Book 20. KITAB AL-IMARA - The Book On Government

Introduction

Chapter

The people are subservient to the Quraish and the Caliphate is the right of the Quraish
Appointing anyone as a succeeding Caliph or leaving aside the question of appointment
Prohibition of desire for a position of authority and covetousness thereof
Undesirability of getting a position of authority without necessity
The merits of a just ruler and the demerits of a tyrant ruler
Misappropriation of booty is a serious offence
Acceptance of gifts on the part of state officers is forbidden
Obedience to the ruler is forbidden in matters sinful, but is otherwise obligatory
When a ruler enjoins God consciousness and does justice. he will have a - great - reward
Fulfilment of the covenant made with the Caliphs is imperative, the caliph to whom allegiance is sworn in the first instance has an established supremacy over those who assume powers
Patience at the tyranny of the governors and their undue preferences
Obedience to be shown to the - Caliphs - even if they withhold the people's due rights
Instruction to stick to the main body of the Muslims in the time of trials and warning against those inviting people to disbelief
Decision about one who tries to distropt the unity of the Muslims
When the oath of allegiance has been obtained for two caliphs
Justification for hating the Amirs for violating the laws of the Shari'ah
The best and the worst of your rulers
It is good on the part of a leader to take the oath of allegiance from his forces when intending to fight, and an account of the allegiance of God's pleasure under the tree
It is forbidden to a Muhajir to return to his native place for the purpose of resettling there
No migration after the conquest of Mecca but allegiance could be sworn - to a rightful leader - on serving the cause of Islam, on fighting in the way of Allah and on following the path of virtue
How the women swore fealty - to the Holy Prophet -
Swearing fealty for listening to and obeying the orders of the leader as far as possible
The age of majority
It is forbidden to take the Qur'an to the land of the infidels when it is feared that it might fall into their hands
Race between horses and their training for the competition
Great benefit in the forelocks of the horses
The horses of undesirable quality
The merit of Jihad and campaigning in the way of Allah
The merit of Martyrdom
Merit of leaving for Jihad in the morning and evening
The high position reserved by God for mujahids in paradise
One who is killed in the way of Allah will have all his sins blotted out except debt
The souls of the martyrs are in paradise: they are alive and find their sustenance from their Lord
Merit of Jihad and of keeping vigilance - over the enemy -
The two men, both of whom will enter paradise though one of them slays the other
About a man who killed a disbeliever and embraced Islam
The excellence of charity in the way of Allah and its manifold reward
The merit of helping the warrior - fightling in the way of Allah - with something to ride upon and looking after his family in his absence
The wives of Mujahids, a sacred trust, and sinfulness of those who betray this trust
Jihad not compulsory for those who have a genuine excuse
In proof of the martyr's attaining paradise
One who fights that the word of Allah is exalted fights in the way of Allah
Who fought for ostentation and vanity deserved - punishment in - Hell loss
The reward of one who fought and got his share of the booty and of one - who fought - but did not get any booty
The value of an action depends on the intention behind it
Desirability of seeking martyrdom
Denunciation of one who died but never fought in the way of Allah nor did he ever express a desire or determination for jihad
Beware of those who could not join a jihad expedition on account of illness or some other excuse
The merit of joining a naval expedition for jihad
The merit of keeping watch in the way of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted
About the martyrs
The merit of archery and inducing others to learn it and denunciation of one who learnt the art and then neglected it
Saying of the Holy Prophet - may peace be upon him -: "A group of people from my Umma will always remain on the right path and continue to be triumphant.' their opponents shall not be able to do them any harm
Keeping the good of the animals in view during a journey and forbiddance from halting for the night on the track
Travelling, a tortuous experience-desirability of a traveller's hastening his return to his family after the transaction of his business
Undesirability of returning to one's family at night - after a long absence from home -