The Judge Who Feared None but God

The Judge Who Feared None but God

BY:Khan

In the old days, when justice was considered a sacred duty rather than a tool of power, remarkable incidents occurred that continue to inspire us even centuries later. These stories remind us what true integrity looks like in those who hold positions of authority. One such tale comes from Yemen, where a courageous judge stood firm for justice against wealth, power, and even the throne itself.

It was an ordinary morning when Judge Muhammad bin Ali, a highly respected jurist in Yemen, was seen hurrying down the street. What caught people’s attention was not just his pace but also his appearance—he wore no shoes, and his clothes were disordered, as if he had left his home in great haste. One of his friends, curious and concerned, followed him quietly from a distance to see where he was headed.

Judge Muhammad did not stop until he reached the house of the royal treasurer, Malik Zafar. He knocked firmly on the large wooden door. A servant, recognizing the distinguished visitor, rushed to inform his master. Within moments, Malik Zafar himself appeared, surprised and somewhat alarmed. He immediately bent down, kissed the judge’s hands in deep respect, and said humbly:

“Your honor, why trouble yourself to come here? A single command from you, and I would have presented myself at your door.”

But Judge Muhammad shook his head and replied sternly:

“I did not come here for formality or courtesy. I came because children stood before me this morning, crying for justice. They told me that you have imprisoned their father. Without him, their condition is miserable. Tell me, by what right do you keep a man locked away while his family starves?”

The treasurer lowered his eyes and answered, “Your honor, the man is not imprisoned by my choice. He is held by the order of Sultan Mansur himself. Without the Sultan’s permission, I cannot release him.”

The judge wasted no time. He immediately dispatched a messenger to Sultan Mansur, demanding that the matter be addressed at once. Sultan Mansur, upon receiving the judge’s message, did not delay either. He issued a written order for the man’s release.

Yet Judge Muhammad did not simply accept the Sultan’s word and leave. He stood there, outside the treasurer’s residence, waiting until the prisoner was physically brought out, free from his shackles. Only when he saw the man with his own eyes did he move. Taking the man by the hand, the judge himself escorted him to his home, ensuring he was reunited with his children. Only then did Judge Muhammad return to his duties.

This was the kind of justice that prevailed in those times—swift, fearless, and deeply humane. But this was not the only instance where the power of law triumphed over the power of the throne.

Years later, when Sultan Mansur himself traveled to the holy city of Medina, he encountered another upright judge: Muhammad bin Imran. One day, an ordinary camel owner appeared in Judge Imran’s court with a grievance. His complaint was startling. He accused none other than Sultan Mansur of wrongdoing and demanded justice.

Most judges of later generations might have trembled at such a claim, afraid to summon a ruler into their courtroom. But Judge Imran was cut from a different cloth. He issued an immediate summons for Sultan Mansur, requiring him to appear in court just like any other man.

And so, the Sultan arrived. He left his guards and attendants outside the courtroom and entered alone, showing respect for the authority of the court. Judge Imran, however, did not rise from his seat to honor him. He continued with his duties, treating the Sultan as no different from any other litigant who came seeking justice.

The case was heard carefully, with arguments presented from both sides. To the astonishment of many, the judgment came down not in favor of the Sultan but against him. The court declared that the camel owner was in the right and the Sultan in the wrong.

What happened next revealed the greatness of Sultan Mansur as well. Instead of reacting with anger or arrogance, he smiled and clapped his hands with joy. Rising to his feet, he declared before everyone:

“I am overjoyed today! To live under such a system of justice, where even the Sultan is not above the law, is a blessing from God.”

Out of deep admiration for Judge Imran’s fearlessness, Sultan Mansur ordered his minister to present the judge with a reward of ten thousand dirhams. But the real reward was not material wealth; it was the living example of integrity and the enduring trust of the people.

These two incidents—from Yemen and from Medina—speak volumes about the relationship between rulers and judges in those times. The Sultan respected the authority of the judge, and the judge, in turn, respected only the authority of God and His law. Their interaction was not based on manipulation, bribes, or political influence. Instead, it was rooted in the shared understanding that justice is sacred, and no man, however powerful, is above it.

How different things appear today. Far too often, modern rulers and judges seem to move at the command of unseen forces—political masters, hidden agendas, or personal interests. The sanctity of justice is compromised, and the cries of ordinary people go unheard.

The old stories are not merely tales of the past; they are mirrors held up to the present. They challenge us to ask: What kind of justice do we have today? What kind of judges do we appoint, and what kind of rulers do we follow?

Perhaps, if we remembered the courage of Judge Muhammad bin Ali and Judge Muhammad bin Imran, we could rediscover what justice truly means. Justice that is fearless, impartial, and compassionate. Justice that stands firm in front of kings and refuses to bow to worldly power.

Until then, we can only long for the days when rulers rejoiced at judgments against themselves, and judges cared more about the tears of children than the anger of palaces.