Thursday, October 10, 2024

Ethics of Just Ruling

 

Fairness



‘David, We have given you mastery over the land. Judge fairly between people. Do not follow your desires, lest they divert you from God’s path: those who wander from His path will have a painful torment because they ignore the Day of Reckoning.’ (Holy Qur’an, 38: 27) 

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The Holy Prophet (sa) said:


“An ant stung one of the prophets,

who then commanded that the ant nest be burned.

 But Allah (swt) inspired the prophet:

‘If one ant bites you,

you burn one of the communities that glorify Allah?’”   

 

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‘Injustice will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection’

 

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'Beware of injustice, for injustice will become a multitude of shadows on the Day of Resurrection. And beware of avarice, for avarice destroyed those who were before you, carrying them away to the point where they shed their blood and thought their taboos permissible to them'


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‘What destroyed those before you was that whenever an aristocrat among them stole, they would let him be, but when one of the powerless among them stole, they would inflict the legal punishment on him’

 

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Have you [Prophet] considered how your Lord dealt with [the people] of Ad, of Iram, [the city] of lofty pillars, whose like has never been made in any land, and the Thamud, who hewed into the rocks in the valley, and the mighty and powerful Pharaoh? All of them committed excesses in their lands, and spread corruption there: your Lord let a scourge of punishment loose on them. Your Lord is always watchful.’ (Holy Qur'an, 89: 7-16)


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The Holy Prophet (sa) sent Mu’adh to the Yemen,

saying:


“Beware the plea of the oppressed,

for there is no screen between it and Allah’.

 

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The Holy Prophet (sa) said:

 

‘Anyone whom Allah has placed in charge of a citizenry but who does not take care of them sincerely will not even get a scent of Paradise’

 

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Allah forbids Paradise to any ruler of a Muslim citizenry

who dies while he is deceiving them’

 

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True Power

 

The Messenger of Allah (sa) said:


 ‘The powerful one is not the one who overthrows others,

but the one who controls himself in anger.’

 

 

Shun Arrogance

 

‘Do not gloat, for God does not like people who gloat. Seek the life to come by means of what God has granted you, but do not neglect your rightful share in this world. Do good to others as God has done good to you. Do not seek to spread corruption in the land, for God does not love those who do this,’ (28: 77-78)


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When the Holy Prophet (sa) sent

two representatives to govern the Yemen, 

he told them,


‘Bring ease, not hardship.

Bring good news, not horror.

And cooperate willingly with each other’

 

Prayer

 

‘Lord, inspire me to be thankful for the blessings You have granted me and my parents, and to do good deeds that please You; admit me by Your grace into the ranks of Your righteous servants.’ (27: 20)


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Struggle

 

‘What is the most blessed struggle?’


‘Speaking truth to an oppressive ruler’

 

-Prophet Muhammad (sa)


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