in situations where punishment is called for. For if we were to say, “Be forbearing in every matter,” it would be as though we had restrained him so that he could not act. Rather, he should be forbearing where forbearance is wise.

Thus, if a person is forbearing where forbearance is appropriate and administers punishment where it is called for, this is perfection. Hence our Lord, exalted is He, says:

“Know that Allah is severe in punishment and that Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [al-Ma'idah: 98]

His statement, “possessing deliberation”: deliberation means composure and refraining from haste. Thus, the judge should be deliberate and should not rush to issue a ruling. Rather, he should examine the case from every angle, especially complex cases, such as long-standing inheritance disputes and cases involving bloodshed. Its opposite is haste in judgment, whereas the situation requires deliberation and the avoidance of haste, so that he may fully understand the matter from every perspective and then apply the legal proofs to it.

Regarding this quality, we say what we said concerning forbearance: if deliberation causes an opportunity to be lost, then in some circumstances he should not deliberate, for he would lose decisiveness. The poet said:

Many a people have lost the greater part of their affair
Through deliberation, when sound judgment was to act swiftly.

At times, sound judgment and decisiveness require a person to act promptly.

His statement, “and discernment”: he must possess discernment, alertness, and insight. According to the author, these are recommended etiquettes. Consider Solomon, peace be upon him, when the two women brought their dispute before him concerning the son of one of them. David, peace be upon him, had ruled that he belonged to the elder woman. So Solomon called for a knife in order to cut him in two, and the elder woman said, “Yes, O