The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, tasked Mu`aath ibn Jabal to be the judge over the people of Yemen

“Mu`aath ibn Jabal came to us in Yemen as a teacher and a leader, so we asked him about a man who died and left a sister and daughter behind, and gave his daughter half of his inheritance, and his sister the other half

Some people from the city of Hims who were the companions of Mu`aath ibn Jabal reported that when the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent Mu`aath to Yemen, he said: “How will you judge if you are faced with having to make a judgment?” He replied: “I will judge with Allah’s Book.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “And if you do not find it in Allah’s Book, then what?” He said: “Then I will judge with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.” The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “What if you do not find it in the Book of Allah nor the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah?” He said: “I will spare no effort in making a judgment based on my opinion and understanding.” Then the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, struck him in his chest and said: “All praise for Allah who has directed the messenger of the Messenger of Allah to that which pleases the Messenger of Allah.”