Hadith 17104

Chapter 167

باب 167

(167) بَابُ تَسْوِيدِ الأكَابِرِ

(167) Chapter: Making the old leaders
9
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَرْزُوقٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ: سَمِعْتُ مُطَرِّفًا، عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ قَيْسِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ أَوْصَى عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ بَنِيهِ فَقَالَ: اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَسَوِّدُوا أَكْبَرُكُمْ، فَإِنَّ الْقَوْمَ إِذَا سَوَّدُوا أَكْبَرَهُمْ خَلَفُوا أَبَاهُمْ، وَإِذَا سَوَّدُوا أَصْغَرَهُمْ أَزْرَى بِهِمْ ذَلِكَ فِي أَكْفَائِهِمْ. وَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمَالِ وَاصْطِنَاعِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْبَهَةٌ لِلْكَرِيمِ، وَيُسْتَغْنَى بِهِ عَنِ اللَّئِيمِ. وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمَسْأَلَةَ النَّاسِ، فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ آخِرِ كَسْبِ الرَّجُلِ. وَإِذَا مُتُّ فَلاَ تَنُوحُوا، فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يُنَحْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. وَإِذَا مُتُّ فَادْفِنُونِي بِأَرْضٍ لاَ يَشْعُرُ بِدَفْنِي بَكْرُ بْنُ وَائِلٍ، فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أُغَافِلُهُمْ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ.

Hakim ibn Qays ibn 'Asim reported that when his father was dying,he enjoined his sons:
"Fear Allah and make the oldest among you your leaders.When people make the oldest among them their leaders, they follow theirfathers. When they make the youngest among them their leaders, that lowersthem in the sight of their peers. You must have wealth and use it well.It is an impetus for the generous and it will make you independent of critics.Beware of asking people. It is a man's last source of earning. When I die,do not wail. There was no wailing for the Messenger of Allah, may Allahbless him and grant him peace. When I die, bury me in a land where the Bakribn Wa'il will not know where I am buried. I used to waylay on the roadsin the time of the Jahiliyya."

Reference: Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 361

In-book reference: Book 18, Hadith 9

English translation: Book 18, Hadith 361