Mu’awin-un-Tanfeedh is the Wazir whom the Khaleefah appoints to be his assistant in the execution and follow up and performance of his orders. He is the intermediary between the Khaleefah and the state’s various departments, the subjects and the foreign office on the other side. He conveys messages, on the one hand, from the Khaleefah and on the other hand to him. As a result, He is an assistant in executing orders and not a ruler over people, nor is He entrusted with them. His work is therefore administrative and not ruling, and his department is a tool used to execute what the Khaleefah issues to the domestic and foreign offices, and to submit to Him all that comes to Him from these offices. His department acts as an intermediary between the Khaleefah and others, where it conveys to them on his behalf and conveys to Him from them.
The Khaleefah is a ruler, whose duties include ruling, execution, and looking after people’s affairs. Carrying out of ruling, execution and guardianship require administrative actions. This necessitates the setting up of a special department that works closely with the Khaleefah to manage tasks that help Him carry out the Khilafah’s duties. Thus, an executive assistant is required to be appointed by the Khaleefah to run administrative affairs not the affairs of ruling. He does not perform any ruling duties like the delegated assistant. He is not allowed, for example, to appoint a Wali or an ‘Aamil, nor He manages people’s affairs. His duties are merely administrative, i.e. to execute the ruling orders and the administrative tasks issued by the Khaleefah or the delegated assistant. This is why He is known as the executive assistant. Jurists used to call Him ‘Wazir Tanfeedh’ which simply means Mu’awin ut-Tanfeedh, on the basis that the word Wazir is linguistically used to mean ‘the assistant.’ They said that this Wazir is an intermediary between the Khaleefah, the subjects and the Wulah, conveying the orders issued by him, and executing his orders and rules. He therefore informs all parties concerned about the appointment of Wulah, and about the preparation of task forces and armies stationed at the frontiers. He also submits to the Khaleefah whatever comes from such offices and informs Him of all new matters that may arise so that He can implement whatever the Khaleefah may order Him to. This makes Him an assistant in executing commands, and not a ruler over them neither is He entrusted with them. The executive assistant is linked directly to the Khaleefah just like the delegated assistant. Since He is part of the Khaleefah’s entourage and connected to ruling, although his job is only administrative, the executive assistant cannot be a woman, for women are not allowed to partake in ruling and anything linked to ruling. This is because of the Hadith of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh):
“People who appoint a woman to run their affairs will never succeed.” [Narrated by Bukhari on the authority of Abi Bakrah] The executive assistant also cannot be a disbeliever; and must be a Muslim, for He is part of the Khaleefah’s entourage. This is because Allah (swt) says:
“O ye who believe! Do not take for entourage or court other than your own folk, who would spare no pains to ruin you; they love to hamper you. Hatred is revealed by (the utterance of) their mouths, but that which their breasts hide is greater.” [TMQ Al- Imran: 118]
The prohibition of taking a non-Muslim as part of the Khaleefah’s entourage is very clear in the verse. Therefore the executive assistant cannot be a Kafir but must be Muslim for He is directly connected to the Khaleefah and not separate from him, just like the delegated assistant. The executive assistants can also number more than one according to the needs of the ruling.
As for the areas in which the Mu’awinut-Tanfeedh acts as an intermediary between the Khaleefah and others, these are four:
1) The state’s departments
2) The armed forces
3) The Ummah
4) International affairs
These are the types of duties that the executive assistant carries out. Since He is an intermediary between the Khaleefah and others, He would be considered as a liaison department for the Khaleefah. By acting as such, He follows up what is required of the state departments’ actions.
The Khaleefah is the actual ruler. He is the one who deals with ruling, execution and the management of people’s affairs by himself. Therefore, He is in constant contact with the ruling apparatus, international affairs and the Ummah. He enacts the laws, takes decisions, carries out actions of caring and looks at the performance of the ruling apparatus and whatever obstacles it may face and whatever needs it requires. He is also informed of any demands, complaints and matters that come from the Ummah, and He follows international activities as well. Therefore, based on the reality of these actions, the Mu’awinut-Tanfeedh acts as an intermediary relating to these matters, i.e. He conveys messages to the Khaleefah and conveys orders from him. Since what is issued by the Khaleefah to the different departments and what comes to Him from them needs following up in order to be implemented, the executive assistant needs to carry out this follow up in order that the execution is satisfactorily completed. He would carry out a follow up with the Khaleefah and with the state departments and would not stop from carrying out this follow up, unless the Khaleefah specifically demanded so. In this case He has to obey his orders and stop the follow up, because the Khaleefah is the ruler and his order has to be implemented.
As regarding the matters related to the army and the international relations, these are generally confidential and they are specific to the Khaleefah. Therefore, the executive assistant does not follow up the execution of these matters nor pursue their execution, unless the Khaleefah requests Him to do so; in which case He will follow up only the matters which the Khaleefah demanded and not any others.
With regards to the Ummah; in matters of looking after her affairs, fulfilling her demands and removing unjust actions from her, these matters are for the Khaleefah to deal with the one who is appointed as a deputy to him. They are not a mandate for the executive assistant, so He does not follow up them except those that He Khaleefah may ask Him to do so. His action in their regard is simply execution and not following up. All this depends on the nature of the actions that the Khaleefah carries out and accordingly the nature of the Mu’awinut-Tanfeedh actions.