Abu Maryam al-Azdi reported: When I went to see Mu‘āwiyah, he said: "How good your visit is to us, O father of so-and-so." (This is an idiom used by the Arabs on such occasions). I said: "I will tell you a Hadīth that I heard. I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'If Allah, the Exalted, puts someone in the position of authority over the affairs of Muslims and he secludes himself, not meeting their needs, deficiencies, and poverty, Allah will keep Himself away from him, not fulfilling his needs, deficiencies, and poverty.'" He said: “He appointed a man to meet people’s needs.”
GradingAuthentic hadith
AttributionNarrated by At-Termedhy - Narrated by Abu Daoud - Narrated by Ahmad
Explanation
Abu Maryam al-Azdi said that one day, he visited Mu‘āwiyah and Mu‘āwiyah was happy to see him and welcomed him. Abu Maryam told him a Hadīth that he heard from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the people who are appointed in authority over the Muslims and they then conceal themselves from the people and do not fulfill their rights. They shut their doors and are not accessible. Allah, the Almighty, will cover Himself from them on the Day of Judgment, punishing them in the same manner they abused their power. He will withhold His bounty and mercy from them. On hearing that, Mu‘āwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed someone to look after the needs of people and tell him of their concerns.