Al-Siyasa al-Shar'iyya - Ibn Taimiya - (الكتاب/35)

when the matter is unclear—the officeholder will have discharged the trusts associated with positions of authority (1) to those entitled to them.

Chapter (2)

The strength required for positions of authority comprises a person’s mastery of himself and his power over others. Mastery of oneself is attained through forbearance and patience, as related from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in the authentic hadith: “The strong man is not the one who wrestles others down; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when angry” (3). Such a man is the true leader of whom Allah Most High says: “A leader and one who is chaste” [Āl Imrān: 39]. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) also said concerning al-Hasan: “This son of mine is a leader, and through him Allah will reconcile two great groups of Muslims” (4).

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) thus explained that a strong and powerful man is not one who is physically strong and frequently wrestles others down and overcomes them. Rather, he is one who possesses inner strength, controls himself, and overcomes his anger.

As for his power over others, it consists in personal courage, experience, and all other sources of strength, such as manpower and wealth. This is indicated by the words of Allah Most High: “They cannot escape (59). Prepare against them whatever force you can, and…” [al-Anfāl: 60].

Muslim related in his Sahīh (5), from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger

(1) “For positions of authority” is absent from manuscript *zāy*. (2) This chapter, through p. 39, is found only in the original manuscript. (3) Recorded by al-Bukhārī (6114) and Muslim (2609), from the hadith of Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him). (4) Recorded by al-Bukhārī (2704), from the hadith of Abū Bakra (may Allah be pleased with him). (5) (2664).

إذا خفي الأمر ــ كان المتولي قد أدى الأمانات في الولايات (١) إلى أهلها. فصل (٢) القوة في الولايات تجمع قوة المرء في نفسه، وقوته على غيره؛ فقوته على نفسه بالحلم والصبر، كما رُوي عن النبي ﷺ في الحديث الصحيح: «ليس الشديد بالصرعة، وإنما الشديد الذي يملك نفسه عند الغضب» (٣). وهذا هو السيد الذي قال الله تعالى فيه: ﴿وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا﴾ [آل عمران: ٣٩]، وقال النبي ﷺ عن الحسن: «إنَّ ابني هذا سيد وسيصلح الله به بين طائفتين عظيمتين من المسلمين» (٤). فبين النبي ﷺ أن الرجل الشديد القوي ليس هو القوي في بدنه الذي يصرع الناسَ ويغلبهم كثيرًا، وإنما هو القوي في نفسه الذي يملك نفسه ويغلبها عند الغضب. وأما قوته على غيره؛ فالشجاعة في نفسه، والخبرة وسائر أسباب القوى من الرجال والأموال، كما دل عليه قوله تعالى: ﴿يُعْجِزُونَ (٥٩) وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَمِنْ﴾ [الأنفال: ٦٠]. وروى مسلم في «صحيحه» (٥) عن أبي هريرة ﵁ قال: قال رسول

(١) «في الولايات» ليس في (ز). (٢) هذا الفصل إلى (ص ٣٩) من الأصل فقط. (٣) أخرجه البخاري (٦١١٤)، ومسلم (٢٦٠٩) من حديث أبي هريرة ﵁. (٤) أخرجه البخاري (٢٧٠٤) من حديث أبي بكرة ﵁. (٥) (٢٦٦٤).