Raqqa is a city in Syria. From there a letter came to Caliph Harunur-Rashid.
The letter read: The city judge has been ill for a month, the trial has been suspended. The caliph should act quickly. The caliph replied to the letter. The new judge will arrive next week. Within a week the new judge came and joined.
Judicial work has begun. Local guards brought an old woman to court as an accused. His crime was that he was caught red-handed stealing some bread and honey from a restaurant in the city.
Judge: Did you steal?
- Yes.
- Do you know what a great crime and sin to steal?
- Yes.
- Why did you steal knowingly?
- Because I've been starving for the last week. The orphaned two grandchildren did not eat with me. I couldn't stand their hungry face and crying so I stole. I had no choice but to do so, sir.
The judge glanced at the whole court. He said that the city, food, Sharia, police chief and dignitaries of the society should all be present tomorrow. Then the verdict will be given.
The next morning everyone showed up. The judge also appeared in time and pronounced the verdict.
However, he was excused from cutting his hand for telling the truth. The judge ordered the guard to bring the whip and stood down next to the old woman.
The judge said the biggest culprit in the city was a hungry old woman who was forced to steal out of hunger. And I have come to represent the caliph.
Since I work under him, let 20 of the 50 whips die in my hands. And this is the order of the judge. The order should be obeyed and no mercy or kindness should be shown to whip me as a judge.
The judge extended his hand. 20 whips were struck with two hands in a row. As a result of the whip injury, blood is flowing from the hand. At that point, the judge pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket.
The judge forbade anyone to come forward to tie a judge's hand. The judge then said, “In a city where the mayor, the food warehouse chief and other philanthropists cannot support a needy woman.
They are also criminals in that city. So let the other 30 whips be killed equally. ”
The judge then placed 50 silver coins on a handkerchief taken out of his pocket. The judge then told everyone present, "In a society where an old woman is made a thief, in a society where orphans are fasting, everyone is a criminal." So everyone present was fined 100 dinars of silver. ”
This time, out of the total 500 dinars of silver coins, 100 dinars of silver coins were fined and the remaining 400 silver coins were given to the owners of 20 stolen shops.
He handed over the remaining 360 silver coins to the old woman and said, “These are for your sustenance. And next month you will come to the court of Caliph Harunur Rashid. Khalifa Harunur Rashid apologizes to you. “
A month later the old woman went to the caliph's court; The man sitting in the caliph's seat seems familiar. The woman moved towards the caliph's seat in fear. Going closer, you can understand that the man is the judge of that day.
The caliph got down from his chair and said, "I apologized as a judge that day for fasting you and your orphaned grandson."
Today I have called the court to pardon this vile caliph for not being able to uphold the rights of the people.
You please forgive me. BR