Daily Times

Your Excellency Mr. Prime minster, Allah has bestowed upon you the power which is a gift from the Almighty, but at the same time remember it is a test how you use it.

Riasat-e-Medina was a welfare state where everyone was treated equally. The state was responsible for the well-being of every person regardless of his faith, creed or color. Justice prevailed in all aspects of life. Hazrat Abu Bakar (RA) used to roam in the city to see the law and order situation and that the business was done justly. Wealth was distributed equally and a time came when there was no one in need of Zakat. He was very humble with the people, but very strict with his appointed governors who lived beyond means or over stepped their authority. What to talk about human beings, he even showed his annoyance if any animal was not treated nicely.

It is true that in all societies throughout the world there are groups of people claiming privileges for themselves. They may base this on wealth, birth, race and authority etc. If the community is willing to concede such privileges to them, they try to consolidate their position and claim more privileges. This is exactly what has happened in our country since its creation. The best society is however which refuses altogether the notion of classifying people into rich and poor, masters and slaves, aristocracy and masses, feudal lords and peasants etc.

Equality means that everyone is equal in their basic rights, duties, dignity, and justice system should be fair, impartial and unbiased. It is the responsibility of the state to provide education, health and employability of every citizen, it should promote freedom of thought and dismantling religious discrimination. Now coming to the present era where the prime minister is very anxious to convert our country into an ideal Riasat-e-Medina state, but, I as a senior citizen and a humble layman ask myself.

Our Prime Minister Imran Khan talks about the model of Riasat-e-Medina. He may also study in depth the lives and styles of the Muslim rulers i.e. the rightly guided caliphs who ruled their territories with supreme moral and ethical values, as Allah and his prophet (SAW) has defined for the rulers. When Hazrat Abu Bakar As Saddeeq (RA) was elected caliph, he made the most memorable and moving speech in the history of Muslim era.  Abu Baker (RA) affirmed the right of individual citizens to hold their leaders accountable for their actions.

What is the state doing for a common man? All the basic commodities of life like food, medicines, petrol, gas and living have soared to the skies.

Prime minister, one of the main aims of any legitimate and upright Islamic government is to establish justice and eradicate all forms of oppression, transgression and tyranny. And justice, I mean complete justice not the watered-down version which requires a victim of crime to overcome many bureaucratic obstacles before he finally gets what is rightfully his.

These days, justice is an unattainable dream for the weak and the oppressed. In our country there is nothing worse than being a victim of a crime, who not only suffers at the hands of wrong doers, but also becomes victim of a legal system that is meant not to help him, but to hinder him in the quest of justice.

May Allah guide you and your team to rule the country with justice and fear of Almighty Allah.