Islamic Character

Offer a ruler advice in private-not in public When Ayadh ibn Ghanam al-Ashari conquered the city of Dara (Persia), he inflicted severe punishment on its ruler. He was then reminded by Hisham ibn Hakim of the Prophet’s words: “He who was most severe in his punishment of others in this world is the one who shall be punished most severely on the Day of Judgement.” Then, keeping up his diatribe against Ayadh, Hisham went on his way. A few days later the two men met again. “O Hisham,” said Ayadh ibn Ghanam, “we too have heard the words that you have heard, and have seen what you have seen and have had the company of the Prophet just as you did. Did you not hear the Prophet say, ‘O Hisham, that he who has advice to give to a ruler should not offer it in public, but should take him by the hand and communicate it to him in private. If the ruler accepts his advice, well and good; and if not, the giver of the advice will at least have discharged his responsibility and have done all that he was entitled to do. (AL-HAKIM)