Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 325
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 325 justice. Excellent indeed is that with which Allah admonishes you. Allah is All Hearing, All Seeing. In this verse, governance has been described as a trust, and the implication is that the authority of governance is vested in the people who should entrust it to those most competent among them for the discharge of such trust. Those who are so trusted must discharge their trust equitably and justly. This is illustrated by a well known hadith comprised in the compilation of Muslim, in which it is narrated that Abu Dhar, one of the principal Companions of the Holy Prophet, having begged him to be appointed a governor, was told, ‘Abu Dhar, you are a weak person; governance is a trust which, on the Day of judgment, may prove to have been a source of humiliation and remorse, except in the case of a person who discharges all its obligations to the full. ’ In anothe r hadith reported by Muslim it is narrated that the Holy Prophet said, ‘I do not appoint to public office anyone who asks for it or is desirous of it. ’ Another fundamental principle is that those entrusted with authority in public matters should exercise that authority in consultation with the people. For instance, among the characteristics of the believers it is mentioned, ‘Those who hearken to their Lor d, and observe Prayer and whose affairs are administered by mutual consultation, and who spend out of whatsoever We have bestowed upon them’ (42:39). The Holy Prophet himself was directed: ‘Take counsel with them in matters of administration, and when thou hast made up thy mind concerning a matter, put thy trust in Allah. Surely, Allah loves those who put their trust in Him’ (3:160).