يجب على الخليفة أن يتفقد أحوال الوالي وأن يراقب تصرفاته عن كثب. وله أن يفعل ذلك بنفسه، أو أن يعيّن من يتابع أوضاعهم ويقوم بالتفتيش. ويجوز للمعاون أيضاً أن يراقب تصرفات الولاة في الولايات التي يعاون الخليفة فيها، وعليه أن يعرض على الخليفة ما توصّل إليه من نتائج والقرارات التي اتخذها بشأنها، كما بيّن ذلك في باب المعاون المفوَّض. وبذلك يكون الخليفة على علم بأحوال الولاة، ومتابعاً لأوضاعهم. وعليه كذلك أن يلتقي بهم جميعاً أو ببعضهم من حين لآخر، وأن يستمع إلى شكاوى الرعية ضدهم.

The Khalifah should inquire about the actions of the Wali and should monitor them closely. He should do this directly or appoint someone who would check their state of affairs and carry out inspections. The Mu’awin is also allowed to monitor the actions of the wulah in the wilayat that he helps the Khalifah in, and he should review his findings and decisions he took regarding them with the Khalifah, as has been explained in the task of the delegated assistant. Thus, the Khalifah would be aware of the states of the wulah, and following their situation. He should also meet with all of them or some of them from time to time and listen to the complaints of the subjects against them. .

ثبت أنّ رسول الله ﷺ كان يختبر الولاة عند تعيينهم، كما فعل مع معاذ وأبي موسى، وكان يبيّن لهم كيف ينبغي أن يقوموا بأعمالهم، كما فعل مع عمرو بن حزم، وكان ينبّههم أيضًا إلى أمور مهمّة، كما فعل مع أبان بن سعيد حين ولّاه على البحرين فقال له:

It has been confirmed that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to examine the Walis when appointing them, as he did with Muadh and Abu Musa. He used to explain to them how they should conduct their duties, as he did with amr b. Hazm. He also drew their attention to some important matters as he did with Aban b. Sa'id when he appointed him Wali over Bahrain and said to him: .

اِحْفَظْ عَبْدَ قَيْسٍ وَأَكْرِمْ سَادَتَهُمْ

"Look after ‘Abd Qays and honour their leaders". .

وَقَدْ ثَبَتَ أَيْضًا أَنَّهُ ﷺ كَانَ يُحَاسِبُ الْوُلَاةَ، وَيَتَفَقَّدُ أَحْوَالَهُمْ، وَيَسْتَمِعُ إِلَى الْأَخْبَارِ الَّتِي تُنْقَلُ إِلَيْهِ عَنْهُمْ. وَكَانَ ﷺ يَطْلُبُ مِنَ الْوُلَاةِ أَنْ يُقَدِّمُوا حِسَابَ الْإِيرَادَاتِ وَالنَّفَقَاتِ الَّتِي صَرَفُوهَا.

Likewise it has also been confirmed that He (PBUH) used to hold the Walis accountable, inspect their situation and listen to news brought to him about them. He (PBUH) used to ask the Walis to account for the revenues and expenses used. .

رواه البخاري ومسلم عن أبي حميد الساعدي رضي الله عنه قال: استعمل رسول الله ﷺ ابنَ اللُّتْبِيَّة على صدقة بني سُلَيم، فلما جاء إلى رسول الله ﷺ قال: "هذا لكم، وهذا أُهدي لي". فقال رسول الله ﷺ:

Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated on the authority of Abu Humaid Al-Sa'idi who said:. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) appointed Ibn al-Utbiyya as ‘amil in charge of Sadaqah of Banu Salim. When he returned back to the Prophet (PBUH), he said: "This is for you and (this is a gift) that was presented to me.” So the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:.

"لِمَ لَمْ تَقْعُدْ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِيكَ وَأُمِّكَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَكَ هَدِيَّتُكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقًا؟" كَانَ عُمَرُ (رضي الله عنه) يُرَاقِبُ الوُلَاةَ عَنْ كَثَبٍ، وَقَدْ عَيَّنَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ مَسْلَمَةَ لِيَتَفَقَّدَ أَحْوَالَهُمْ وَيَتَفَحَّصَهُمْ. وَكَانَ عُمَرُ يَجْمَعُ الوُلَاةَ فِي مَوْسِمِ الحَجِّ لِيُرَاجِعَ أَدَاءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَمِعَ إِلَى شَكَاوَى الرَّعِيَّةِ عَنْهُمْ، وَكَانَ أَيْضًا يُنَاقِشُهُمْ فِي شُؤُونِ الوِلَايَاتِ وَيَسْأَلُهُمْ عَنْ أَحْوَالِهِمْ. وَرُوِيَ أَنَّ عُمَرَ قَالَ يَوْمًا لِمَنْ حَوْلَهُ: "أَتَرَوْنَ أَنِّي أَدَّيْتُ مَا عَلَيَّ إِنْ وَلَّيْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ خَيْرَكُمْ وَأَمَرْتُهُ بِالعَدْلِ؟" قَالُوا: "نَعَمْ". قَالَ: "لَا، حَتَّى أَنْظُرَ فِي عَمَلِهِ، فَأَرَى أَفَعَلَ مَا أَمَرْتُهُ بِهِ أَمْ لَا." وَكَانَ عُمَرُ مَعْرُوفًا بِالشِّدَّةِ فِي مُحَاسَبَةِ الوُلَاةِ وَالعُمَّالِ، حَتَّى إِنَّهُ كَانَ يَعْزِلُ بَعْضَهُمْ بِالشَّكِّ دُونَ دَلِيلٍ قَاطِعٍ، بَلْ كَانَ يَعْزِلُ الوَالِيَ لِأَدْنَى رِيبَةٍ لَا تَبْلُغُ مَبْلَغَ الشَّكِّ. وَقَدْ سُئِلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ: "إِنَّ اسْتِبْدَالَ أَمِيرٍ بِأَمِيرٍ هَيِّنٌ، لِيُصْلَحَ بِذَلِكَ أَمْرُ النَّاسِ." [البخاري، صحيح، رقم: 6979]

"Why did you not remain in your father’s and mother’s home so that your gift comes to you if you said the truth." ‘Umar (ra) used to closely monitor the Walis, and he appointed Muhammad Ibnu Maslamah to examine their state of affairs and inspect them. ‘Umar used to gather the Walis during the Hajj season to review their performance and to listen to the complaints of the subjects about them, and he also used to discuss with them the affairs of the Wilayah's and ask about their own conditions. It has been reported that ‘Umar once said to people around him: “Would you say that my duty would be fulfilled if I appointed over you the best from amongst you, and ordered him to be just?” They said, “Yes”. He replied, “No. Not until I had checked his performance, and seen whether or not he did what I had ordered him to do.” .‘Umar was known to be strict when accounting the Walis and the amils. He would even remove some of them on a suspicion without conclusive evidence, and he even used to remove a Wali on the slightest doubt that did not even reach the level of suspicion. He was asked about this one day and he said, “It is easy to swap an Amir for another so as to amend the people’s affairs.” [Bukhari, Sahih. #6979] .

مع ذلك، ورغم شدته معهم، فقد أعطاهم حرية التصرف في أداء واجباتهم، وحفظ سمعتهم في الحكم. كان يستمع إليهم ويتدبر حججهم. فإذا أعجبته حجة لم يتردد في إظهار استحسانه لها واقتناعه بها، ثم يغدق على العامل الثناء بعد ذلك. وذات يوم بلغه أن عامله على حمص عُمير بن سعد قال وهو على منبر حمص: "يبقى الإسلام قوياً ما دامت السلطة قوية، ولا تقوى السلطة بالقتل بالسيف ولا بالجلد بالسوط، وإنما تقوى بالحكم بالحق وإقامة العدل." فلما سمع عمر ذلك قال: "وددت لو كان لي رجل مثل عُمير بن سعد يعينني على شؤون المسلمين."

However, despite his strictness with them he gave them a free hand to undertake their duties and safeguarded their reputation in ruling. He used to listen to them and consider their arguments. If he liked an argument he was not shy of showing his approval and conviction of it and of showering the amil with praise afterwards. One day news reached him about his amil over Homs Umayr Ibnu Saad who had said while over the pulpit of Homs, “Islam will remain strong as long as the authority is strong. And the strength of the authority does not come about with the killing by the sword or the lashing by the whip, but by judging with the truth and the upholding of justice.” Upon hearing this ‘Umar said, “I wish I had a man like Umayr Ibnu Saad to help me with the Muslims' affairs.” .