The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah)
25/3. Chapter:
Regarding Seeking The Position Of Judge and Hastening To Accept That Position
Sunan Abi Dawud
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ بِلاَلٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ طَلَبَ الْقَضَاءَ وَاسْتَعَانَ عَلَيْهِ وُكِلَ إِلَيْهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَطْلُبْهُ وَلَمْ يَسْتَعِنْ عَلَيْهِ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مَلَكًا يُسَدِّدُهُ " . وَقَالَ وَكِيعٌ عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى عَنْ بِلاَلِ بْنِ أَبِي مُوسَى عَنْ أَنَسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم . وَقَالَ أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى عَنْ بِلاَلِ بْنِ مِرْدَاسٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ الْبَصْرِيِّ عَنْ أَنَسٍ .
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone desires the office of Judge and seeks help for it, he will be left to his own devices; if anyone does not desire it, nor does he seek help for it, Allah will send down an angel who will direct him aright. Waki' said: (This tradition has also been transmitted) by Isra'il, from 'Abd al-A'la, from Bilal bin Abi Musa, from Anas, from the Prophet (ﷺ). Abu 'Awanah said: from 'Abd al-A'la, from Bilal bin Mirdas al-Fazari, from Khaithamah al-Basri from Anas.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3578In-book reference : Book 25, Hadith 8English translation : Book 24, Hadith 3571