The Book of Adjudication and Rules
The Authority to Govern Rests with the Imam Only
2- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لِشُرَيْحٍ يَا شُرَيْحُ قَدْ جَلَسْتَ مَجْلِساً لا يَجْلِسُهُ إِلا نَبِيٌّ أَوْ وَصِيُّ نَبِيٍّ أَوْ شَقِيٌّ.
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from Yahya ibn al-Mubarak from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from abu Jamilah from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said ’ Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), once said to Shurayh, ‘You have sat in a place where no one can sit except a Prophet or an Executor of the will of a Prophet, or a wicked one.’”
3- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَمَّا وَلَّى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) شُرَيْحاً الْقَضَاءَ اشْتَرَطَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لا يُنْفِذَ الْقَضَاءَ حَتَّى يَعْرِضَهُ عَلَيْهِ.
3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’ Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), appointed Shurayh as a judge with the condition that his judgments will take effect only after they are shown to him (Imam Ali (a.s.)).”
The Book of Adjudication and Rules
Kinds of Judges
1- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْقُضَاةُ أَرْبَعَةٌ ثَلاثَةٌ فِي النَّارِ وَوَاحِدٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ رَجُلٌ قَضَى بِجَوْرٍ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ وَرَجُلٌ قَضَى بِجَوْرٍ وَهُوَ لا يَعْلَمُ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ وَرَجُلٌ قَضَى بِالْحَقِّ وَهُوَ لا يَعْلَمُ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ وَرَجُلٌ قَضَى بِالْحَقِّ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ فَهُوَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَقَالَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الْحُكْمُ حُكْمَانِ حُكْمُ اللهِ وَحُكْمُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَمَنْ أَخْطَأَ حُكْمَ اللهِ حَكَمَ بِحُكْمِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ.
1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father in a marfu ‘ manner who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Judges are of four kinds of whom three are in the fire and one is in the garden (paradises). There is a man who issues judgments unjustly and he knows it, so he is in the fire. There is a man who issues judgments unjustly but he does not know, he also is in the fire; and there is a man who issues judgments that are right but he does not have the knowledge, he also is in the fire. There is a man who issues the right kind of judgments, based on his right knowledge, thus he is in the garden (paradises).’ “He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘Judgments are of two kinds: the judgments under rules of Allah and the judgments of ignorance. If one misses the law and judgment of Allah, he then has judged by the judgment of ignorance.’”
2- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْحُكْمُ حُكْمَانِ حُكْمُ اللهِ وَحُكْمُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَقَدْ قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللهِ حُكْماً لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ وَاشْهَدُوا عَلَى زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ لَقَدْ حَكَمَ فِي الْفَرَائِضِ بِحُكْمِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ.
2. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Faddal from Tha‘labah ibn Maymun from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Judgments and laws are of two kinds: the judgment of Allah and the judgment of ignorance. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, “. . . who is a better judge than Allah for a believing people.” (5:59) You all must bear testimony that Zayd ibn Thabit issued a judgment in matters of obligations according to the judgment of ignorance.’” (In the case of a contracting slave-girl and her fornication Zayd judged opposite to the judgment of Ali (a.s.), in the time of ‘Uthman)
The Book of Adjudication and Rules
The Case of one who Judges by Means of what is other than what Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has Revealed
1- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ صَبَّاحٍ الأزْرَقِ عَنْ حَكَمٍ الْحَنَّاطِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَحَكَمٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالا مَنْ حَكَمَ فِي دِرْهَمَيْنِ بِغَيْرِ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِمَّنْ لَهُ سَوْطٌ أَوْ عَصًا فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه).
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Faddal from Thalabah from Sabbah al-Azraq from Hakam al-Hannat from abu Basir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and Hakam from ibn abu Ya’fur from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who has narrated the following: “The two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have made this pronouncement. ‘One who issues judgment and he is of the people who possess whip or stick (government). Even though it is about two dirham but it is by means of something other than what Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has sent, he is in denial of what Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has sent to Muhammad (SAW).’”
2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حُمْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ مَنْ حَكَمَ فِي دِرْهَمَيْنِ بِغَيْرِ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ بِاللهِ الْعَظِيمِ.
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Humran from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘One who issues judgment on the basis of something other than what Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has sent is in denial of the existence of Allah, the most Great.’”
3- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مُسْكَانَ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ حَكَمَ فِي دِرْهَمَيْنِ بِحُكْمِ جَوْرٍ ثُمَّ جَبَرَ عَلَيْهِ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِما أَنْزَلَ اللهُ فَأُولئِكَ هُمُ الْكافِرُونَ فَقُلْتُ وَكَيْفَ يَجْبُرُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَكُونُ لَهُ سَوْطٌ وَسِجْنٌ فَيَحْكُمُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا رَضِيَ بِحُكُومَتِهِ وَإِلا ضَرَبَهُ بِسَوْطِهِ وَحَبَسَهُ فِي سِجْنِهِ.
3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from certain persons of our people from ‘Abd Allah ibn Kathir from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan in a marfu‘ manner who has narrated the following: “He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said this Hadith. ‘One who issues judgment even about two dirham by means of injustice then applies it by force is of those to whom this verse of the Quran applies, “. . . those who issue judgment but not according to the laws of Allah, they are of the unbelievers.” (5:44) I then said, ‘How does he enforce on him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He is one who has the whip and jail. He issues judgment against him to agree with his judgment, otherwise, he beats him up with his whip and confines him in his jail.’”
4- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ أَيُّ قَاضٍ قَضَى بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ فَأَخْطَأَ سَقَطَ أَبْعَدَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ.
4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ‘Abd Allah al-Mu’min from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab who has narrated the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Any judge who issues a judgment between the two and makes a mistake, he falls into a depth farther than the sky.’”
5- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي رَجُلٌ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَضِيبِ الْبَجَلِيِّ قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى مُزَامِلَهُ حَتَّى جِئْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ فِي مَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِذْ دَخَلَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ لابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى تَقُومُ بِنَا إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ وَمَا نَصْنَعُ عِنْدَهُ فَقُلْتُ نُسَائِلُهُ وَنُحَدِّثُهُ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَقُمْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَسَاءَلَنِي عَنْ نَفْسِي وَأَهْلِي ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ هَذَا مَعَكَ فَقُلْتُ ابْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى قَاضِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَنْتَ ابْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى قَاضِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ تَأْخُذُ مَالَ هَذَا فَتُعْطِيهِ هَذَا وَتَقْتُلُ وَتُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ لا تَخَافُ فِي ذَلِكَ أَحَداً قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَبِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ تَقْضِي قَالَ بِمَا بَلَغَنِي عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَعَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ قَالَ فَبَلَغَكَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَقْضَاكُمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَكَيْفَ تَقْضِي بِغَيْرِ قَضَاءِ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَقَدْ بَلَغَكَ هَذَا فَمَا تَقُولُ إِذَا جِيءَ بِأَرْضٍ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَسَمَاءٍ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بِيَدِكَ فَأَوْقَفَكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَبِّكَ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ هَذَا قَضَى بِغَيْرِ مَا قَضَيْتَ قَالَ فَاصْفَرَّ وَجْهُ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى حَتَّى عَادَ مِثْلَ الزَّعْفَرَانِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي الْتَمِسْ لِنَفْسِكَ زَمِيلا وَاللهِ لا أُكَلِّمُكَ مِنْ رَأْسِي كَلِمَةً أَبَداً.
5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from ibn Faddal from Dawud ibn Farqad who has narrated the following: “A man narrated to me from Sa‘id ibn abu al-Khasib al-Bajaliy who has said that once I was with ibn abu Layla’ as a travelmate until we arrived in al-Madinah. When we were in the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, came in. I then said to ibn abu Layla’ to go to him (the Imam). He asked, ‘What will we do before him?’ I said, ‘Speak to him and ask him questions.’ He then said, ‘Stand up and allow us to go.’ We went before him (the Imam) and he asked me about my family and myself and asked, ‘Who is this man with you?’ I said, ‘This is ibn abu Layla’, the judge of the Muslims.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘Are you ibn abu Layla’ the judge of the Muslims?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I am he.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you take the assets of this and give it to this one, (issue command to) kill and separate a man from his woman without being afraid of anyone?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I do so.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘By what means do you judge?’ He replied, ‘I judge by means of what has come to me from the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and from Ali (a.s.), from abu Bakr and ‘Umar.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Has it come to your notice that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, said, “Ali is the best among you to issue judgment.’” He replied, ‘Yes, it has come to my notice.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why then do you judge against the judgment of Ali (a.s.) ? You do it after knowing this fact. What will you say if an earth of gold will be brought and a sky of silver on one side? On the other hand the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, will hold your hand and make you stand before your Lord, and say, ‘This judged on the basis of something other than Your laws and judgment.’ The face of ibn abu Layla’ turned pale like saffron. He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Find another travelmate, otherwise, I will not speak to you, not even a word from my head.’”
The Book of Adjudication and Rules
One Who Issues Fatwa is Responsible
1- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَاعِداً فِي حَلْقَةِ رَبِيعَةِ الرَّأْيِ فَجَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَسَأَلَ رَبِيعَةَ الرَّأْيِ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ فَأَجَابَهُ فَلَمَّا سَكَتَ قَالَ لَهُ الأعْرَابِيُّ أَهُوَ فِي عُنُقِكَ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ رَبِيعَةُ وَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئاً فَأَعَادَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَأَجَابَهُ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الأعْرَابِيُّ أَهُوَ فِي عُنُقِكَ فَسَكَتَ رَبِيعَةُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هُوَ فِي عُنُقِهِ قَالَ أَوْ لَمْ يَقُلْ وَكُلُّ مُفْتٍ ضَامِنٌ.
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘ Abd al- Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has narrated the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was in the group of the circle of Rabi‘ah al-Ra’y when an Arab man came and asked Rabi‘ah al-Ra’iy a question and he replied. When he became quiet the Arab man asked, ‘Do you take responsibility for your answer?’ He remained quiet and did not respond. He repeated the question and he gave a similar answer and the Arab man asked, ‘Do you take the responsibility? But Rabi‘ah al-Ra’y remained quiet. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to him that it is his responsibility. He said, ‘Has He not said that everyone who issues a Fatwa is responsible for it?”’