The delegated assistants (Mu‘awin Tafweedh) are appointed by the Khaleefah to assist him in ruling the State. The evidence for this appointment is derived from the hadith of the Prophet (saw) in which he said, “My two ministers (wazirs) from the people are Abu Bakr and ‘Umar.” (Tirmidhi).

Islam, on the other hand, allows these ministers to go beyond a specific function. The ministers whom the Prophet (saw) appointed were not specialised or assigned restrictively to a specific function. It is therefore preferable to use the word Mu‘awin (assistant) instead of ministers, so as not to confuse it with the Western terminology of minister.

The delegated assistant is one whom the Khaleefah delegates to perform all functions in the way of general delegations. In the appointment of the Delegated assistant it is necessary for the Khaleefah to cite both the aspects of general ruling and being his assistant in the contract, because appointing him in only one aspect restricts his function as a Mu‘awin.

Such was the case when Abu Bakr appointed ‘Umar as his assistant, and when ‘Umar took ‘Uthman and ‘Ali as his assistants, and when ‘Uthman took Marwan ibn al-Hakam and ‘Ali as his assistants. These delegated assistants are responsible to the Khaleefah and they inform the Khaleefah of the matters surrounding them.

The delegated assistants, therefore, have a general responsibility in ruling the State and must be appointed by the Khaleefah for this general responsibility. They are responsible to the Khaleefah for their actions and the Khaleefah must examine the delegated actions and disposals of these delegated assistants. We must remember that the contract for ruling is between the Ummah and the Khaleefah alone. It is the Khaleefah who is finally responsible for the proper implementation of Islam on the people.