Ruler's Conduct in Islam

Ruler's Conduct in Islam

Dr. Abdul Karim

Allah ordains obedience to those who are in authority, "O ye who believe; obey Allah and His Messenger and those who are in authority among you." (4:60) The obedience is qualified, "Say, Swear not, what is required is actual obedience in what is right. Surely, Allah is all-aware of that you do." (24:54) This was also explained by the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) "A Muslim is obligated to hear and obey whether he likes it or not, except when he is required to do something that is sinful in which case there is no obligation to hear and obey."

Thus the obedience is to be only to the extent that it does not in any way involve disobedience of Allah. In that case, even parents, who have been given the pride of place in Islam, are not to be obeyed. Thus obedience to Allah takes precedence over human beings however mighty they may be. For the sycophant, who often spoils the ruler, there is a warning from the Holy Prophet (ﷺ).

"Beware, after me there will be such rulers that if a person declares their lies as truth and support them in wrongs doing, he will have nothing to do with me and, on the Day of Judgment, he will not come to my pond. On the other hand, if a person would not declare their lies as truths and would not support them in wrong doings, he is mine and I am his and he will come to my pond."

None enjoys absolute power except Allah and human beings only have obligations for the discharge of which they may be delegated certain powers within the parameters set by Allah. According to a tradition: "Leaders are like a shield behind which people seek safety and fight. If a leader orders, fearing Allah, and is just, he will have his reward. If he acts to the contrary, then he will face its consequence." Fear of Allah and justice are thus the basic factors governing the conduct of the ruler.

Islam does not believe in individualism, as is the modern concept, but treats man as an essential part of the society and assigns him responsibility not only on his own behalf, but also for others. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Every one of you is a shepherd and will be asked about his flock. The ruler is a shepherd for his subjects." A ruler's flock is every living being in his domain and he is accountable to Allah for their material and spiritual welfare. This is indeed an onerous obligation and that is why the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) often advised people not to seek office.

Hazrat Abu Bakr (RDA) had this to say to Yazid bin Abu Sufyan: "O Yazid, you have relatives and it is possible that you might give them preference in assigning responsibilities. This is really what I am afraid about you. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) had said:" Any one who is put in charge of collective affairs of Muslims, if he gives office for mere relationship or friendship then he will be accursed. Allah will not accept any compensation from him and he will be consigned to hell."

The rulers have a special responsibility, and as a famous Arabic saying goes the common man follows the faith of the ruler. It is in the Qur'an: "And they will say, Our Lord, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones an they led us astray from the way. Our Lord, give them double punishment and curse them with great curse." (33:68, 69) Hazrat Umar (RDA) said:" People would remain on the right path so long as their leaders do not deviate from it." The ruler must stop wrongdoing, as he enjoys all the power to do so. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said: "When the people see a wrongdoer committing a wrong and do not seize his hand to restrain him, it is like that Allah would afflict them with His chastisement."

There is a strong warning to those rulers who might resort to tricks and chicanery. There are several admonitions from the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) for such rulers. "Every deceitful will have a flag which will be raised on the day of JUDGMENT according to the degree of his deceit. The most deceitful is he who cheats as a ruler over the creation of Allah. Of the three persons with whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Judgment, nor purify him, nor look at him, would be a ruler who lies. There is no governor who rules Muslims and dies, having played false with them, but Allah will forbid him Paradise."

The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) appointed Mu'adh bin Jabal (RDA) in Yemen and one of his parting instructions to him was:

"Make it easy and not difficult for the people. Beware of he plaint of the wronged, as there is no barrier between the plaint of the wronged and Allah."

The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said: "A leader of a people is their servant." As such, the ruler is not allowed to arrogate to himself some privileges which may put him in a class of his own. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) demonstrated this with his personal example. He shared ail the travails of Muslims. He personally carried the bricks and mortar, like any other ordinary Muslim, when the first mosque was built in Madinah. For the battle of Badr, there were not enough camels to carry all Muslims, so a ride on one camel had to be shared by two to three persons by turn. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) shared with Hazrat Ali (RDA) and another Companion. When the Holy Prophet's Companion offered his turn to him, he refused, saying, "You are not stronger then me, neither am I less desirous of the reward." During the preparations of the battle of Ditch, when a tough rock was encountered, it was none else than the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) whose help was sought. He did the job and it was during this process when the glad tiding of wealth of the Roman and Persian Empires were conveyed to him by Allah.

The first sermon by Hazrat Abu Bakr (RDA) on assuming the Khilafat was: "I request you to help me, if I discharge my duties in a satisfactory manner. In case 1 deviate from the right course, you should set me right. Truth is a trust and a lie is a breach of trust. The weak among you will be strong for me till I get him his due, Allah willing. The strong among you will be weak for me till I make him discharge his obligation."

Hazrat Umar's (RDA) instructions to his officials "Remember you have not been appointed to be harsh rulers but to be leaders whom public should follow. You must discharge your obligations to Muslims. Do not beat them and do not humiliate them. Do not praise in exaggerated terms lest this should mislead. Do not close your doors on them and do not let powerful usurp the right of the weak ones. Do not give yourself precedence over others in any way as this amounts to injustice with them.

How Hazrat Umar acquitted himself, when he assumed office, is a glorious chapter of history, the envy of even the arch enemies of Islam, and a role model for later rulers. It is worth remembering that he was the head of state of the only super power at that time, the Romans and Persians having been vanquished by Islam. A few aspects of his character may be mentioned here. He never allowed any luxury to himself and strictly forbade it to state functionaries. He saw to it that the instructions were complied with in letter and spirit. Many ranking officials had to suffer for the slightest violation.

His austerity was proverbial. His dress used to have patches upon patches in layers and that is what he was wearing when he entered Jerusalem as a conqueror, despite the Muslim generals already there to be more presentable. During the famine of Ramada, he fully shared the hardship of ordinary Muslims so much so that his skin lost its colour due to poor diet. Hazrat Umar (RDA) did not allow his family to make use of facilities available to ordinary Muslims. Lest this should be misconstrued as a special treatment for them. There was the famous case of his son, Abdullah (RDA), who wanted to accept the price of a lean camel which he had put to the public pasture. Hazrat Umar warned his family that, being close to him, they were keenly watched by others like a hawk and, in case of any lapse, he would give them double punishment. This was no empty threat. He made an example of one of his sons by punishing him twice for drinking.

He disapproved any kind of business by state functionaries. This problem of conflict of interest' is recognized these days and in many advanced countries the rulers are required to dissociate themselves from their business, if any, and put it in trust so long as they held office. His view about his own remuneration was: "I am the guardian of your wealth like the ward of an orphan. I will refrain from it if I am self-sufficient. If not and hard pressed, I will take according to the custom.