O Abu Dharr, I see that you are weak and I love for you what I love for myself. Do not rule over two persons and do not manage an orphan's property

Explanation

Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had said to him: “I see that you are weak and I love for you what I love for myself. Do not rule over two persons and do not manage an orphan's property." These are four sentences the Prophet addressed Abu Dharr with: 1. “I see that you are weak.” This description, which accords with the reality, is given as advice. And there is no harm if a person tells someone else that he has such and such trait, as an advice, not as an insult or exposing one’s faults; as the Prophet himself said: “I see that you are weak.” 2. “I love for you what I love for myself.” This is part of the Prophet’s noble character. When the first sentence contained some criticism, he made this statement, which means: I only told you this because I love for you what I love for myself. 3. “Do not rule over two persons.” In other words, do not be the leader of two persons, rather than more than two. The meaning here is that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade him from being a leader, because he was weak, and leadership requires a strong and trustworthy person. A strong person would exercise authority and have a firm say; and when he says something, he fulfills it. He should not be weak before people, for when people see someone weak, they will show him no respect or regard, and the fools will treat him boldly. However, if a leader is strong and does not exceed the limits set by Allah, the Almighty, or neglect his authority in which Allah has put him, then he is a true leader. 4. “Do not manage an orphan’s property.” An orphan is one whose father had died before reaching puberty. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade him from managing the wealth of orphans, for it needs care and protection, whereas Abu Dharr was weak and would not be able to take proper care of such property. That is why the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not manage an orphan’s property.” That is, do not be responsible for it; leave it to someone else. This is not degradation of Abu Dharr, for he was a man who used to enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and led an austere and ascetic life. However, he was weak in a particular area, namely guardianship and leadership.

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