and His Messenger, and their rights are to be rendered to them as Allah and His Messenger have commanded.

Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.”

Since the verse requires rendering trusts to those to whom they are due and judging with justice, these two duties together encompass just governance and sound administration.

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Rendering trusts to those to whom they are due is of two kinds.

The first concerns public offices. This was the occasion for the revelation of the verse. When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, conquered Mecca and received the keys of the Kaaba from Banū Shaybah, al-ʿAbbās asked him for them, so that he might hold both the responsibility for providing water to the pilgrims and the custodianship of the Sacred House. Allah then revealed this verse, and the Prophet handed the keys of the Kaaba to Banū Shaybah.

Those in authority must therefore appoint to every position in the Muslims’ affairs the most suitable person they can find for that position. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever is entrusted with any of the Muslims’ affairs and appoints a man when he can find someone more suitable to serve the Muslims has betrayed Allah and His Messenger.”

Another version states:

“Whoever appoints a man over a group when he can find within that group someone more pleasing to Allah than him has indeed