The Ruling System in Islam by Abdul Qadeem Zalloom

The delegated assistant should meet the conditions required in the Khaleefah i.e. to be male, free, Muslim, mature, sane, just and cometent in what is assigned to Him in terms of duties delegated to him.

Evidences of these conditions are the same as those of the conditions of the Khaleefah post. Therefore, the assistant should be male, for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

“People who appoint a woman to run their affairs shall never succeed.” [Narrated by al-Bukhari on the authority of Abi Bakra] He must also be free, for the slave does not have authority over his own affairs, thus He cannot run other people’s affairs. He should also be mature, for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

“Three types of people are exempted from accountability, the one who sleeps until He wakes up, a child until He reaches the age of puberty and the insane until He is cured.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood] He also should be sane, for in the same Hadith, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

“...and the insane until He is cured.” In another narration the Hadith states “...about the one whose mind is overpowered until He regains his mind.” Mu’awin should also be just for Allah (swt) has made it a condition in testimony. He (swt) says:

“Let two just people from amongst you bear witness.” [TMQ Al-Baqarah: 282]

Therefore, there is more reason to require justice in the assistant of the Khaleefah. The Mu’awin should also be from the competent people in the duties of ruling, in order to be able to assist the Khaleefah in shouldering the tasks of the Khilafah and the responsibility of ruling and authority.