Al-Muqaddimāt al-Mumahhidāt - Ibn Rush al-Jadd - (2/517)

Al-Muqaddimāt al-MumahhidātIbn Rush al-Jadd

Section

If the ruler suggests a settlement to the disputants, encourages them to reach one, and urges them to do so, but both or either of them refuses, he must not compel them or press them so insistently that it amounts to compulsion. Rather, he must judge between them according to what is rightfully due and the clear ruling of the law, as the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did.

It is related in an authentic collection: “Al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwām disputed with an Ansārī man over an irrigation channel in the lava plain from which they both watered their land. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: ‘Water your land, O Zubayr, then release the water to your neighbour.’ The Ansārī became angry and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, is it because he is your paternal aunt’s son?’ The expression on the Messenger’s face changed, and he then said: ‘Water your land and retain the water until it reaches the roots.’”

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, thus awarded al-Zubayr his full entitlement. Previously, he had suggested to al-Zubayr an arrangement accommodating both him and the Ansārī. But when the Ansārī angered the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, he awarded al-Zubayr his full entitlement under the clear ruling of the law.

‘Urwah related that al-Zubayr said: “By Allah, I do not think this verse was revealed concerning anything other than that incident:

‘But no, by your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge in their disputes, then find within themselves no resistance to your judgment and submit fully.’ [al-Nisā’: 65]”

Section

The ruler should encourage the disputants to reach a settlement and seek to bring them around to it only so long as it has not become clear to him that one of them is in the right. Once that becomes clear, he must not delay ruling in that person’s favour in the hope that they will reach a settlement. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, said in his letter to Abū Mūsā al-Ash‘arī: “Strive for settlement so long as the judgment to be rendered has not become clear to you.”

Section

A settlement involving what is forbidden is not permissible. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Settlement is permissible between Muslims,

فصل وإذا أشار الإمام على المتخاصمين بالصلح وندبهما إليه وحضهما عليه فأبيا أو أبى أحدهما، فلا يجبرهما عليه، ولا يلح عليهما فيه إلحاحا يشبه الإلزام؛ ولكنه يفصل بينهما بواجب الحق وصريح الحكم، كما فعل رسول الله ﷺ. روي في الصحيح «أن الزبير بن العوام خاصم رجلا من الأنصار في شراج من الحرة كانا يسقيان به كلاهما، فقال رسول الله ﷺ: اسق يا زبير ثم أرسل إلى جارك، فغضب الأنصاري فقال يا رسول الله أن كان ابن عمتك؟ فتلون وجه رسول الله ﷺ ثم قال: اسق واحبس حتى يبلغ الجذر». فاستوفى رسول الله ﷺ للزبير حقه - وكان قبل ذلك قد أشار على الزبير برأي سعة له وللأنصاري فلما أحفظ الأنصاري رسول الله ﷺ استوفى للزبير حقه في صريح الحكم. قال عروة قال الزبير والله ما أحسب هذه الآية نزلت: ﴿فَلا وَرَبِّكَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا﴾ [النساء: ٦٥] إلا في ذلك. فصل وإنما ينبغي للإمام أن يندب المتخاصمين - إلى الصلح ويديرهما - عليه ما لم يتبين له أن الحق لأحدهما، فإذا تبين له ذلك، لم يتأن في الحكم له - رجاء أن يصالحا، فقد قال عمر بن الخطاب ﵁ في رسالته إلى أبي موسى الأشعري، فاحرص على الصلح ما لم يتبين لك فصل القضاء. فصل ولا يجوز الصلح بالحرام قال رسول الله ﷺ: «الصلح جائز بين المسلمين،