Rewards for Judgments
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 7352
Narrated Amr bin Al-As: He heard Allah’s Messenger ﷺ saying:
“If a judge gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is correct (i.e. agrees with Allah and His Apostle’s verdict), he will receive a double reward. And if he gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is wrong (i.e. against that of Allah and His Apostle), even then he will get a reward.”
Explanation:
This hadith beautifully shows how Islam rewards sincerity and effort, not just results. A judge in Islam holds an extremely honorable and dangerous position. If he uses the best of his knowledge, seeks justice sincerely, and gives a verdict aligned with divine law, he earns two rewards:
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One for his effort and sincerity.
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One for reaching the correct conclusion.
Even if the judge makes an error despite sincere effort, he is not sinful, but still rewarded once — because Allah appreciates the struggle for justice when done with honesty and good intention.
What earns the double reward?
A judge must:
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Strive for truth with sincerity.
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Use knowledge of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
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Avoid bias, bribery, or emotional influence.
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Judge with fear of Allah, not fear of people.
Modern Relevance:
This hadith still applies today, especially in courts, legal systems, and any form of decision-making authority. Judges, lawmakers, and even scholars making fatwas must uphold the same principle: judge by what is true, not what is popular. However, in modern systems:
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Many judges rule based on man-made laws instead of divine guidance.
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Justice is often delayed, corrupted by bribes, influenced by politics, or driven by media.
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False verdicts are passed to protect the powerful and punish the weak — the exact opposite of what this hadith promotes.
So, while the principle remains timeless, the practice in most courts today has strayed far from this Islamic ideal. The hadith serves as a warning and a reminder: reward is based on intention, knowledge, and alignment with truth, not simply legal titles or robes.
Quranic Context:
📖Quran 4:58
Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people, to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.
📖Quran 5:8
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.
📖Quran 5:44
And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is they who are the disbelievers.
These verses show that judgment must be based on justice, truth, and revelation. A judge is not free to make decisions by desire or social pressure. Whether in the time of the Prophet ﷺ or today, those who take the role of judgment must fear Allah, uphold His laws, and prioritize fairness over everything else.