The Institutions of State in the Khilafah by Hizb ut-Tahrir

The Judiciary is responsible for delivering the verdict for the purpose of enforcing it. It settles disputes between people, prevents whatever may harm the rights of the community and also settles the disputes between people and any person who is part of the ruling system, whether they are rulers or civil servants, the Khalifah or any other person. .

The origins of the judicial system and its validity are the Book and the Sunnah. As for the Book, Allah (S.W.T) says: .

"And judge between them by that which Allah has revealed." [5:49]. .

And He (S.W.T) also says: "And if they were invited to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them." [24:48].

As for the Sunnah, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was himself in charge of the Judiciary and he judged between people. .

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to appoint the judges. He appointed ‘Ali as judge over Yemen and he gave him instructions about how to judge by saying: .

"If two men come to you do not give a judgement for one of them until you have heard what the other has had to say, then you will be able to judge" as narrated by Tirmidhi [Sunan, #1331] and Ahmad [Musnad, 2/165]. In another narration by Ahmad: .

"If the two disputing men sat before you do not speak until you hear from the other as you heard from the first." [Musnad, 2/165] .

He (PBUH) also appointed Muadh as a judge over al-Janad. Each of these is evidences point to the validity of the judiciary. .

The definition of judiciary includes the judgement between people as mentioned above. It also includes the Hisbah (public order) which means: .

"Informing of the divine rule for the purpose of enforcing it regarding that which causes harm to the rights of the community." This is highlighted in the Hadith of the heap of food. It has been reported in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah that: .

"The Messenger of Allah (S.W.T) passed by a heap of food. As he put his hand inside it his fingers got wet, so he said to the vendor: “What is this?” He said: “It was dampened by the rain O Messenger of Allah.” He (PBUH) said: “Why don't you put it on the top so that people can see it? He who cheats us is not one of us." [Muslim, Sahih, #102] .

It also includes the Mazalim (unjust acts), because they are part of the judiciary and not part of the ruling, because they are complaints against the ruler. The Muzalims would be defined as: "Delivering of the divine rule by way of compulsion in regarding any dispute there may be between the citizens and the Khalifah or any of his Walis or employees, or any difference between the Muslims about the interpretation of any of the Shariah texts to be used in order to judge by them and to rule according to them." The Mazalim (unjust acts) were mentioned in the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) regarding the fixing of prices where he said: .

“And verily I hope that I will meet Allah ‘azza wa jall without having anyone claiming against me a Mazlama, that I inflicted on him, be it of blood or funds.” [Ahmad narrated on the authority of Anas. See al-Haythami, Majma’ al-Zawa’id, vol.4, p.102]. This indicates that complaints against the ruler, or the Wali or the civil servant should be submitted to the judge of Mazalim, and the Judge of Mazalim would deliver the divine rule by way of enforcement. Therefore the definition would include the three areas of judiciary reflected in the Ahadith and actions of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and these are: settling disputes between people, preventing whatever may harm the interests of the community and the settling of the disputes between the citizens and the rulers or between the citizens and the civil servants within their duties.