Sunan an-Nasa'i 4196
سنن النسائي#4196Sahihأَخْبَرَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ بَكَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، مِمَّا حَدَّثَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجُ، مِمَّا ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّمَا الإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ يُقَاتَلُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ وَيُتَّقَى بِهِ فَإِنْ أَمَرَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَعَدَلَ فَإِنَّ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ أَجْرًا وَإِنْ أَمَرَ بِغَيْرِهِ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ وِزْرًا " .
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:"The Imam is like a shield whose orders should be obeyed when they (the Muslims) fight, and where they should seek protection. If he enjoins fear of Allah and behaves justly, then he will be rewarded, but if he enjoins otherwise, then it will be a burden (of sin) on him
Scholarly Authentication
The label above is the grade most of these scholars gave — one dissenting opinion no longer speaks for all of them. If any scholar calls a narration fabricated, that verdict is shown instead, whatever the others say. Each scholar's own wording:
In-book reference: 39:48