Methods of selecting viceroys in the Islamic civilization

Sunday, 25 July 2010

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Written by Dr. Ragheb Elsergany

First: the Prophet's (peace be upon him) methods of choosing viceroys

The method the Prophet (peace be upon him) adopted for selecting viceroys were diverse and impressive. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) put a general approach for those who were appointed as viceroys. `Abdul-Rahman ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him: "O `Abdul-Rahman ibn Samurah! Do not seek to be a ruler, because if you are given authority for it, then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking for it, then you will be helped in it (by Allah)."[1]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) adopted this approach in appointing rulers and viceroys. It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr who said: "I said to the Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him): 'O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me to a public office?' He stroked my shoulder with his hand and said: 'Abu Dharr, you are weak and authority is a trust, and on the Day of Judgment it is a cause of humiliation and repentance except for one who fulfils its obligations and (properly) discharges the duties attendant thereon.'"[2]

The Prophet (peace be upon him), the leader of Muslims, knew who was able to take over the burden of that task and who could not. Therefore he (peace be upon him) realized that Abu Dharr was not suitable for a public office, so he advised him to stay away for fear of failure to fulfill its obligations and duties. There is no doubt that this was an honorable Prophetic approach and an Islamic civilization rule in appointing qualified people in public offices, to the exclusion of those who are unsuitable and unqualified even if they are relatives and friends.

The first thing that draws attention in the Prophet's (peace be upon him) appointment of rulers was the promotion of the qualified to the position they deserved. The mechanism of appointments in public offices was not based on kinship, but rather qualifications. "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) appointed Badhan ibn Sasan, a descendent of Bahram Jur, as viceroy of Yemen after the death of Chosroes. He was the first viceroy in Islam in Yemen and the first foreign ruler to embrace Islam. After the death of Badhan, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked his son, Shahr ibn Badhan, to govern Sana'a and its affiliates. After Shahr had been killed, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) appointed Khalid ibn Sa`id ibn al-`As as viceroy of Sana'a and al-Muhajir ibn Abu Umayyah al-Makhzumy as viceroy of Kindah and al-Sadaf…"[3]

The previous text from Ibn al-Qayyim's[4] Zad al-Ma`ad emphasizes that the Islamic civilization has been taking into account, since the Prophet's (peace be upon him) era, the fact that those who hold senior State positions must have the required qualifications and technical expertise. It is known that Yemen was one of the most vital provinces to Makkah and Madinah, as it used to provide the Arabian Peninsula with land and grain taxes as well as alms funds and, therefore, its viceroy must be of a high degree of expertise and know-how to undertake the political and economic affairs of the province.

Second: `Umar's methods of choosing viceroys

The second Caliph `Umar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) developed several methods and conditions for selecting viceroys. `Umar said: "A Waly (viceroy) must have four qualities; if one of them is not met nothing will be done by him: strong to collect money from legal sources (and) expend it rightfully, powerful but not tyrant, and tolerant but not lenient."[5]

Hence, `Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) practiced scrutinized the candidates he nominated for public offices. He used to hold public and secret tests for them and ask about them to make sure they were eligible and fit for the post. Among the conditions he demanded his viceroys to apply was that none of them should close his house door, so that nobody asking anything could be turned back. He also never appointed someone who asked for a public office, repeating: "Whoever seeks this affair (to be a ruler) will not be helped." Indeed, `Umar was following the example of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him), who said to a public office seeker: "We do not seek help in our affair from whoever seeks it."[6] The Messenger (peace be upon him) used to reiterate the necessity that a viceroy should be merciful and tolerant, and whoever was not characterized with those two traits was dismissed from his office. While `Umar was preparing an order to man after the former had tested him and wanted to appoint him and while the scribe was writing down the order a boy came to him (`Umar) and sat down on his lap. Seeing `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) treating the boy gently, the man said: "O Commander of the Faithful, I have ten children like him, but none of them could approach me (like the boy)." `Umar said: "What's wrong with me if Allah has emptied your heart from mercy. Allah confers mercy on His merciful servants." `Umar then ordered the order be torn out, saying if the man did not treat his children with mercy how could be he merciful with the masses?"[7]

`Amr ibn al-`As's viceroyship on Egypt

As a result of this wise policy in the selection of viceroys and rulers, many of those viceroys were of a high degree of efficiency, competence and management. One of the best viceroys chosen by `Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) from among the Companion was his commander `Amr ibn al-`As (may Allah be pleased with him), who managed to enter Egypt with 3,500 soldiers.[8] After the conquest of Egypt, `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) was able to accomplish many development projects that benefited the people of Egypt, as well as the Public Treasure. `Amr ibn al-`As's era in Egypt was one of welfare and prosperity. He loved the people and the people loved him. Under his rule the Egyptians enjoyed justice and freedom. `Amr drew up al-Fustat[9] city and re-dug the Commander of the Faithful Canal that ran to the Red Sea to transport the spoils of war to Hijaz by sea.[10] He also set up a mosque named after him, which exists in Egypt.

Third: `Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz's method in choosing viceroys

Caliph `Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) almost adopted the same approach in appointing viceroys. He used to test them and try many times to know their reality and their suitability for office. When `Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) took over the caliphate, Bilal ibn Abu Burdah[11] came to him "and congratulated him, saying: 'O Commander of the Faithful, if the caliphate honored someone, you honored it, and whoever was decorated by it your decorated it.'" In return, `Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz rewarded him well. On seeing the same man frequenting the mosque to pray and recite the Qur'an at the day and night, `Umar intended to appoint him as viceroy of Iraq. Testing the man, `Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz asked someone who was trusted by the man and asked him: "If I mediated for you to be appointed viceroy of Iraq, what will you give me?" The man promised him much money. Thereupon he informed `Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz of what the man said and, therefore, `Umar decided to exile the man and said to the people of Iraq: "Your man gave words but was not sensible; he was much eloquent but less longing for (office).[12]

Caliphs' advices to their viceroys

Many caliphs used to give advices to their viceroys upon their assumption of office, keening to apply justice among the grassroots and achieve security. Upon appointing his brother `Abdul-`Aziz as viceroy of Egypt (Umayyad caliph) `Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan said: "Be smiley and tolerant in (all your) affairs, for it is better for you. Choose your chamberlain from the best of your family, for he is your face and tongue. Nobody should stand at your door unless he (the chamberlain) informs you, so that you should be the one who let him come in or turn him back. If you go out to your audience, begin with greeting the attendees so that they become friendly with you and love for you will be instilled in their hearts. Whenever a problem reaches you, seek help by consultations, which open what is deadlocked. If you are discontented with someone, delay their punishment – that is, you can mete out punishment after you delay it, but you cannot do that after you mete it out."[13] This advice from `Abdul-Malik to his viceroy to Egypt was an important administrative foundation to rule any province.

In this sense, the Islamic civilization has provided hundreds of successful examples of the appointments of caliphs and viceroys. The way those caliphs and viceroys ruled was a sort of real contribution by the Islamic civilization to the whole humanity.

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