Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent him towards Yemen, he asked, "If a case comes before you, how will you decide it?" He replied, "I will decide according to the Book of Allah." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "If the matter is not found in the Book of Allah, then what will you do?" He replied, "I will decide according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)." He said, "If the matter is not found in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah either, then what will you do?" He replied, "I will exercise my judgment with careful thought and will not fall short." The narrator said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) patted the chest of Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) (as a gesture of approval) and said, "All praise is due to Allah Who has granted the messenger of the Messenger of Allah the ability to do that which pleases and satisfies the Messenger of Allah."