Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 265
265 Islamic conception of the State, it is necessary to quote the verse, which in brief but comprehensive terms describes the nature and duties of the rulers and the ruled. The Holy Quran says: 'God commands you to entrust the responsibility of government to those worthy of it, and those of you who become rulers, should rule justly; God admonishes you with that which is excellent, ver- ily He is the Hearing, the Seeing. ' 133 In the first part of this verse the people are told that it lies with them to choose their rulers, and that no one else can appoint a ruler over them, that is to say, sovereignty is not hereditary and nobody is entitled to become a sovereign merely because he happens to be the son or heir of a previous sovereign. Rulership is then defined as a valuable trust and the people are admon- ished not to entrust it to a person who is not worthy of the trust, but to place the responsibility on the shoulders of him who is capable of discharging it adequately, honestly and faithfully. Then, we are told that govern- ment is not an independent thing in itself, but is a mere delegation of powers for the purpose of enforcing and protecting certain rights which the people cannot indi- vidually enforce and protect. It is, therefore, a trust, and not property. The right to rule vests primarily in the community and not in the sovereign. The latter, how- 133 Al-Nis a ’, 4:59.