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.

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ قَاضِيًا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تُرْسِلُنِي وَأَنَا حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ وَلاَ عِلْمَ لِي بِالْقَضَاءِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ وَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ فَإِذَا جَلَسَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ الْخَصْمَانِ فَلاَ تَقْضِيَنَّ حَتَّى تَسْمَعَ مِنَ الآخَرِ كَمَا سَمِعْتَ مِنَ الأَوَّلِ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَى أَنْ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الْقَضَاءُ قَالَ فَمَا زِلْتُ قَاضِيًا أَوْ مَا شَكَكْتُ فِي قَضَاءٍ بَعْدُ

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Yemen. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, you are sending me to judge between them while I am a young man, and I do not know how to judge.' He struck me on the chest with his hand and said: 'O Allah, guide his heart and make his tongue steadfast.' And after that I never doubted in passing judgment between two people.”

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تَبْعَثُنِي وَأَنَا شَابٌّ أَقْضِي بَيْنَهُمْ وَلاَ أَدْرِي مَا الْقَضَاءُ قَالَ فَضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَثَبِّتْ لِسَانَهُ قَالَ فَمَا شَكَكْتُ بَعْدُ فِي قَضَاءٍ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Yemen when I was young, I said: You are sending me to people among whom things happen and I do not know how to judge. He said: ʿAllah will guide your tongue and make your heart steadfast.ʿ And I never doubted any judgement I passed between two people after that.

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ وَأَنَا حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ تَبْعَثُنِي إِلَى قَوْمٍ يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُمْ أَحْدَاثٌ وَلا عِلْمَ لِي بِالْقَضَاءِ؟ قَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ سَيَهْدِي لِسَانَكَ وَيُثَبِّتُ قَلْبَكَ قَالَ فَمَا شَكَكْتُ فِي قَضَاءٍ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ بَعْدُ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Yemen and I said: O Messenger of Allah, are you sending me to people who are older than me to judge between them? He said: “Go, for Allah, may He be exalted, will make your tongue steadfast and guide your heart.”

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّكَ تَبْعَثُنِي إِلَى قَوْمٍ هُمْ أَسَنُّ مِنِّي لِأَقْضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى سَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ وَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ

I heard Abul-Bakhtari At-Taʿi say: Someone who heard ‘Ali ؓ told me that he said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Yemen, I said: Are you sending me when I am young and I do not know much about judging? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ struck my chest and said: Go, for Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, will make your tongue steadfast and guide your heart.ʿ He said: I never found it difficult to judge between two people.

سَمِعَ عَلِيًّا يَقُولُ لَمَّا بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقُلْتُ تَبْعَثُنِي وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ وَلَيْسَ لِي عِلْمٌ بِكَثِيرٍ مِنَ القَضَاءِ؟ قَالَ فَضَرَبَ صَدْرِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ اذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ اللهَ ﷻ سَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ وَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ قَالَ فَمَا أَعْيَانِي قَضَاءٌ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Yemen. I said: You are sending me to people who are older than me for me to judge between them. He said: ʿGo, for Allah will guide your heart and make your tongue steadfast.ʿ

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّكَ تَبْعَثُنِي إِلَى قَوْمٍ وَهُمْ أَسَنُّ مِنِّي لِأَقْضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَقَالَ اذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ اللهَ سَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ وَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ

قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقُلْتُ تَبْعَثُنِي إِلَى قَوْمٍ هُمْ أَسَنُّ مِنِّي فَكَيْفَ أَقْضِي بَيْنَهُمْ ؟ فَقَالَ اذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ وَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ وَهَذَا الْحَدِيثُ لَا نَعْلَمُ رَوَاهُ عَنْ حَارِثَةَ بْنِ مُضَرِّبٍ إِلَّا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ وَلَا عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ إِلَّا إِسْرَائِيلُ وَرَوَاهُ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ وَأَحْسَنُ إِسْنَادٍ يُرْوَى عَنْ عَلِيٍّ هَذَا الْإِسْنَادُ

[AI] The Prophet ﷺ sent me to Yemen when I was a young man. I said, "O Messenger of Allah, you have sent me to a people who are immature, and I am a young man." He said, "Verily, Allah will guide your heart and steady your tongue, so have no doubt about dealing with two disputing parties."

بَعَثَنِي النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ وَأَنَا شَابٌّ حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ «إِنَّكَ بَعَثَتْنِي إِلَى قَوْمٍ يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُمْ أَحْدَاثٌ وَأَنَا شَابٌّ حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ» قَالَ «إِنَّ اللهَ سَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ وَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ فَمَا شَكَكْتُ فِي قَضَاءٍ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ»

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Yemen to settle disputes among them, so I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I have no knowledge of how to settle disputes." He struck his hand on my chest and said, "O Allah, guide his heart and make his tongue steadfast." So, I did not doubt in settling a dispute between two people until I sat in this gathering. Abu 'Abdul Rahman narrated this Hadith from Shu'bah, who narrated it from 'Amr bin Murrah, who narrated it from Abu Al-Bakhtari. He said, "A person who heard 'Ali told me." Abu 'Abdul Rahman said, "Abu Al-Bakhtari did not hear anything from 'Ali."

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ لِأَقْضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ لَا عِلْمَ لِي بِالْقَضَاءِ فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي وَقَالَ «اللهُمَّ اهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَسَدِّدْ لِسَانَهُ» فَمَا شَكَكْتُ فِي قَضَاءٍ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ مَجْلِسِي هَذَا قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ رَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ شُعْبَةُ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْبَخْتَرِيِّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مَنْ سَمِعَ عَلِيًّا قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو الْبَخْتَرِيِّ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ شَيْئًا

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Yemen. I said: You are sending me to people who are older than me for me to judge between them. He said: ʿGo, for Allah will guide your heart and make your tongue steadfast.ʿ (Using translation from Aḥmad 1342)

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقُلْتُ «إِنَّكَ تَبْعَثُنِي إِلَى قَوْمٍ هُمْ أَسَنُّ مِنِّي لِأَقْضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ» فَقَالَ «إِنَّ اللهَ سَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ وَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ» قَالَ شَيْبَانُ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَبَشِيٍّ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Yemen, so I said, "O Messenger of Allah, will you send me while I am young and inexperienced, with no knowledge of legal judgments?" He replied, "Go forth, for Allah will guide your heart and keep your tongue firm." So I did not doubt in any legal judgment between two men.

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ تَبْعَثُنِي وَأَنَا حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ لَا عِلْمَ لِي بِالْقَضَاءِ؟ قَالَ انْطَلِقْ فَإِنَّ اللهَ ﷻ سَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ وَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ قَالَ فَمَا شَكَكْتُ فِي قَضَاءٍ بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ

I heard Abul-Bakhtari At-Taʿi say: Someone who heard ‘Ali ؓ told me that he said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Yemen, I said: Are you sending me when I am young and I do not know much about judging? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ struck my chest and said: Go, for Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, will make your tongue steadfast and guide your heart.ʿ He said: I never found it difficult to judge between two people. (Using translation from Aḥmad 1145)

سَمِعَ عَلِيًّا ؓ يَقُولُ لَمَّا بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ تَبْعَثُنِي وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ لَا عَلِمَ لِي بِكَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ؟ قَالَ فَضَرَبَ يَدَهُ فِي صَدْرِي وَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ سَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ وَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ فَمَا أَعْيَانِي قَضَاءٌ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ

[AI] When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to Yemen, I said, "You are sending me while I am young and have little knowledge of the rulings?" So he said to me, "When the disputing parties come to you, do not decide in favor of the first one until you hear what the other says. For when you hear what the other says, you will know how to judge, as Allah will strengthen your tongue and guide your heart." Ali said, "I have continued to be a judge since then."

لَمَّا بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ قُلْتُ تَبْعَثُنِي وَأَنَا حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ لَا عِلْمَ لِي بِكَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ؟ فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا أَتَاكَ الْخَصْمَانِ فَلَا تَقْضِ لِلْأَوَّلِ حَتَّى تَسْمَعَ مَا يَقُولُ الْآخَرُ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا سَمِعْتَ مَا يَقُولُ الْآخَرُ عَرَفْتَ كَيْفَ تَقْضِي إِنَّ اللهَ سَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ وَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ؓ فَمَا زِلْتُ قَاضِيًا بَعْدُ

"عَنْ على قال: بعثنى رسول الله ﷺ إلى أهل اليمن لأقضى بينهم. فقلت: يا رسول الله! بعثتنى وأنا شاب وإنى لا علم لى بالقضاء، فضرب بيده على صدرى فقال: اللهم اهد قلبه، وسدد لسانه. فما شككت في قضاء بين اثنين حتى جلست مجلسى هذا".