View Printable Version :: Email to a Friend
'Umar (rta) on Judge and Judgements
Political Issues
Mawardi

In his letter of commission to Abū Mūsa al-`Ash`arī, `Umar Ibn Khattāb has provided a comprehensive account of the conditions of passing judgement. It explains the rule of conduct associated with appointment to the office of judge. After the necessary salutations1, he says:

Adjudication is a firm religious obligation and a practice2 that must be upheld and followed. Use your understanding, therefore, when a matter is brought before you, for speaking the truth without discernment is of no use. Treat people equally in the way you attend to them; administer justice, and hold court so that a nobleman may not expect you to be partial to him and a weak man may not despair of your justice. Testimony is for the plaintiff to bring and the oath is for the defendant to take. Effecting reconciliation among Muslims is permissible, so long as a reconciliation does not turn unlawful into lawful and lawful into unlawful. If you decided a case yesterday and were to give it a second thought today, and were to be guided to the right decision this time, let not your previous judgement prevent you from accepting the truth, for the truth is eternal3 and is not invalidated by anything, and to return to the truth is better than to persist in error. Use your understanding -- do use your understanding when you are not sure about a matter not found in the Book of God, may He be exalted, or in the Sunnah of His Prophet (sws). Acquire a good knowledge of like and similar cases, and judge matters by analogy with others. If a person claims a missing right or asserts that he is in possession of evidence, appoint a time-limit for him to reach. If he presents evidence, give him his right, otherwise decide against him, for this is most conducive to the dispelling of doubt and the removal of confusion. Muslims are trustworthy4 with regard to the testimony they give about one another -- with the exception of one who has been flogged in connection with a prescribed punishment, is known to have borne false witness, or is of suspicious clientship or lineage -- for God has forgiven on account of oaths and warded off punishment on account of evidence. Take care that you do not become impatient, annoyed, or fretful with the contending parties. For truth and right, when placed where they belong, result in a great reward from God and in one's earning of a good name. Peace be with you!

(Translated by Dr Mustansir Mir)

 

 

 

 

 

________________________
1. After the necessary salutations: Arabic : ammā ba`d.

2. The Arabic word is Sunnah, which, although may be interpreted as the practice of the Prophet (sws), here seems to mean past practice in general.

3. eternal: The Arabic word is qadīm. One cannot be absolutely sure that `Umar (rta) is using the word in its technical theological sense, which is probably of later provenance. The basic meaning of "prior" may be intended, the word thus implying that truth comes first and has priority over everything else.

4. Muslims are trustworthy: ie, they are presumed to be trustworthy.

   
 
For Questions on Islam, please use our
 

Replica Handbags Bottega Veneta fake Bvlgari fake Celine fake Christian Dior fake Gucci fake Gucci Bag fake Gucci Wallet fake Gucci Shoes fake Gucci Belt fake Hermes fake Loewe fake Louis Vuitton fake Louis Vuitton Belt fake Louis Vuitton Calf Leather fake Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Canvas fake Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Canvas fake Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite Canvas fake Louis Vuitton Damier Infini Leather fake Louis Vuitton Damier Quilt lamb fake Louis Vuitton Embossed Calfskin fake Louis Vuitton Epi fake Louis Vuitton Game On Monogram Canvas fake Louis Vuitton Jewellery fake Louis Vuitton Key Holder fake Louis Vuitton Mahina Leather fake Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas fake Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim fake Louis Vuitton Monogram Eclipse Canvas fake Louis Vuitton Monogram Empreinte fake Louis Vuitton Monogram Seal fake Louis Vuitton Monogram Shadow fake Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis fake Louis Vuitton Monogram Watercolor fake Louis Vuitton New Wave fake Louis Vuitton Shoes fake Louis Vuitton Since 1854 fake Louis Vuitton Strap fake Louis Vuitton Taiga Leahter fake Louis Vuitton Taurillon leather fake Louis Vuitton Transformed Game On canvas fake Louis Vuitton Utah Calfskin fake Louis Vuitton X Supreme fake Mulberry fake Prada fake YSL fake