Governance

Governance is the exercise of economic,

political and administrative authority to manage
a countrys affairs at all levels.
The concept of Governance is broader than
Government.
The concept of Governance focuses on
institutions and processes.

Transparency:
Core Principle of Good Governance
Good Governance has major characteristics of
Rule of law
Transparency and free flow of information
Participation
Equity and inclusiveness
Effectiveness and efficiency
Accountability
Control of corruption
Balances between growth and distribution; and
Present and future resource use

Transparency:
Core Principle of Good Governance
Transparency is widely recognised as core principle of good
governance.
Transparency means sharing information and acting in an open
manner.
Free access to information is a key element in promoting
transparency.
Information must be timely, relevant, accurate and complete for it
to be used effectively.
Transparency is also considered essential for controlling
corruption in public life.
Transparency and accountability in Government are mutually
reinforcing.

Good Governance Implication for Government servants

Accountability
and
Transparency

Administrative
Public
Reforms
Private
Additional
Partnership
responsibilities

Technological Attitudinal
Advancements change
s

Need to
update
existing
skills a d
acquire
n
new skills

Good Governance:
An Islamic Perspective

Importance
IN public administration all the key public functionaries ought to be
people of high caliber, just and energetic and must possess
qualities of head and heart. In the words of fourth rightly guided
Caliph Hazrat Ali (RA) they should have the qualities of refinement,
experience, alertness, power of comprehending problems, secrecy,
freedom from greed and lust.
A careful analysis of principles of administration and qualities of an
administrator from Islamic point of view would show that mans
personal character is the key to good governance.
Perhaps the most exhaustive work on Islamic ethics of
administration and qualities of an administrator is by a Pakistani
specialist on public administration Shaukat Ali. His book
Administrative Ethics in a Muslim State offers a comprehensive
survey of instructions in the Holy Quran and Traditions on the
subject.

Definition
The Quran defines good governance as
the rule of justice, a just and ethical order
and observance of rights and obligations in
a society.
The Quran declares: Those when given
authority in land, establish (system of)
salah, give zakah and enjoin what is good
(maruf) and forbid what is wrong (munkar).
al-Hajj 22:41

Characteristics of Good Governance

Islamic view of good governance is qualitative and not mechanical.
Major characteristics of good governance can be summarized
under eleven points:
1.

Coherent, and based on unity (tawhid).

2.Participation and consult with them in the conduct of affairs, and when you

have resolved then put your trust in Allah

al-i-Imran 3:159 also al-Shura 42:38
3.Competent and Capable
4.Transparent.

5.Public Accountability
6.Rule of Law
7.Consensus Oriented Welfare Oriented welfare of the people
8.Effective and Efficient Decisions made on time and effectively
9.Quality Assurance Public transactions and dealings when done with honesty and
10.
Striving for Excellence

Is Islam Really Concerned About

Politics and Governance?
The biggest allegation against Islam by Non-Muslims is that it is a set of
religious instruction and has nothing to do with anything else, especially
science, politics and governance but this statement is as far from truth as
anything else could be. As Allah says in Holy Quran:
if you do judge, judge between them justly. Allah loves the just.
(Surat al-Maida, 42)
And Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says in one of his Hadith or tradition,
Authority is a trust. and on the Day of judgment it is a cause of
humiliation and repentance except for one who fulfils its obligations
and (properly) discharges the duties attendant thereon.
The above statements explicitly state that Islam is concerned with the
politics and governance and provide thorough and clear instructions
about how to run the government affairs.

 The Concept of Accountability in Islam:

In Islam, everyone is accountable for his own deeds both in this world
and hereafter no matter he is a bagger or a ruler. In fact, a ruler is
responsible for the entire country under his reign and if he fails to
provide all the basic necessities to the masses, he will be held
accountable for this.
Islam as a Welfare State:
Islam is the first religion who gave the concept of welfare state and
Hazrat Umer (R.A.) was the first ruler to practically implement this idea.
The Islamic state is responsible to look after the poor, needy, orphans,
destitute, widows and other such people.
Equality and Justice:
Islam is a religion of equality and justice. Before the advent of Islam, the
world in general and Arabia in general were unaware of these concepts
Appointment of State Officials:
It is necessary for the survival of an Islamic or every state that
government official are appointed on merit.

Five Central Principles of Good Governance in Islam:

Following lines mention five of the most important principles of good governance
in Islam.
Provision of justice for every citizen regardless of its status in the society or
financial condition.
Every Muslim, men and women, has the right to obtain both religious and
material education.
There should be centrality of consultation in decision making that is the
matters should be decided by consultation among people.
Welfare of people is the primary goal of governance in Islam.
A leader should be knowledgeable and honest and should be accountable for
his deeds.
The Purpose of Governance in Islam:
Islam encourages the formation of a just society based on the principles of
equality, justice, rational thinking, tolerance and equity. The two primary goals of
establishing an Islamic state are promoting justice and pursuit of knowledge.

Good Governance :
Hazrat Umar Farooq (ra)
22nd of Jamadi-uth-Thani 13 Hijri 26 Dhul Hijjah 23 Hijri

General Information

Title: Ibn Al-Khattab (family name)

Born 581 A.D. in Mecca
From the family of Quresh
Initially, a fierce opponent of Islam and the
Holy Prophet (saw)

Expansion of the Muslim

Empire
During his Khilafat, vast areas of
Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Egypt came
under the Muslim rule.
The city of Jerusalem in Palestine was
conquered by Muslims in 17 Hijri

Main Achievements

Establishment of Majlis-e-Shura, a body of advisors to

the Khalifah
Division of the whole Islamic state into provinces with a
strong central government.
His administration policy was that of open door policy.
Strict Accountability
Land policy: who so ever will cultivate will own!
Strict marit
Establishment of a finance department and building of
schools and mosques in different parts of the state.
Introduction of Islamic calendar of Hijrah.

Concern for His People

Hadrat Umar (ra) was so anxious about the welfare of his
people that he used to go around in disguise, in the city of
Medina at night, to see if anyone was in need of help. Once,
he observed a woman cooking something in a pot while her
children were crying around her. He found out from woman
that the children had been hungry for two days and that the
pot was put on fire just to console them. He immediately
brought all the necessary food items to the woman. On his
way, one of his servants offered to carry the load but he
stopped him saying: On the Day of Judgment you will not
carry my load.
The woman, who had not seen Hadrat Umar (ra) before, was
so pleased that she prayed aloud for him saying, May Allah
make you the Khalifah in place of Umar. On hearing this
Hadrat Umar (ra) started crying and without saying a word left
the place.

Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW)

Were a prophet to come after me, he would have been

Umar"

Tirmidhi

Challenges
His Own Image
Super Powers
(Persian Empire & Byzantine Empire)
Famine
Plague

Basic Principles of Hazrat Umars Reign

Self Accountability
No Private Business for Government Officials
Same LAW for all

Pact in Jerusalem
o The inhabitants' life, property and churches were
given protection
o Islam was not to be forced on them
o The inhabitants were to pay the Jizya" or poll tax
o The Greeks were to be turned out of the City

Reforms of Hazrat Umar(RA) during his Administration

"Awliat-i-Umar
Formal Bayt ul Mal
Trading Reforms
Taxes Reforms
Departments
Other Institutions
Agriculture

Hierarchy of Administration
STATE

Caliph

PROVINCE

Governo
r

DISTRICT

Wali

Departments
Military Department
Tax Deptartments
Education Department
Police Deparmtment
Financial Department

Military Department
Different Ranks
Cantt Areas
Fixed Salaries
Check Posts (Conquered Cities)
Appointment of Head of Military
Military in Different Cities

Taxes In Hazrat Umars

Administrtion

Jizya

(Indemnity or Defence Tax)

(Zakat(Poor

Tax) Diwan al-Zakah

Khiraj(Land

Tax); Diwan al Kharaj

Ushr

(Special land Tax);

Financial
Department

Ghanima

Bayt ul Maal
Salaries
Collection of revenue
Salaries for Financial Department Employees

Developments
Construction Canals
Populated Cities
He was also the first to make use of the whip for
corporal punishment and set up a prison.
He introduced a system of collecting direct information
concerning the State.
He established a secret intelligence service.
He had wells bored, built houses
Fixed a daily payment for the destitute among the
Christians and the Jews.

Introductions
Hijri Calendar
Fixed Salaries for Men involved in voluntary

service
Census system,
Measuring of the land and keeping its record
He was first to allow traders of rival countries to
enter Muslim territories for the purpose of
business.

Death of Hadhrat Umar

(ra)

In 644 AD, Hadrat Umar (ra) was stabbed by a

Persian slave, while he was offering his Prayers
in the mosque. He passed away at the age of
sixty three on 26th of Dhul Hijjah, 23 AH.
He was Khalifa for 10 years
He was also one of the ten blessed ones to
whom the Holy Prophet (saw) had given the glad
tidings that they had been rewarded Paradise.