so they would prefer someone who takes payment from them for putting an end to an injustice and meeting a lawful need to such a governor. For the governor described earlier has sold his Hereafter for another’s worldly gain, and no one makes a more ruinous bargain than one who sells his Hereafter for another’s worldly gain.

Rather, the duty is to ward off injustice from them to the best of one’s ability and meet those needs essential to people’s welfare: conveying their needs to the ruler, informing him of their circumstances, directing him towards what benefits them, and turning him away from what harms them. This should be done through various means, gentle or otherwise, just as officials with personal interests, such as scribes and others, pursue their own ends.

In the hadith of Hind ibn Abī Hālah, may Allah be pleased with him, it is reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to say:

“Convey to me the needs of those unable to convey them themselves. Whoever conveys to a person in authority the need of someone unable to convey it himself, Allah will make his feet firm upon the Bridge on the Day when feet slip.”

Imam Ahmad and Abū Dāwūd, in his Sunan, narrated from Abū Umāmah al-Bāhilī, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever intercedes on behalf of his brother, then accepts a gift given to him for doing so, has entered a great gate among the gates of usury.”

Ibrāhīm al-Harbī narrated from ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: “Unlawful gain is when someone seeks to have a man’s need met, and when it is met, he is given a gift and accepts it.”

It is also reported from Masrūq that he spoke to Ibn Ziyād about an injustice, and Ibn Ziyād redressed it. The man concerned then gave Masrūq a young male slave as a gift, but he returned him, saying: “I heard Ibn Mas‘ūd say: ‘Whoever