Good governance by Dr A Q Khan

The law of the land is not applicable to the select few and they openly ignore even court orders. In the olden days a Qazi would hear and decide cases quickly and fairly. Our history and traditions have many golden chapters. There were not merely a dozen or so honest, efficient rulers, but literally hundreds of them.

An efficient administrative and legal system already existed during the period of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), but it was Hazrat Umar (RA) who established the most efficient, honest and neutral system. Everything was properly recorded and coded and it was a complete, exemplary constitution.

In one of my previous columns I had mentioned how the Qazi, a former Turkish slave, had thrashed Ali Noshtgin, commander-in-chief of Mahmud Ghaznavi’s army, for being under the influence of alcohol. Here I would like to mention Sher Shah Suri, who had the Grand Trunk Road built from Peshawar to Calcutta. What he achieved in the five years of his rule our inept rulers have not been able to achieve in even 62 years. His minister of finance was Raja Todar Mal, who was so efficient that, years later when Akbar became emperor, he sent for Raja Todar Mal and requested him to be his minister of finance. History is witness to the prosperity and progress made during Akbar’s reign.

Let us also take a look at the excellent administrative and legal system enforced by Hazrat Umar (RA). During the short reign of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), Muslims were not only consolidating their rule, but also expanding their territory. Even then, law and order was supreme. When Hazrat Umar (RA) became caliph, proper and detailed laws were made and strictly enforced. Muslims ruled extensive territories from Samarqand to Armenia, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, etc. Just imagine, with no modern facilities such as railways, roads, vehicles, electronic communication, etc., how difficult it must have been to dispense justice to the public.

Hazrat Umar (RA) is reported to have said that, even if a dog died of hunger and thirst at the bank of the Euphrates in Baghdad, he would be held accountable by Almighty Allah. Look what is happening in Karachi and how many are held accountable! Hazrat Umar (RA) did not overlook or ignore any aspect of good governance and enforced the golden rules of Islam on every aspect of life.

Here are two instances that show just how sacred Hazrat Umar (RA) considered the rule of law and the sanctity of words to be. It is reported that Jabla bin Aiham Al-Ghassani was the king of a small state near Syria. He was originally a Christian who later embraced Islam. During the rule of Hazrat Umar (RA) he was performing Tawaf around the Kaaba. At one point a man inadvertently stepped on Jabla’s robes. The king was furious and slapped the man. The victim immediately complained to Caliph Umar (RA) who, according to the Islamic law of Qisas, gave permission to the victim to slap the king in public. The king retorted: “What kind of a religion is it that equates a king with a commoner?” Hazrat Umar (RA) said that the punishment would be duly carried out unless the victim forgave him of his own free will. The king managed to escape and upon reaching his kingdom, he abandoned Islam. Upon hearing this, Hazrat Umar (RA) remarked: “It is good that we got rid of such a vainglorious person as there is no place in Islam for such elements. Our prestige does not depend on kings’ allegiances.”

The second episode is about Harmazan, a Persian army commander who had excelled in bravery and warfare. During the rule of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), Muslim armies were already fighting in Persia and Iraq, but it was Hazrat Umar (RA) who put full force behind these efforts. The famous battle of Qadisiya, which put a seal on Persia’s fate, was fought. Hazrat Saad Bin Abi Waqas (RA), uncle of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), was the commander-in-chief. This battle was of great historic importance and has been described in detail by both Eastern and Western historians. Rustam was the commander-in-chief of the Persian forces.

The Persians fought bravely, but were defeated despite their numerical superiority. Many Persian commanders fought bravely, most notably Harmazan. He had inflicted heavy casualties on Muslim forces by raiding at odd hours at night. It was Wamiq Abul Hol (RA), a black burly man with a pockmarked face, who put an end to Harmazan’s adventures. Harmazan managed to slip away to Shoster, the capital of Khozistan. Mughira Bin Sha’ba (RA), governor of Basra, attacked Hurmuz (Ahwaz). After his removal by Hazrat Umar (RA), Abu Musa Ashari (RA) took charge and laid siege to Shoster. Harmazan came out of the city with a large army, attacked the Muslims, was defeated and retreated into the fort. After lengthy discussions, Harmazan agreed to surrender on condition that he was taken to Hazrat Umar (RA) and that he would accept whatever the caliph decided. Hazrat Anas (RA) took him to Madina and presented him to Hazrat Umar (RA) who was resting on the floor in Masjid-e-Nabvi.

Because Harmazan had inflicted great harm on Muslim forces and had martyred two famous Sahaba–Bara’ bin Malik (RA) and Mahrat bin Sur (RA)–in hand-to-hand combat, Hazrat Umar (RA) was furious and was determined to have him beheaded. However, for the sake of moral and legal formalities, Hazrat Umar (RA) asked him if he had any last wish. Harmazan asked for some water to drink. After having been given a bowl of water, he held it and looked around. Upon enquiry from Hazrat Umar (RA), he replied that he was afraid that his head would be chopped off while he was drinking. Hazrat Umar (RA) then promised that no harm would come to him as long as he did not drink the water. Upon hearing this, Harmazan poured the water onto the sand and said that since Hazrat Umar (RA) had made that promise, he could not be executed now.

Everyone present advised Hazrat Umar (RA) not to spare Harmazan because of this clever trick, as he was the murderer of many Muslims. However, Hazrat Umar (RA) said that, as caliph and as Muslim, he had given his word, and he therefore stood by it. He then ordered Harmazan to be set free. Thereupon, Harmazan immediately embraced Islam and Hazrat Umar (RA) often sought his advice for expeditions into Persia and surrounding areas. Now look at how our rulers, who disregard solemnly made promises without a trace of shame or repentance.

Hazrat Umar (RA) ruled for 10 years and see what he achieved in this relatively short time. When Saad Bin Abi Waqas (RA), Muar Bin Al-Aas (RA), Khalid Bin Walid (RA), Mughira Bin Sha’ba (RA), Ammar Bin Yasar (RA) and Ayaz Bin Ghanam (RA), all highly respected sahaba holding high offices, were found to have transgressed, Hazrat Umar (RA) had no hesitation in removing them from their posts. What a contrast to today’s rulers! Their cronies commit a crime for which they are convicted but then, with the stroke of a pen, they are cleared of all wrongdoing.

All this while we, the general public, can only look on aghast and pray for a miracle to happen to change the situation.

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Unity, cooperation and disunity

by Dr A Q Khan


The three words unity, cooperation and disunity look so simple but their importance is realised at crucial times. In all societies and nations, great emphasis is laid on unity and cooperation

The Quaid-e-Azam was like a superhuman and the Almighty had bestowed on him the wisdom of Khizar (AS). Though he never claimed to be a religious scholar, all his actions were in accordance with the golden rules of Islam. His slogan “Unity, faith and discipline” reflected the essence of the Islamic code of conduct. The very first word of this slogan emphasises the dire need for unity, not among the countrymen but also amongst Muslims.

There is the story of a wise old man who gave each of his sons a stick and asked them to break it, which they all managed to do. Then he placed all the already broken sticks together in a bundle and again asked them to break them. None of them succeeded. He then told them that the young men were like the sticks–individually they were vulnerable, but nobody could harm them when they were united.

The British, who were known as clever and cunning colonialists, made it a cardinal point of their foreign policy to “divide and rule.” Using this policy, they managed to occupy a large part of the world. Instigating locals against locals, they inflicted untold miseries upon the people and thus managed to rule for hundreds of years.

This practice extended from Australia to India to Africa and all the way to America. In our subcontinent they created provincialism and communalism and, by dividing the nation, they managed to rule such a large population with only a few thousand people.

Clever rulers are aware of the strength of a unified nation and they keep them engaged in sports, trivial conflicts, bogus fears of foreign threats, etc., so that the people remain united and do not find time to critically analyse the rulers’ wrongdoings. The Indians are very good at this. They are always warning of so-called threats from China and Pakistan. In the olden days, kings used to hold tournaments and competitions of all kinds to keep the people busy and their fighting skills sharp.

In nature we see many animals staying in herds, flocks, etc., for safety. For them this is a God-given instinct for survival. In this way, wild dogs, hyenas, wild buffalos, etc., manage to keep even lions at bay. When a lion sees a few buffalos charging together, it runs for its life.

Sincere, honest rulers always strive to keep the nation united. They look after the needs and comforts of their people and do not allow anything to create disunity. Before the advent of Islam, the Arab nation was divided into tribes which were perpetually at war with each other. After embracing Islam, they became a strong, united nation, competing with each other in areas of hospitality, charity, good deeds, etc. Within a very short span of time they had managed to conquer other powerful nations and ruled from Spain to Central Asia. This was all a direct result of exemplary and unflinching unity. Once they again started infighting, the whole empire fell apart. They were dislodged from Spain, the Mongols occupied all the Central Asian states up to Iraq and later the Western powers occupied all the Islamic countries. Only Turkey managed to survive within its own borders, thanks to the leadership of Mustafa Kamal Pasha.

Even in our own less educated communities we find many proverbs about unity, e.g. “Char haath dushman per bhari.” “Ek se ek miley to raaee bansakti he perbat.” Karl Marx was fully aware of the importance of unity and expressed this by saying that people were the greatest force. Mao Zedong held the same views and said that if there was ever a nuclear war, the last person on the planet would be a Chinese. Cunning people and vested interests always consider unity of the people to be a threat to their interests. They cause disruption through pressure, blackmail, incentives, etc., and exploit the masses by these methods. However, in the (very) long run, such nefarious tactics usually fail. We saw it happen in the Philippines, in Iran and, most recently, in Kyrgyzstan.

In a speech to the British parliament on Feb 2, 1835, Lord Maculay said: “I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country unless we break the backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, the native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”

Within 50 years they managed to achieve it. Various sources have reported Winston Churchill to have said about this same rich, proud nation just before partition: “Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues and freebooters. All Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight amongst themselves for power and India will be lost in political squabbles. I hate Indians. They are beastly people with a beastly religion. Anything multiplied by zero is zero indeed.” He was also reported to have said: “These rascals, rogues and freebooters will tax everything, including water and air.” How right he was is evident today in India, and more so in Pakistan.

The British policy of divide and rule was later adopted by the Russians in Central Asia and they occupied the whole area and destroyed its cultural and educational heritage. What we in our region need most, beside good governance, is unity and discipline. The strength of public unity has been demonstrated in Iran and Kyrgyzstan. The flood of a unified nation can sweep away the ruling elite.

George Washington ensured that his soldiers had enough food as, according to him, patriotism did not grow on empty stomachs. Similarly, to expect our hungry, jobless masses, troubled by shortages of sugar, flour, electricity, gas, etc., to have eternal patience and not to protest while they sit and slowly starve, is asking too much.

The revolution, though not visible to rulers, is just around the corner. The keg full of dynamite is there. All that is required is one small match (in the form of a good leader/orator) to make it explode. The 18th Amendment alone will not stop the flood of anger and dissatisfaction of the common man. May Allah help Pakistan and its masses. Ameen.

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Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark.