First: justice in the ruling—that he judges according to what Allah’s Law requires, for everything required by Allah’s Law is undoubtedly just. Accordingly, he must reject and set aside every legal ruling that contravenes Allah’s Law, regardless of how authoritative it may be, for the judge is obliged to reject and discard it, since it is contrary to justice. Everything that contradicts the Law of Allah is contrary to justice.

Second: justice with regard to the person being judged—that he makes no distinction between young and old, noble and lowly, rich and poor, relative and stranger. It will come, if Allah Most High wills, that he must treat the two litigants equally in the attention he gives them, his speech to them, their seating before him, and their entry into his presence. Thus, the judge must not be one who, when a case concerning one of his relatives is brought before him, seeks to evade ruling against him; nor one who, when a case concerning someone with whom he has a personal enmity is brought before him, seeks to rule against him.

When the case of the Makhzūmī woman, who used to borrow goods and then deny having taken them, was brought before our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, he ordered that her hand be cut off. The Makhzūmī woman belonged to Banū Makhzūm, one of the noble clans of Quraysh. Her case greatly troubled Quraysh, and they said, “How can the hand of a woman from Banū Makhzūm be cut off, leaving her disgraced before the people?!” They sought someone who could intercede with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and eventually agreed to send Usāmah ibn Zayd. He undertook this and asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to waive the punishment in her case. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, “Do you intercede concerning one of Allah’s prescribed punishments?!”

The interrogative here is one of condemnation. Thus, he condemned him and pointed out the reason: he condemned him in his words, “Do you intercede?” and pointed out the reason in his words, “concerning one of Allah’s prescribed punishments?” It is as though he were saying: I do not have the authority to alter any of Allah’s prescribed punishments. Therefore, there can be no intercession concerning one of Allah’s prescribed punishments, for all judgment belongs to Allah, Exalted is He,