TheRamadanOfShaykhAl-hadithMuhammadZakariyyaKandhelviAndOurEldersByShaykhDrMuhammadIsmailMemonMadani

Chapter EightThe personal or physical obligations include abstaining fromdegradation, insults, and abuses towards the scholars as well as otherMuslims. Refraining from swearing, vulgar language, backbiting,and fabricating stories about others all falls under the categoryof human rights. Monetary rights of people include not holdingback or depriving anyone of their rightful share or assets with thehelp of courts [where one resides] and abstaining from giving andtaking bribery, etc.Muslims, non-Muslim citizens [in an Islamic state] [dhimmī]and non-Muslims are all equal in this regard. In fact, the matterconcerning non-Muslim citizens in these affairs is far more seriousand delicate than that of Muslims. The wise and noble saying of theBlessed Prophet s in relation to this is that, “I will make a demandin favor of the non-Muslim citizens on the Day of Judgement andstand against the person who oppresses any non-Muslim citizen,or defames and degrades him, or demands from him more than hecan bear or do.” 39This is truly a serious matter and a point worthy of concern. Itwould be a tragedy if one’s own attorney and defendant becomeshis adversary. My Pakistani friends must be very cautious regardingthis, as the non-Muslims living in Pakistan are non-Muslim citizensin all respects.Here, it is most important that all worldly affairs and transactionsshould be carried out with extreme care and tact in accordance withthe Shari‘a. Some people are careful about their worship but arenot so particular about the Shari‘a in their day-to-day transactions.We are as bound by the laws of Shari‘a in our worldly affairs as weare in our worship.Those who are learned should at all times carefully study thebooks containing rulings of the Shari‘a which relate specifically totheir occupations.At this point, it must be understood that this humble servant doesnot reply to queries about any legal ruling. Any questions pertaining39 Musnad al-Rabī‘, al-Ĥujja ‘alā Man Qāl.57