8. Judicial System in Islam

Book reference: p.127 — "Explain the Judicial System in Islam."

Core Features

Justice ('Adl) as an absolute value
- Applies equally to ruler and ruled — "even if against yourselves" (4:135).
Independent judiciary (Qada)
- Insulated from executive interference (see Theme VI — Governance Structure).
Presumption of innocence
- Requirement of clear evidence/witnesses before conviction.
Encouragement of reconciliation (Sulh)
- Between disputing parties, praised in Umar's (RA) letter to Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (Theme VI).
Equality before the law
- No litigant, however powerful, receives favouritism — e.g. the Prophet's (PBUH) statement about Fatimah (RA) (Theme II).
Accountability of judges
- Direct answerability to Allah and to appointing authority; permission and encouragement to revise mistaken judgments.
Speedy and accessible justice
- Modelled on the Prophet's (PBUH) own practice of hearing disputes directly and promptly.

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يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ

اردو: اے ایمان والو! انصاف پر خوب جمے رہنے والے، اگرچہ اپنی ذات ہی کے خلاف ہو۔

English: "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves."

— Surah An-Nisa 4:135

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الْبَيِّنَةُ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي وَاليَّمِينُ عَلَى مَنْ أَنْكَرَ

اردو: ثبوت پیش کرنے والے کی ذمہ داری ہے اور قسم انکار کرنے والے پر ہے۔

English: "The burden of proof is upon the claimant, and the oath is upon the one who denies."

— Sunan al-Bayhaqi (also cited in Sahih al-Bukhari/Muslim narrations on similar principle)

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Explain the Judicial System in Islam.
Mention the best features of the justice system of Islam that can be presented to the world. (Question Bank Q.13)
Cross-reference: Letters of Umar and Ali to Public Authorities (Theme VI), Salient Features of the Islamic System of Life.