SOUND JUDGEMENT
Accountability
ABU MOOSA AL-ASHARI was one of the leading Companions of the Prophet Muhammad. During the Prophet’s time he was appointed governor of Aden. Then, during the rule of the second Caliph Umar, he was given the governorship of Basra.
Abu Moosa said that a qazi (judge) should not pass judgement until the truth is to him “as clear as day”. When Abu Moosa’s statement was reported to Umar, the Caliph ratified it, saying that this should be the policy of every qazi.
In fact, the principle that Abu Moosa laid down is applicable not only to judges but to every human being as well. It is not only judges who have to deal with other people’s cases: every human being is required at times to make decisions regarding matters pertaining to others.
With an ordinary individual it is a personal decision all the same. The only difference is that a judge’s word is law, while ordinary people cannot enforce their decisions by legal means.
A judge should not pronounce judgement on a matter until the rights and wrongs of it have become as clear to him as day is clear from night.
Still everyone will finally have to answer before God for every utterance and judgement that they make. In real terms, therefore there is no difference between someone who passes judgement in a court of law, and one who makes a decision at home, office or village.
Both will be taken to task in exactly the same fashion. Those who believe that one day they will come before God should follow Abu Moosa al-Ashari’s advice: they should not pronounce judgement on a matter until the rights and wrongs of it have become as clear to them as day is clear from night; if the truth is not “as clear as day” then there is only one thing to do, and that is hold one’s peace.
Those who really fear God should only pass judgement on matters which are absolutely clear to them. The judgement of what they are not clear about should be left to God.