عَنْ أبي هُريْرةَ رضي اللّه عنْهُ قَالَ: بيْنَمَا النَّبيُّ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم في مَجْلِسٍ يُحَدِّثُ الْقَوْمَ، جاءَهُ أعْرابِيٌّ فَقَالَ: مَتَى السَّاعَةُ؟ فَمَضَى رسُولُ اللّه صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم يُحَدِّثُ، فقَال بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ: سَمِعَ مَا قَالَ، فَكَرِه ما قَالَ، وقَالَ بَعْضُهمْ: بَلْ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ، حَتَّى إذَا قَضَى حَدِيثَهُ قَالَ: «أيْنَ السَّائِلُ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ؟» قَال: ها أنَا يَا رسُولَ اللّه، قَالَ: «إذَا ضُيِّعَتِ الأَمَانةُ فانْتَظِرِ السَّاعةَ» قَالَ: كَيْفَ إضَاعَتُهَا؟ قَالَ: «إذَا وُسِّد الأمْرُ إلى غَيْرِ أهْلِهِ فَانْتَظِرِ السَّاعة» رواهُ البُخاري.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: While the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was in a gathering, speaking to the people, a Bedouin came to him and said: "When is the Hour?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) continued speaking. Some of the people said: "He heard what he said but disliked what he said," while others said: "Rather, he did not hear." When he had finished his discourse, he said: "Where is the one who asked about the Hour?" The man said: "Here I am, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "When the trust is squandered, await the Hour." He asked: "How is it squandered?" He said: "When authority is entrusted to those unfit for it, await the Hour." Reported by al-Bukhari.
الشرح · explanation
الساعة: القيامة. وسّد: أسند إلى غير الأكفاء من الناس.
"The Hour": the Resurrection. "Entrusted (wussida)": assigned to those among people who are not competent for it.
الدروس · lessons
أنّ من مظاهر تضييع الأمانة إسناد الأمور والأعمال والوظائف إلى غير الصالحين لها، لما في ذلك من تضييع الحقوق وإثارة الفتن. الرِّفقُ بالسَّائل وإنْ جفَا في سؤالِه أو جهِل؛ لأنَّه صلَّى اللّه عليه وسلَّم لم يوبِّخْه على سؤالِه قبل إكمالِ حديثِه. العنايةُ بالسَّائل وطالبِ العلم، والاهتمامُ به، وإجابتُه على سؤالِه؛ كما فعَل النَّبيُّ صلَّى اللّه عليه وسلَّم.
That among the manifestations of squandering the trust is assigning matters, tasks, and offices to those unfit for them, because of the loss of rights and the stirring up of tribulations that this entails. Gentleness toward the questioner, even if he is rude in his question or ignorant, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not rebuke him for his question before completing his discourse. Attending to the questioner and the seeker of knowledge, caring for him, and answering his question, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did.