You Were Sent to do Justice

“You Were Sent to do Justice –”

1989 1 January 14 “You Were Sent to do Justice –” (164) Whenever Umer felt that his envoys had not behaved in a manner consistent with Islamic teachings, he would relieve them of their duties immediately, saying, “I did not authorize you to take the blood of Muslims; nor did I give you license to persecute them, assail their honour or appropriate that which rightly belongs to them. I appointed you to establish the ritual of prayer and distribute wealth and revenues among them. You were sent to do justice.” In fact, when Umer despatched his envoys, he would first make them promise not to ride on horseback, eat white bread or wear fine clothes. He would also make them swear never to close their door to the needy. His best advice to them was to remain as engrossed in the Quran as possible, and to ‘be careful in relating traditions of the Prophet lest some statement be attributed to him which he had not actually made. “And I am with you,” Umer would assure them.