What are the judiciary's powers in Islam, and what are the qualifications for a judge?
The fundamental principle is that the Islamic judiciary has the authority to resolve disputes, establish justice, and redress grievances in all matters that arise between two parties, treating everyone equally before it. This authority encompasses all material and moral rights. There is no religious impediment to appointing judges specialized in different fields to facilitate the task. However, it is not permissible for there to be a contradiction where the authority of the Islamic judiciary is limited only to personal status matters, while worldly law or foreign laws govern financial and criminal matters. The Quran warns against seeking judgment from other than what Allah has revealed. The powers of the Islamic judiciary encompass all aspects of life. As for the qualifications of a judge, they are: being a Muslim, being legally competent (mukallaf), being just, being male, being an adult, and having sound senses.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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