The Caliphate’s judiciary is responsible for issuing judgments that are enforced by the state. It settles disputes between people, prevents whatever may harm the rights of the community and also settles disputes between people and any person who is part of the government whether this is the Caliph, his cabinet, civil servants or any other official.1 There is no separation between shari’a courts and civil courts as we find in some Muslim countries today. The basis of the judiciary is shari’a the same as all other institutions of the state. The non-Muslim citizens (dhimmi) will have their own courts for settling issues related to their religions such as marriage and divorce, but in societal matters they will use the courts of the state and be treated the same as Muslims with full access to equal justice. Contrary to anti-Islamic propaganda shari’a courts are not kangaroo courts. Judges are carefully chosen and have to fulfil more stringent conditions than judges in western judiciaries. Witnesses, both Muslim and non-Muslim, must be just for their evidence to be … Continue reading The Caliphate’s Judiciary