عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ
قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مِنْ جُعِلَ قَاضِيًا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَقَدْ ذُبِحَ بِغَيْرِ سِكِّينٍ»
Abu Hurayrah reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who has been appointed a qadi among the people has been killed without a knife.”* Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it. *This phrase has troubled commentators. Perhaps the best explanation is that he will have reason to repent of his manner of life, for there are many traditions which express disapproval of undertaking such an office.
A somewhat ingenious explanation is that his evil characteristics must be cut away, this being a kind of slaughter.
Mishkat al-Masabih 3577, Book 19, The Offices of Commander and Qadi, Hadith 72. 1 min read