How sound is the Hadith: "Whoever appoints a man over a band while there is among them one who is more pleasing to Allah than him, has betrayed Allah and His Messenger"? And if it is not sound, what is the closest Hadith to this meaning?
The aforementioned Hadith: "Whoever appoints a man from a group, while there is someone in that group who is more pleasing to Allah than him, has betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and the believers," was narrated by Al-Hakim and authenticated by him. However, Al-Dhahabi, Al-Mundhiri, and Ibn Hajar commented on it and weakened one of its narrators (Husayn ibn Qays), and Al-Albani also weakened the Hadith.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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