Shehu Uthman Dan Fodio, (1754-1817) is the founder of the Sokoto Sultanate[1] which was established in 1804 in West Africa. This is an extract from his book Usul al-‘Adl ‘The Foundations of Justice for Legal Guardians, Governors, Princes, Meritorious Rulers, and Kings.’

1. The ruler must bear in mind that he has governance on trust. Abu Dharr asked the Prophet ﷺ to put him in a position of command and he said, ‘You are weak and this is a trust, which, on the Day of Rising, will bring shame and regret, save only to him who took it rightly and discharged the duties imposed on him.’[2] Allah’s laws must be applied without fear or favour, meticulously and untampered.
2. The ruler must have upright and courageous scholars to advise him and he must listen to their advice. The scholars have a duty to advise the ruler on what is best for ruler and ruled and not fear his displeasure. They are obliged to raise their voices against injustice or what is not correct. If the ruler fails to establish justice, then they must sever relations with the ruler.
3. The ruler must ensure that all branches of his government also govern justly, because he is responsible to see that justice is established everywhere.
4. He must put himself in the position of his people when he introduces a policy. If he were to implement a policy detrimental to the people, that would constitute a misuse of his authority. It is said that the ruler should treat the old person as a father, the middle as a brother and the young as a son.
5. He must maintain an open door to the aggrieved and oppressed. His job is to establish justice and prevent injustice, not simply to devote himself to personal acts of piety.
6. He must not allow himself to be dominated by arrogance or anger.
7. He should employ forgiveness and forbearance, and avoid harshness. Allah says, وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ‘If you had been harsh and hard of heart they would have scattered from about you.’[3] It is related in hadith, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say in this house of his, ‘O Allah, anyone who is appointed over any of the affairs of my community and is hard on them, then be hard on him. Anyone who is appointed over any of the affairs of my community and is kind to them, then be kind to him.’’[4]
8. He should use resources so that everyone has his basic needs taken care of and not allow his appetites to dominate him. Shaykh ‘Uthman recounts the story in which ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab asked someone whether he had heard anything objectionable about him. He replied, ‘I heard that you put two loaves on the tray for your meals and you have two shirts, one for the night and one for the day.’ He asked if there was anything else and the man said no. ‘Umar said, ‘By Allah, both these things shall also cease.’
9. He should remember the Day of Judgement when he will have to account for his stewardship. The Prophet ﷺ also said, ‘Anyone whom Allah appoints over any of the affairs of the Muslims and who is then blind to their needs, friendship and poverty, Allah will be blind to his needs, friendship and poverty on the Day of Rising.’[5]
10. He should follow and emulate the model of the Prophet ﷺ who is the perfect model in all things.[6]

Notes

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[1] The Sokoto Sultanate is also referred to as the Sokoto Caliphate, but since the Ottoman Caliphate was in existence and it’s prohibited to have more than one Caliph, Sultanate is a more appropriate term for the reality of this state, even if the term Caliphate was used.

[2] Sahih Muslim 1826, https://sunnah.com/muslim:1826

[3] Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-i-‘Imran, ayah 159

[4] Sahih Muslim 1828a, https://sunnah.com/muslim:1828a

[5] Sunan Abi Dawud 2948, https://sunnah.com/abudawud:2948

[6] Aisha Abdurrahman Bewley, ‘Democratic Tyranny and the Islamic Paradigm,’ Diwan Press, 1st edition, 2018, Kindle Edition, p.85