because fear of Allah is Allah’s instruction to the former and latter generations:

“And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you, and yourselves, to fear Allah.” [al-Nisāʾ: 131]

Moreover, a judge’s fear of Allah makes his affairs easier and facilitates his task, as Allah Most High says:

“And whoever fears Allah—He will make ease for him in his affair.” [al-Ṭalāq]

A judge’s fear of Allah is also a means by which he comes to recognize the truth and identify the one who is in the right. Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion, erase your misdeeds from you, and forgive you. And Allah is the Possessor of immense bounty.” [al-Anfāl]

The judge needs this. Furthermore, a judge’s fear of Allah is a means for Allah to grant him relief from every distress. Allah Most High says:

“And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from where he does not expect.” [al-Ṭalāq: 2–3]

Therefore, we say that the imam should write an instruction to fear Allah into the decree of appointment, or issue the document of appointment with such an instruction.

His statement, “and that he should seek to uphold justice”: seeking justice is part of fearing Allah, but its conjunction with fear of Allah is an instance of mentioning the particular after the general, because of the importance of justice in the matter of governance. Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, Allah commands you to deliver trusts to those entitled to them and, when you judge between people, to judge with justice.” [al-Nisāʾ: 58]

His statement, “and strive to establish it”: for not everyone who seeks justice and recognizes justice actually establishes it. Thus, he instructs him to do two things: first, to seek justice; and second, to strive to establish it.

Justice comprises two matters: justice in the ruling and justice with regard to the person being judged.