It is a contractual condition for the Caliph to be upright/just/trustworthy (‘Adl) and it is not allowed for him to be a transgressor (fasiq). The evidence for this contractual condition is from the Qu’ran where Allah سبحانه وتعالى stipulates that a witness must be upright.  وَأَشْهِدُوا ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ مِنْكُمْ  “Call two upright (‘Adl) men from among yourselves as witnesses”   (At-Talaq, 65:2) So if the witness must be upright, then the Caliph who holds a higher post and governs over the witness should, by greater reason (Bab Awla), be upright. What does the word ‘Adl mean?  Ahmad ad-Da’our answers the question in his book, Ahkaam al-bayyinaat (The Rules of Testimonial Evidences) an extract of which follows. Trustworthiness (‘Adl) means that transgression (fisq) does not appear from him. The one who is faasiq that shows his transgression (fisq); his testimony is not accepted. But the one whose fisq was not apparent, his testimony would be accepted. There is a disagreement regarding the definition of ‘adl. It is said that ‘adl refers to a person who is no … Continue reading Conditions of the Caliph: What does the word upright (‘Adl) mean?