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What are the characteristics of a just leader in Islam?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The just Imam is one chosen by the Muslims to rule, who rules his subjects with justice by implementing Allah's law among them. His characteristics include:

- He straightens every crookedness, guides every oppressor, rectifies every corruption, strengthens every weak person, gives justice to every wronged individual, and succors every distressed person.

- He is like the compassionate shepherd who tends his camels with the utmost care, like a loving father to his child, and like a tender mother to her infant.

- He is the guardian of orphans and the treasurer for the needy, and he is like the heart among the limbs: with its soundness, they are sound, and with its corruption, they are corrupt.

- He stands between Allah and His servants, hearing Allah's word and conveying it to them, and looking to Allah and showing Him to them.

- He follows Allah's command by putting everything in its proper place, without excess or deficiency, combining wisdom, courage, and chastity.

- He preserves the religion according to its fundamentals and establishes its rituals, and he safeguards the interests of the Muslims.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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