Complete Equality in the Division of National Offices — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 3
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Complete Equality in the Division of National Offices.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: II – Brief Note on Islamic Equality
Pages: Book pp. 41–43 (PDF pp. 59–61)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Complete Equality in Judicial Affairs] | Next: [Brotherly Interaction in Social Gatherings] »
Historical Account
After judicial rights, the question of the distribution of offices and
responsibilities arises. In one manner, this question is most significant. Therefore, regarding this the Holy Qur’ān states:
اِنَّ اهللَ يَاْمُرُكُمْ اَن تُؤَ دُّوا الْاَمَ انَاتِ اِلَىٰ اَهْلِهَا وَ اِذَ ا حَ كَمْ تُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ اَن تَحْكُمُوا
ِبِالْعَ دْ ل
“O Ye Muslims! Allāh the Exalted enjoins you that in the division of national and political offices, which, possess the nature of a sacred trust in the sight of God, only personal aptitude and worthiness should be taken into account. Moreover, an individual who is worthy of an office on account of his personal qualities should be entrusted that office, irrespective of who he may be. Then O Ye Muslims! when you are appointed to an office or responsibility, it is your obligation that you deal with the people in complete justice and equity.”
[An-Nisā’ (4:59)]
This golden teaching of Islām has always been the crest of distinction for Islāmic governments. Furthermore, it is for this very reason that various individuals, who apparently seemed to be the lowest of the low, reached the pinnacles of success. Therefore, we seen how the Holy Prophetsa appointed Zaid bin Ḥārithahra, who was a freed slave, as the leader of many armed forces. Moreover, after the demise of Zaidra, the Holy Prophetsa appointed his young son Usāmah bin Zaidra, as the leader of a large army, in which many great companions were also included. In accordance to the ancient custom, they were thought of as ‘mountains’ in Arab society. When various uninformed new Muslims began to discuss amongst themselves that a young son of a slave has been made the commander of such and such elderly and venerable people, the Holy Prophetsa displeasingly said:
اِنْ تَطْعُنُوْا فِیْ اِمَارَتِهٖ فَقَدْ كُنْتُمْ تَطْعُنُوْنَ فِیْ اِمَارَةِ اَبِیْهِ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَاَیْمُ اللّٰهِ اِنْ كَانَ لَخَ لِیْقًا
ٗلِلْاِمَارَةِ وَ اِنْ كَانَ لَمِنْ اَحَبِّ النَّاسِ اِلَیَّ وَ اِنَّ ھٰذَا لَمِنْ اَحَبِّ النَّاسِ اِلَیَّ بَعْدَه
“You object to the leadership of Usāmah and before this, you have already objected to his father Zaid. By God! Just as his father was worthy of leadership and was very dear to me, after him, Usāmah is also worthy of leadership and is
very dear to me.”
[Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābu Faḍā’ili Aṣḥābin-Nabiyyisa, Bābu Zaid-ibni Ḥārithata…, Ḥadīth No. 3730]
This was a result of that very blessed teaching. Thus, in Islām, people who were apparently of the lowest class have achieved the greatest possible heights. Furthermore, the poverty or genealogical lowliness of any individual never became a hindrance in his progress. As such, if one wishes to see further examples of this, refer to the chapter on the discussion of slavery in the second volume of this book.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Section: II – Brief Note on Islamic Equality | Navigation: « Previous: [Complete Equality in Judicial Affairs] | Next: [Brotherly Interaction in Social Gatherings] »