On justice, governance, and the conduct of kings

Know—and be certain—that Allah has chosen from the children of Adam two classes. The first are the prophets, peace be upon them, who lay before mankind the proofs of His worship and clarify for them the path that leads to knowing Him. The second are the kings, appointed to protect His servants from one another’s aggression. Into their hands He placed the reins of enactment and repeal; by His wisdom He bound the welfare of His creation in their worldly affairs to their authority, and by His power He set them in the most exalted station. As the reports say: “The sovereign is the shade of Allah on earth.”

Accordingly, it must be understood that whoever is elevated by Allah to the rank of kingship and made His shade on earth is owed love by the people; they are obliged to follow and obey him, and they may not disobey or contend with him. Allah the Exalted says: “O you who believe, obey Allah, obey the Messenger, and those vested with authority among you” (Q 4:59).

Therefore everyone to whom Allah has granted true religion should love the kings and sultans, comply with what they command, and recognize that sovereignty and dominion are conferred by Allah alone. He bestows His kingdom on whom He wills, as He declares in His unassailable Revelation: “You grant sovereignty to whom You will, and You strip sovereignty from whom You will; You honor whom You will, and You abase whom You will. In Your hand is all good. Indeed, You are capable of all things” (Q 3:26).