C ONCEPT OF A CCOUNTABILITY IN I SLAM By Muhammad Ali Khan CSS

O UT L INES 1. Introduction 2. Concept of Accountability in Islam 3. Model of Accountability in Islam 4. Nature of Accountability In Quran, Hidiah, In Caliphate 5. Institutions of Accountability in Islam 6. Spheres of Accountability 7. Special Characteristics of Accountability in Islam 8. Conclusion 2

I NTRODUCTION 1. Accountability comes from deep belief or persuasion as moral and ethics 2. Accounting in the broad sense is central to Islam, since accountability to God and the community for all activities is paramount to a Muslim's faith 3. The word “hesab” which means accountability is repeated more than eight times in different verses in Quran (Askary and Clarke, 1997) 3

R ELIGION AND A CCOUNTABILITY “Religion” deal with three main concepts 1. Religion as belief, stresses principles and shapes a state of mind 2. Identity as identity emphasizes affiliation with a group, shared history, cultures, ethnicity and traditions” 3. A way of life It is a consequence of the existence of a believer In Islam accountability is in all three Belief, identity and as way of life 4

C ONCEPT Concept Level Nature 5

C ONCEPT OF A CCOUNTABILITY Islam links accountability, “Hesab” and “Trust” Accountability (Hesab)  Individuals have to apply what Shariah determines, ndividuals achievement in the hereafter depends upon their performance in this world  Every Muslim has an 'account' with Allah, in which is 'Recorded' all good and all bad actions, will continue until death Trust  Shariah specifies what is being entrusted to individuals who are trustees for what they have been given by God such as goods, positions and property  Trustworthiness includes both way and Goals The way Goal/Intension 6

L EVELS OF A CCOUNTABILITY Muslims are supposed to be self- accountable such as responsiveness, equality, hard work and virtue which are highlighted in Shariah-Muwakhaza Mainstream of accountability in Islam is addressed on two levels 1. One level is every individual is accountable for his or her actions 2. The second level includes the accountability for individual and objects under their charge 7

N ATURE OF A CCOUNTABILITY 1. The concept of accountability is derived from Al-Quran and is the powerful of Islamic system of business which means accountability in front of Allah not only in this world but also in the hereafter 2. Islam gives great concentration to accountability; it goes beyond actions or thoughts to include even intension 8

M ODEL OF A CCOUNTABILITY IN I SLAM 9

A CCOUNTABILITY IN Q URAN 10

O N THE DAY OF J UDGMENT Allah (S.W.T.) describes that Day in what could be translated as, "On the Day when every person will be confronted with all the good he has done, and all the evil he has done, he will wish that there were a great distance between him and his evil." ( Surat Al-Imran, Verse 30) 11

A CCOUNTABILITY OF M INOR THINGS  Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it !! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it (Al-Quran,Zalzala99:7-8) 12

A CCOUNTABILITY IS INDIVISIBLE (F ATIR 35:18) 13

14 PICKTHALL And no burdened soul can bear another's burden, and if one heavy laden crieth for (help with) his load, naught of it will be lifted even though he (unto whom he crieth) be of kin. Thou warnest only those who fear their Lord in secret, and have established worship. He who groweth (in goodness), groweth only for himself, (he cannot by his merit redeem others). Unto Allah is the journeying. URDU اور کوئی اٹھانے والا دوسرے کا بوجھ نہ اٹھائے گا۔ اور کوئی بوجھ میں دبا ہوا اپنا بوجھ بٹانے کو کسی کو بلائے تو کوئی اس میں سے کچھ نہ اٹھائے گا اگرچہ قرابت دار ہی ہو۔ ( اے پیغمبر ) تم انہی لوگوں کو نصیحت کرسکتے ہو جو بن دیکھے اپنے پروردگار سے ڈرتے اور نماز بالالتزام پڑھتے ہیں۔ اور جو شخص پاک ہوتا ہے اپنے ہی لئے پاک ہوتا ہے۔ اور ( سب کو ) خدا ہی کی طرف لوٹ کر جانا ہے

A CCOUNTABILITY OF INTENSION God will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts; and he is Of-forgiving, Most-Forbearing” (Al-Quran, 1: 225) To God belongs all that is in the heaven and on earth. Whether you show what is in your minds or conceal it. God call you to account for it. He forgives whom He pleases, and punishes whom he pleases, for God has power over all things” (Al-Quran, 1:284) 15

A CCOUNTABILITY OF S ENSES 1. Allah (S.W.T.) will also ask us in the Day of Judgment about our hearing, our vision, and our hearts. He will ask us about how we utilized each of them 2. “Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those, you will be questioned (by Allah) ” ( Surat Al-Israa, Verse 36) 16

A CCOUNTABILITY OF B LESSING OF A LLAH 1. We will be asked in the Day of Judgment about all of the blessings and bounties that Allah gave us in this life. Some of these blessings may include our good health, our wealth, our food and drink, our ride and our home, etc. 2. Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the delight (You indulged in, in this world). ” ( Surat Al-Takathir, Verse 8) 17

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N ATURE OF A CCOUNTABILITY 1. Accountability of Minor things 2. Accountability of Intension 3. Accountability of Senses 4. Accountability is not transferable_ personal Accountability of all deeds 5. Accountability of Blessings bestowed by Allah 19

I N H ADIAH 20

I N H ADIAH 1. He said that: “Beware that every one of you is a shepherd and every one of you is shepherd and everyone is answerable with regard to his folk. The caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about them. A woman is a guardian over the house hold of her husband and his children and has to be questioned about them. A slave is a shepherd over the property of his master and shall be questioned about it” 2. Then he, may peace be upon him, adds: “beware that every one of you is a guardian and every one of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust”. 21

F IRST THING TO BE ASKED Prayer will be the first thing a person will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment. Prayer is a right of Allah (S.W.T), and people will be questioned about it. They will be asked if their prayers were done completely and with good quality. If a person performs prayers with the utmost of quality, then the person will be saved. If the prayers were done incompletely or half-heartedly, then his voluntary prayers will suffice for the shortcomings. 22

H ADIAH BY I MAM A T -T IRMITHI We will be asked in the Day of Judgment about five things. The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: The son of Adam will not pass away from Allah until he is asked about five things: 1. How he lived his life, 2. How he utilized his youth, 3. With what means did he earn his wealth, 4. How did he spend his wealth, 5. What did he do with his knowledge 23

A CCOUNTABILITY IN C ALIPHATE ''If a dog dies hungry on the banks of the River Euphrates, Umar Ibn al Khattab RA will be responsible for dereliction of duty.'' Source:Al Farooq (RA) by Shibli Nomani Symbolism 1. Dog Anyone who cant tell one’s needs 2. Hunger Known Need 3. River Euphrates Abundance 4. Bank Reach /Access 5. Death Deprivation 6. Responsibility Rulers 24

N ATURE OF A CCOUNTABILITY 1. Accountability of Trustee 2. Accountability of Responsibility 3. Accountability of Duty assigned 4. Living pattern of Life 5. Utilization of Youth 6. Means of Earning 7. Spending 8. Knowledge 9. Of Blessings of Allah 25

I NSTITUTIONS OF A CCOUNTABILITY IN I SLAM 1. Specialized Mazalim Courts Courts in the time of Holy prophet PBUH Courts of Torts (GE.Grunebaum) To address grievances of the people 2. Special Intuition of Mohtasib (Ombudsman) 26 Gustave E. von Grunebaum An Austrian historian and Arabist Ph.D. in Oriental Studies Books Medieval Islam (1946) Islam (1955) Modern Islam (1962) Classical Islam (1970)

A DMINISTRATIVE A CCOUNTABILITY IN ISLAM Govt. to protect citizens against exploitations Civil Servant is responsible for his decisions and responsibilities he/she is entrusted 27

M OHTASIB (O MBUDSMAN ) I. Established during caliphate II. Entrusted the special functions of Maintenance of Public Moral and standards III. Person entrusted with Hisba is called Mohtasib IV. Based on Modern Suo-Moto powers V. The idea is translated into faction specialization in modern governance, cornerstone of Accountability now a days 28

S PHERES OF A CCOUNTABILITY 1. Economic Earning and Spending 2. Social Youth and Knowledge 3. Governance and Administration Of Dependents(Rayiat) and of Trust – 4. Religious Of Deeds, of Blessings 29

S PECIAL C HARACTER OF A CCOUNTABILITY IN I SLAM 1. Covers all spheres of life 2. Specialized Institutions of Accountability 3. Two fold Accountability 4. Rulers are ultimately accountable for welfare 5. Inseparable 6. Purpose of accountability a. Purification of Self-Individual b. Welfare of society-Collective 30

C ONCLUSION 1. Finally, accountability in Islam is not limited to personal duties but also Muslims are accountable to Allah for the society 2. Individuals are expected to feel socially responsible for others in the community 3. Accountability in Islam also emphasizes the welfare of the community over individual rights 31