Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 271
271 arrangements would be limited to the shortest possible period of time in each case. The Powers and Duties of the Islamic State I shall now discuss the powers conferred and duties imposed by Islam on a State. The first duty imposed by Islam on a State is that it is bound to guard and promote the moral and material welfare and interests of its people and is responsible for the security of their lives and homes and for the provision of the necessaries of life. The Holy Prophet sa says, 'Every one of you is like a shepherd and is re- sponsible for the persons and things that are placed under his charge. The sovereign is responsible and answerable for his subjects, and every man is re- sponsible and answerable for the members of his family, and every woman is responsible and an- swerable for her home and children, and every ser- vant is responsible and answerable for the property of his master that is in his charge. ' 134 This shows that Islam regards the sovereign as a shepherd who is put in charge of a flock; and as a shepherd is bound to look after and protect the flock, and provide for all its needs—as for instance, keeping the sheep from straying, guarding them from the prowl- ing wolf, feeding and housing them, and protecting them from pestilence and disease, it is the duty of an Islamic State to secure its subjects against internal differences, disorders, disturbances and oppressions, 134 Bukh a r i and Muslim.