If he produces them and their authenticity appears sound, the suspicion against him is dispelled. If he lacks them and says that he issued the disbursement from memory, having known the relevant details beforehand, his statement is treated as known, and the signatory may either accept it or reject it; he may not require him to take an oath.
As for the sixth duty, namely reviewing grievances, its ruling varies according to the identity of the complainant. The complainant is either one of the subjects or one of the officials. If the complainant is a subject who complains that an official has wronged him in a transaction, the dīwān official acts as judge between them. He may investigate the grievance and remove the injustice, whether or not the official charged with examining it has already issued a ruling in the matter. This is because he is recommended to preserve the regulations and secure the rights owed, and by virtue of his appointment he becomes entitled to review grievances. If he is prevented from doing so, he must refrain, and this constitutes his removal from part of the responsibilities previously assigned to him.
If the complainant is an official who has been treated unjustly in his accounts or deceived in his dealings, the dīwān official is the opposing party in the matter, and the person who reviews the grievance is the ruler.
A Chapter on the Rulings Concerning Crimes
Crimes are acts prohibited by the Sharīʿah for which Allah Most High has prescribed a deterrent, either a fixed punishment or a discretionary punishment. It has been said that the rules applicable when such crimes are merely alleged—and, according to another view, when their occurrence and establishment are being determined—depend on the status of the authority examining them.
If the examiner is a judge and a person accused of theft or zina is brought before him, the accusation has no legal effect in his court. He may not imprison the accused in order to investigate the matter, establish his innocence, or compel him by any means to confess. A claim of theft may be heard against him only from a claimant who has a legal entitlement to the property allegedly stolen from him. The accused’s subsequent confession or denial is then taken into consideration. If he is accused of zina, the claim may be heard against him only after the claimant names the woman with whom he allegedly committed zina and describes the act that warrants the fixed punishment. If he confesses, he is held liable to its prescribed consequence; if he denies it, his denial is heard, and he is required to swear an oath concerning whatever involves a human right, but not concerning a right belonging to Allah Most High.
If the examiner before whom this accused person is brought is an amir or one of the officials appointed over criminal affairs, he has investigative and exculpatory procedures available to him in dealing with the accused that are not available to judges and magistrates. These are of nine kinds: