`Aidh bin `Amr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I visited `Ubaidullah bin Ziyad and said to him: "Dear son, I heard Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, `The worst of rulers are those who treat their subjects harshly. Beware, lest you should be one of them."[Al-Bukhari].
Commentary:
There is a typical, brutish sheep-herder who severely drives his flock and flogs them mercilessly. As a result of which the timid animals get upon one another. In the Hadith, this word has been brought in for a tyrant ruler who subjects people to oppression and treats them unkindly. It implies a strong warning and intimidation to cruel rulers. |