CSS Solved Islamiyat Past Paper 2021 | Rulers’ Accountability Principles in Islam
The following question of Islamiat is solved by Miss Ayesha Irfan, the highest scorer in CSS Islamiat. Moreover, the question is attempted on the same pattern taught by Sir Syed Kazim Ali to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question Breakdown
e examiner asked for an appropriate explanation of how the principles of the Holy Prophet’s teachings and the Holy Quran idealize the accountability system. However, providing a comprehensive introduction to ruler accountability is essential to receive excellent grades in Islamic studies. Additionally, the significance of responsibility for the Holy Quran will improve an individual’s response standard. After it addresses the central portion of the question with appropriate instances, The instances about the accountability system from the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) might be used to clarify this section.
Outline
1- Introduction
2- Significance of accountability according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah
3- Principles of accountability of rulers according to the Holy Quran
- 3.1-Sovereignty belongs to Allah
- 3.2-Ensure role of law
- 3.3-Establish the good governance
- 3.4-Ensure justice
- 3.5- Ensure the self-purification of leader
4- Principles of accountability of rulers according to Sunnah
- 4.1-Ensure the provision of fundamental rights to the populace
- 4.2-Ensure Islamic political and economic system
- 4.3- Implementation of Rule of law
- 4.4- Must maintain social order with justice
- 4.5-Strengthen the border of Islamic State with power
5- Critical analysis
6- Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
The word “hesab” appears more than eight times in various verses of the Holy Quran. Accounting comes from the root word “Hesab” or “account.” The Holy Quran makes references to “account” in a general sense, referring to one’s duty to “account” to God on all topics involving human endeavour for which every Muslim is “accountable. “Islam encourages peace and fairness and grants everyone their due rights, but it also imposes some obligations on each individual toward others. Islam placed a check on responsibility so that everyone could ensure they carried out their duties effectively. Since Islam is founded on the ideals of justice and equality, everyone in Islamic society is held accountable. However, regarding the Rule of law, the masses and the rulers are on equal ground.
Significance of accountability according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah
In leadership, accountability plays a crucial role in guaranteeing the system’s efficient functioning as well as the decisions and policies made by the ruling elite. It promotes openness and confidence between the people and their government. Islam consequently stands for the responsibility of rulers to use proper and efficient laws. The Quran emphasizes how crucial it is for leaders to take responsibility for their deeds to maintain fairness, good administration, and the welfare of the populace. In the Quran’s Surah 17 (Ayat 13–14), Allah states, “Sufficient is your soul this day to make out an account against you. This Surah emphasizes that every person’s actions, whether those of a ruler or the masses are recorded and that they will be held responsible for them on the Day of Judgement.
Principles of accountability of rulers according to the Holy Quran
It is the Muslims’ responsibility to hold the ruling class responsible. It does not imply that Muslims should remain mute in the face of their responsibility to obey them. Instead, it means that Muslims must hold them responsible for their conduct and must abide by them even if they violate people’s rights. Muslims were commanded by Allah (SWT) to hold their rulers accountable and to confront them if they violated Islamic law, disregarded the rights of the people, disregarded their obligations to them, or ruled in a manner inconsistent with what Allah (SWT) had revealed.
“And O My people, give full measure and weight in justice and do not deprive the people of their due and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption”
(11:85)
- Sovereignty belongs to Allah
In Islam, sovereignty is the person who holds ultimate authority within a community, known as hakim. There is consensus among Islamic political theorists that Allah possesses sovereignty and all authority. The Quran states that final and absolute sovereignty belongs to Allah Almighty alone. It indicates the rulers are only acting as “naibs” of Allah and have no real power. As Allah says in the Quran, “He(Allah) is the One Who has placed you as successors on earth”. The Islamic jurisprudence that Allah established subordinates the ruler of the Islamic society. They are powerless to make their own decisions.
- Ensure the Islamic Rule of law
Through sound reasoning, persuasive arguments, and wiser counsel, the ruler upholds the divine faith, defends the sacred boundaries, and draws the populace closer to Allah. The ruler, who Allah has chosen, is a trustee of the people. He is the protector of Islamic law and the Islamic people. In the Quran’s Surah 17 (Ayat 13–14), Allah states, “They are those who, if established in the land, would perform prayer, give Zakat, encourage what is good, and forbid what is evil. And with Allah rests the outcome of all affairs”.This verse states that, among other things, the head of a Muslim state must uphold, encourage, and prohibit what is wrong. Islamic law, based on the Holy Quran, defines what is lawful and evil. Creating the right environment and providing advice, counselling, and inspiration are only a few of the significant duties of Muslim rulers.
- Establish good governance
According to Allah, the primary goal of the Quran is for rulers to uphold justice and ethics to establish a worldly social order. In the real world, a civilization is measured by its leadership. Society will have excellent character if its leaders are good people. In surah, Al-Anbya ayat 73, Allah says, “We also made them leaders, guiding by Our command, and inspired them to do good deeds, establish prayer, and pay alms-tax. And they were devoted to Our worship”. When God places someone overseeing a region, that person must establish a harmonious community, maintain religion, reason, and culture, and have a good relationship with God. Moreover, Allah says in the surah, Al-Nisa ayat 59, “O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. If you disagree, refer to Allah and His Messenger if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day. This is the best and fairest resolution”. Thus, if someone is elected to lead the Islamic Ummah, they must build effective administration, serve as Allah’s servant, and uphold their duties with loyalty.
- Ensure justice
However, the first step toward achieving social cohesion and stability is justice. Islam consequently emphasizes the value of justice for both individuals and makes it mandatory for those in positions of authority. As witnesses for Allah, the rulers uphold justice as a fundamental concept of the Quran, inspiring people to act accordingly. Allah says in Quran surah An-Nisa-135, “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, of what you do, Aware”. Therefore, the rulers are required to uphold justice and will be held accountable for it on the day of judgment.
- Ensure the self-purification of the leader
The Islamic teachings strongly emphasize al Tazkiyah, or the cleansing of the heart and spirit, which is essential to maintaining social harmony. This pillar of Islam cultivates individuals’ consciousness, morality, and spirituality. The Quran states that Successful indeed is the one who purifies their soul, and doomed is the one who corrupts it! (Ash-shams-9,10). Tazkiyah and pure hearts provide traits like charity, purity, kindness, mercy, and reliability, which promote societal evolution. But, Tazkiyah is required of regulars since it can nourish their hearts and minds with adoration for Allah and His attributes. Nonetheless, man comprised three parts Allah (SWT) created: the mind, the body, and the soul. The most crucial of the three is the quality of excellence, without which neither a Muslim nor a governor can ultimately achieve their potential.Allah says in surah al- Maidah ayat 8 O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just! That is closer to righteousness. And be mindful of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Aware of what you do. Consequently, Islam mandates self-purification for rulers as a means of accountability and governance.
Principles of accountability of rulers according to Sunnah
The Muslims use the Commonwealth that the Prophet (PBUH) founded in Madinah as a model for their political and religious system. Tolerance for other state residents and complete equality for all Muslims formed the foundation of the Islamic state of Madinah’s governmental system.
The hadith states: “Any man whom Allah has given the authority of ruling some people, and he does not honestly look after them, will never feel even the smell of Paradise”
(Sahih Muslim — Volume 9, Book 89, Number 264)
- Safeguarding the fundamental rights of the populace
Since the Quran is about humans, how can Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) not emphasize the significance of the fundamental population’s human rights? As a result, the Holy Prophet set some basic guidelines for the leaders of the Islamic State. It made it mandatory for them to ensure that citizens’ fundamental rights were adequately provided for. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “O Quraysh, Allah has erased your ignorance’s pride and ethnic divisions. We are all descendants of Adam, who was created of clay. Thus, the Holy Prophet mandated that the ruling class guarantee the people’s fundamental rights.
- Governors must obey the laws of Islamic administration
The ruler must have entirely created the state’s Islamic political and economic structure. During his Rule, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us how to apply the Islamic political and financial system properly. For instance, Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah said to me: How would you act under the rulers who would delay the prayer beyond its prescribed time, or they would make prayer a dead thing as far as its proper time is concerned? I said: What do you command? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Observe the prayer at Its adequate time, and if you can tell it along with them, do so, for it would be a supererogatory prayer for you. Khalaf (one of the narrators in the above hadith) has not mentioned beyond their (prescribed) time (Sahi-Muslim-1465). This hadith implies that the rulers do not have any freedom of choice within the provisions of Islamic law. Establishing a governance system that complies with Islamic law and obeys divine commands is the duty of Islamic rulers or governors.
- Governors are responsible for ensuring justice
Islam represents the equality and dignity of all human beings and is the foundational framework for human rights. As a result, the holy Prophet (PBUH) opposes any form of caste, language, or creed discrimination.“The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘All the idols of ignorance are under my feet’.” It clarifies that the holy Prophet minimized all social divisions and firmly focused on equality. As a result, a ruler must construct a lawful social order by Islamic law. If they fail, they will be held accountable before a court of law and ultimately before Allah the Almighty. Hazrat Abdullah Bin Massud narrates that the Messenger of Allah said, “Whosoever vows under the ruler’s authority that if someone consumes someone else’s property using it, Allah would be furious with them at the time he confronts Allah. Thus, a governor is accountable for his actions and directives, according to the Prophet.
- No one above the Rule of law
Islam promotes equality and considers that everyone is bound to its laws. As a result, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) established a system in which the same laws bind everyone and hold everyone accountable. According to accounts attributed to Ibn ‘Umar, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) spoke these words: Beware. You are all shepherds, and each of you has responsibility for the sheep under his care. Being a shepherd to his subjects, the Caliph will be questioned for handling their issues. Thus, the well-established governmental structure in Madinah spread with the creation of a new Muslim state. Using his legislative, judicial, and executive powers as the leader, the Prophet (PBUH) held everyone accountable and commanded that no one is above the law.
- Restriction upon giving gifts to governors
The giver and the recipient of bribes are condemned by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Bribery is prohibited, even under the guise of a gift or khums. Giving someone a gift or present to please them, for instance, you expect the recipient to take something that will ultimately benefit you. Similarly, it is prohibited to offer khums or zakat to bribe someone. It won’t be regarded as Khums or Zakat, and those who have already paid with such intent must do it again. For instance, A person was responsible for Bani Taslim’s charity once the Prophet assigned him. Upon his return, he presented the Prophet with two types of money, stating that one belonged to the Muslims and the other was a gift. Then the Prophet of God said, “Why didn’t you get this gift while sitting at home??” Following that, he outright prohibited these kinds of transactions. Giving khums and zakat should be done with the only goal of becoming closer to Allah. There isn’t another possible reason. According to the scholars, one of the indicators of Qiyamah is “Bribes will be accepted as gifts.”
Conclusion
Islam encompasses the entire range of the physical body, the soul or spirit, the emotions, and the mind. However, A ruler is Allah’s vicegerent and the people’s trustee. Among other things, the leader of a Muslim state must mandate what is proper and prohibit what is evil. This implies that the ruler should lead by example by acting morally and abstaining from immoral behaviour. The Holy Prophet held the ruling class accountable. The supremacy of the law was guaranteed by the Prophet (PBUH), who instituted a system of accountability in which the ruler and governors, in particular, are held firmly accountable. At the same time, everyone else is subordinate to the law.
“Governance is based on accountability. People can only be genuinely self-governing if they know what their government is doing.”
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