Complete Equality in the Division of National Offices

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:

“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.”1

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 Prophet(sa) appointed Zaid bin Ḥārithah(ra), who was a freed slave, as the leader of many armed forces. Moreover, after the demise of Zaid(ra), the Holy Prophet(sa) appointed his young son Usāmah bin Zaid(ra), 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 Prophet(sa) displeasingly said:

“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.”2

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.