Hazrat Umar’s (ra) dealing with Governors of State and People in Authority
With regard to the appointment of governors and the guidance given to them by Hazrat Umar (ra), it is written that for important services, office-bearers would be appointed through the Shura – those upon whom everyone agreed would be appointed. Sometimes, he would send instructions to the governor of a province or district saying that the most capable person should be selected and sent. Thus, Hazrat Umar (ra) would appoint those selected people as governors. Hazrat Umar (ra) appointed a higher salary for governors; this too had great wisdom behind it and was so they would carry out their duties in an honest manner and without any greed. Hazrat Umar (ra) would advise office-bearers, “Remember, I have not sent you as commanders and tyrants; rather, I have sent you as leaders, so that people may follow you. Fulfil the rights of Muslims. Do not abuse and demean them” i.e. do not punish them unnecessarily; “rather, try to fulfil their rights. Do not unnecessarily compliment anyone lest they fall into trial. Do not keep your doors closed to them, lest the strong devour the weak. Do not give yourself precedence over anyone for this would be an injustice upon the people.”
An oath would be taken from whoever was appointed as a governor that they would not ride on a Turkish horse, they would not wear fine clothes, they would not eat sifted flour, they would not appoint gatekeepers and they would always keep their doors open to those in need. This guidance was for all appointed governors and they would be read out to the people. After these governors had been appointed, an inventory of their wealth and possessions would be made. If there was an unusual increase in the possessions of the office-holder, which he was not able to justify, he was immediately called to account, and the excess wealth would be given to the treasury. Governors were instructed that they must gather on the occasion of Hajj where public hearings would be held and any complaint against a governor would be addressed immediately. Complaints against the governors would be presented, there was an office in order to investigate them which comprised of esteemed companions who would carry out the investigations. If the complaint turned out to be valid, the governors would be held accountable.
(Al-Farooq, Shibli Naumani, pp. 189-193, Dar-ul-Ishaat Karachi [1991])
With regard to the complaints made against governors and the manner in which Hazrat Umar (ra) handled them, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) writes:
“There is an incident in relation to Hazrat Umar (ra). The people of Kufa were quite rebellious and would always raise complaints against their office bearers; saying that such and such judge is a certain way or that one person has this weakness and another person has that weakness. Upon these complaints, Hazrat Umar (ra) would change the governors and would send a different one in his place. Some people said to Hazrat Umar (ra) that this was not right, and that if he continued changing them, [the people of Kufa] would continue making complaints, therefore he should not constantly change the governors. However, Hazrat Umar (ra) said that he would continue changing the governors until the people of Kufa themselves became tired of making complaints.
“When he received similar complaints from them for some time, Hazrat Umar (ra) said, ‘I will now send the people of Kufa a governor who will see to them.’ This governor, who was sent by Hazrat Umar (ra), was a 19-year-old youth by the name of Abdur Rahman bin Abi Laila. When the people of Kufa came to know of the fact that a 19-year-old youth was appointed as their governor, they said [to each other] that come, let us all make fun of him.
“The people of Kufa were mischievous. They gathered all the [senior] individuals that would adorn themselves in cloaks and robes, who were 70, 80 and even 90 years of age and decided that all the people of the city ought to accompany these elderly individuals in order to welcome Abdur Rahman and mockingly ask him of his age, and when he answered, they would mock him extensively over the fact that a boy had been appointed as their governor. Hence, in accordance with this scheme, they went two or three miles out of the city in order to welcome him.
“Abdur Rahman bin Abi Laila was also approaching riding a donkey from the opposing direction. All the people of Kufa were standing in rows and the front row consisted of the elderly chiefs. When Abdur Rahman bin Abi Laila approached, these people asked, ‘Is it you who has been appointed as our governor, and is your name Abdur Rahman?’ He replied in the affirmative. Upon this, a senior person from among them came forward and asked, ‘What is your age?’ Abdur Rahman replied, ‘My age? You can guess my age from the fact that when the Holy Prophet (sa) appointed Usama bin Zaid (ra) as the commander-in-chief over 10,000 companions, among whom were Abu Bakr (ra) and Umar (ra) as well, I am one year older than Usama bin Zaid (ra) was on that occasion.’ Hearing this, all of them stepped back and their plans were shattered. They retreated in embarrassment and said to one another that as long as this boy stayed [among us], they should not dare utter a word [to him] lest he took strict action. Hence, he governed over them for a long time and the people of Kufa did not dare to confront him.”
(Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 23, pp. 222-223)