَنَشٍ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَی الْيَمَنِ قَاضِيًا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تُرْسِلُنِي وَأَنَا حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ وَلَا عِلْمَ لِي بِالْقَضَائِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيَهْدِي قَلْبَکَ وَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَکَ فَإِذَا جَلَسَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْکَ الْخَصْمَانِ فَلَا تَقْضِيَنَّ حَتَّی تَسْمَعَ مِنْ الْآخَرِ کَمَا سَمِعْتَ مِنْ الْأَوَّلِ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَی أَنْ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَکَ الْقَضَائُ قَالَ فَمَا زِلْتُ قَاضِيًا أَوْ مَا شَکَکْتُ فِي قَضَائٍ بَعْدُ
سنن ابودوٗد · Hadith 3582
Narrated Ali ibn Abu Talib: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to the Yemen as judge, and I asked: Messenger of Allah, are you sending me when I am young and have no knowledge of the duties of a judge? He replied: Allah will guide your heart and keep your tongue true. When two litigants sit in front of you, do not decide till you hear what the other has to say as you heard what the first had to say; for it is best that you should have a clear idea of the best decision. He said: I had been a judge (for long); or he said (the narrator is doubtful): I have no doubts about a decision afterwards.
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020