Chapter on Those to Whom Judgment is Permissible and Those to Whom it is Not Permissible

Mualla ibn Khunays narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام. He said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic: "Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى commands you to render trusts to their owners and when you judge between people, to judge with justice." (Surah An-Nisa 4:58) Imam عليه السلام replied: "It is incumbent upon the Imam عليه السلام to hand over what is with him to the next Imam عليه السلام who comes after him. The Imams عليه السلام have been commanded to judge with justice, and the people have been commanded to follow them."

Ata' ibn al-Sa'ib narrated from Imam Ali ibn Al-Hussain عليه السلام who said: "When you are under oppressive rulers, then judge according to their rulings and do not expose yourselves, lest you be killed. However, if you conduct your dealings according to our rulings, it will be better for you."

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Abdullah ibn Sinan, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, who said: "Any believer who refers another believer to a judge or a tyrannical ruler, and he rules against him contrary to the judgment of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, has indeed shared in the sin."

Hariz narrated from Abu Basir, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام that he said: "Any man who has a dispute with his brother over a right, and he calls him to a man from among your brothers to judge between them, but he refuses and insists on taking him to these (unjust judges), is like those about whom Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, said: 'Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer their judgment to Taghut, while they were commanded to reject it'" (Surah An-Nisa 4:60).