Islam and Human Rights — Page 104
Isl am and Hum an R ights 104 Whether they be rich or poor, Allah is more regardful of them than you are. Therefore, guard yourselves against being led astray by low desires, so that you may be able to act equitably. If you conceal the truth or evade it, remember that Allah is well aware of what you do” (4:136). ‘Umar, the second Khalifah, was cited as a defendant in a civil suit. When he came into Court to answer the claim preferred against him, the judge stood up as a mark of respect. ‘Umar observed that he had come into Court not in his capacity as the Khalifah, but in his private capacity as a citizen, and that it was inconsistent with the judge’s position for him to extend a courtesy to him which was not extended to every citizen appearing in Court. He held that the judge, by his action, had contravened his duty of impartiality toward the parties and was no longer fit to perform judicial functions. 56 ‘Ali, the fourth Khalifah, also had occasion to appear in Court as a claimant against a Jew. In support of his claim, in addition to his own statement, he produced his eldest son Hasan as a witness in whose presence the obligation had been incurred by the defendant. The judge held that in view of the close relationship between 56 Kanz-el-Ummal III, p. 174; Shibli Nu’mani, Al-Farooq II, p. 166.