Research and Development in Public Law

Research and Development in Public Law

The Role of the Judiciary in the Realization of Justice, Security, and Public Rights during the Reign of Hārūn al-Rashīd al-‘Abbāsī (170–193 A.H.)

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Ph.D. graduate in Islamic History and Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Imam Reza (A.S.) Farhangian University, Andimeshk.
Abstract
The institution of the judiciary in the Islamic state, particularly during the caliphate of Harun al-Rashid (170–193 AH), when the process of judicial institutionalization reached its peak, functioned as one of the fundamental pillars of the Islamic government. It aimed to achieve justice, safeguard public rights, and repel oppression, thereby strengthening the political legitimacy of the system. By adjudicating disputes and preventing encroachment upon public rights, this institution provided the groundwork for the realization of Islamic justice and public trust, playing a pivotal role in maintaining public order and security.The findings of this research indicate that Harun al-Rashid's reformist measures—such as establishing the position of Chief Judge (Qāḍī al-Quḍāt) and appointing prominent figures like Judge Abu Yusuf to head the judicial system—led to the systematization of legal proceedings and the enhancement of judges' religious and administrative qualifications. The consolidation and expansion of the Court of Grievances (Dīwān al-Maẓālim), as a manifestation of Islamic justice during this period, facilitated the adjudication of complaints filed by the people against state officials and agents, thereby preventing the spread of administrative corruption and governmental tyranny. Furthermore, the judiciary's protection of Dhimmis (non-Muslim subjects) and religious minorities exemplified the observance of social justice and the legal civilization of the Abbasids.Moreover, the active presence of judges in the caliph's official travels, their participation in managing political and security crises, and their commitment to observing the rights of subjects, highlighted the social and political status of the judicial institution. The relative independence of judges from the caliphate institution, their scholarly competence in jurisprudence (fiqh) and hadith, and their practical adherence to Islamic legal standards, bolstered public trust and consolidated social justice.The results of the study suggest that the relative independence of judges, their professional competence, and their commitment to the administration of justice formed the main foundations for securing public rights and public order. The connection between judicial justice and political authority provided the groundwork for the continuity of the caliphate's legitimacy and the establishment of stable order in Islamic society.
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Available Online from 23 February 2026