the prescribed legal penalties, and judges equitably among them, just as the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would appoint deputies during his lifetime to take charge of everything from which he was absent. He would appoint (1) commanders over military detachments to lead them in prayer (2), lead them in jihad, and administer their affairs. He would also appoint governors over (3) the provinces, as when he appointed Attāb ibn Usayd over Mecca, and appointed Khālid ibn Saīd ibn al-Ās, Abān ibn Saīd ibn al-Ās, Abū Sufyān ibn Harb, Muādh, and Abū Mūsā to govern the villages of Uraynah, Najrān, and Yemen. Likewise, he appointed zakat collectors who received it from those liable to pay it and gave it to those lawfully entitled to it, appointing more than one such collector.

He would also appoint deputies to enforce the prescribed legal penalties, as when he said to Unays:

“O Unays, go in the morning to this man’s wife. If she confesses, stone her.” (4)

He went to her in the morning; she confessed, and he stoned her.

He would also appoint someone to lead the Hajj, as when he appointed Abū Bakr to conduct the Hajj in the ninth year, after the campaign of Tabūk. Alī was among those under Abū Bakr’s authority: he prayed behind him and obeyed his orders. This (5) took place after the campaign of Tabūk.

Likewise, he appointed a deputy over Medina on many occasions, for whenever he set out on a military expedition,