Salamah ibn Dinar advises the Khaleefah

In 97 AH, Khalifah Sulaiman ibn Abdul Malik came to Medina on the way to Makkah for Hajj.

He asked for Salamah ibn Dinar (Abu Hazim), Qadi of Medina.

After asking many questions about the deen, the Khalifah said, "Pray for me, O Abu Hazim."

So Abu Hazim prayed, "O Allah, if your servant Sulaiman is from your awliyaa', then he make easy for him the goodness of the world and the Hereafter ... And if he is one your enemies, then straighten him and guide him to what you love and are pleased with."

So, someone among the audience there said, "How bad is what you said since you came to see the Amir ul-Mo'mineen... You have made the Muslim Khalifah among the enemies of Allah, you have harmed him."

Abu Hazim said, "Indeed, evil is what you say, truly Allah has taken a covenant from the knowledgeable, that they always say kalimatul haq."

Allah says,

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُ

"And remember Allah took a covenant from the People of the Book, to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it" (Al-Imran, 3:187)

Then he turned to the Khalifah, and said, "O Amir ul-Mo'mineen, indeed the people before us from the previous nations were always in good and safety as long as their leaders came to their scholars seeking that which is in them (knowledge / advice). Then they found some of the ignorant people who study ilm, and they went to the leaders expecting to obtain something of the dunya, so the leaders did not need the scholars, so the become crushed and helpless, and fell from the regard of Allah.

If scholars distance themselves from what the leaders have (property), the leaders will love to have their knowledge. However, they desired what was with the leaders, so they (the leaders) distanced themselves from their knowledge and underestimate them."

Khalifah said, "You're right ... give me more of your advice, O Abu Hazim. I never saw anyone whose words are so wise as yours. "

He replied, "If you are from the people who take heed, then it is enough for you what I have already said. But if you are not from among them, the it is not appropriate for me to be shooting arrows from a bow with no strings. "

Khalifah said, "I resolved that you will advise me, O Abu Hazim."

He replied, "Yes ... I will give you advice... Adhim Rabbak, and avoid Him seeing you where He has forbidden ... and Him not finding you where He has ordered you. "