By : Prof. Samsul Nizar, a Professor & Head of STAIN Bengkalis.
Translated by Riska Saputra, Master Student at Graduate Institute of Network Learning Technology in National Central University, Taiwan
My teacher told me when we were in his pavilion that he was once told by Abah Hasyim (Jombang) about the story of a piece of bread. One day (formerly in the Middle East), a scholar (the guardian of Allah) was firmly and boldly speaking to the king and in front of state officials.
“Dear my king, all law enforcers in your country have played with the law, and no one has decided the law fairly. As a result, how can justice be upheld and the welfare and security of your people will be realised? Are you ready to account for it before Allah in the future?”
The king’s face turned red with anger at the cleric’s words. Moreover, he has spoken in front of all the country’s dignitaries. As the king said, “My honourable scholars, can you prove that law enforcement in this country cannot be fair in deciding the law? Because I have made various kinds of written rules as guidelines so that they (law enforcers) can decide cases with a clear decision. Just. Prove, the scholars, for the behaviour of law enforcement officers in my country. I will punish you with death if you cannot prove it because you have spread slander on my officers. But, if what you say is true and can be proven, I will behead you, head of all my guilty law enforcement officers.”
The cleric said, “Dear my king, I am ready to prove it. If what I say I cannot prove, I am ready to be sentenced to death.”
The cleric continued to say without hesitation, “Dear my majesty king, to prove my words, may you call all of the law enforcers in this country?”
Hearing the words of the cleric, who showed confidence without the slightest hint of fear on his face, made the king hesitate and doubt. However, the authority of the king must be maintained. The king said, “Well, dear cleric, I will grant your request. Is there any other request of yours?”
The cleric said, “Yes, is it. Dear king. I ask that pen and paper be provided, the proof is carried out in an open space, and witnessed by all the country’s people.”
Hearing the request of the ulama, the king agreed. The appointed day has arrived. The king ordered all law enforcement in his country to attend and gather. Coming into the open field and witnessed by all the people, the cleric distributed a piece of paper and a pen that had been prepared to all law enforcers. The cleric said, “Dear all of law enforcers, answer my questions in writing, without seeing or telling each other’s answers. Are my instructions heard and understood?”
Everyone nodded their heads in understanding at the cleric’s instructions. And he continued, “Explain to all of you what bread is?”
The king and everyone present were shocked. How simple does the cleric ask the question? Everyone smiled at this straightforward question while writing the answers to the questions. In just seconds, all law enforcers have finished answering them and have a satisfied smiles.
After all the answers were collected, the cleric asked each law enforcer to read out the answers he had written. Some answered based on the perspective of the origin of the bread, the shape of the bread, the benefits of bread, how to make bread, the size of the bread, and hundreds of other answers about bread. The scholar smiled cheerfully, then faced the king and loudly said, “Dear king, all of your law enforcers answered my questions with various answers about bread. Bread is the food that they all eat every day. Your law can be fair if you explain the bread that they eat every day; in fact, each of them has different interpretations and answers”. Especially for laws that are rarely used or legal cases that rarely occur, it will cause “thousands of interpretations” of the product that the rules used as the basis for decisions.
What’s more, when dealing with problems involving “authorities” or issues that are “intentionally discovered”,? They should have the same interpretation of the rules used. Dear king, know that the perspective of the law enforcers in your country will depend on their analysing, which opens up multiple interpretations that are influenced by the quality of yourself and the interests of each law enforcement officer. The law you set is so clear, without numerous variations, that it is measurable and can bring equal justice. However, when they were only asked to explain something as simple as what they ate every day (bread), it turned out that they interpreted it according to their understanding. Though only asked to explain ‘what is bread’ that he eats daily. What if the law you have set gives some opportunity for multiple interpretations or is understood freely by each law enforcer? Although the king positioned all people as equal in the eyes of the law. However, the reality is the law was different in the eyes of every law enforcer.”
Hearing the cleric’s explanation, all law enforcement officers bowed their heads in shame, especially the king, who sat limply while holding back incomparable shame. Because what the ulema said is all true and so clearly slaps him and the law enforcement habits in the country so far. Allah clearly states: “Dear you who believe, be people who always uphold (the truth) because of Allah, be witnesses with justice. And do not let your hatred of a people make you act unfairly. , because justice is closer to piety. And fear Allah, indeed Allah knows of what you do” (Surah al-Maidah: 8).
The verse above is an order from Allah SWT to believers to carry out all affairs carefully, honestly, and sincerely, both in worldly affairs and in the hereafter. Because everything is a matter that can not be separated from your religion. Imam Ali bin Abi Talib once said: “Don’t hold religion like carrying a dog but hold religion like carrying a tiger”. Dogs are always toys, but tigers are clear-headed and can’t be played with. That is the advice of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib that if the rules are “dogs”, then he can be used as a game. The dog will be silent when given the bone because the mouth is filled. When hungry, it will bark back with a deafening sound.
Meanwhile, if the rule is “tiger”, he will be firm and have authority. No one dares to play and make the tiger a game. Just looking at the stripes, everyone will be frightened by the power and firmness of the tiger. Thus, law enforcement should be carried out,” said the cleric (The guardian of Allah), closing his advice to the king.
The king could not stand up from his chair. His whole body trembled and limp at the thought of God’s wrath for his negligence all this time. It turns out that although law enforcement (written) has been able to be implemented in his country, it turns out that there are gaps in injustice and injustice (practice). He is sad and afraid to imagine the suffering of his people over the injustices that have occurred so far. As it turned out, they (the people) were silent not because of justice but out of sheer fear.
After this incident, the king could not calm down thinking about his sin and the wrath of God later. The anxiety caused him to fall ill finally, and he soon died while praying for forgiveness from Allah, the Most Forgiving. Indeed, a figure of a king (ruler) who is ashamed of Allah for his mistakes and a true scholar, even though these two figures are scarce to find.
What the cleric conveyed to the king above gave a million lessons for all, including:
First, law enforcers need to maintain faith and conscience. Every self is to remember the end of life that will be responsible for all that is done before God. The truth that is moved by the heart is the ultimate truth that God moves. At the same time, the following is the truth of “whispering interests” driven by lust and the devil who commands the mind to “process the law” according to what it wants. If you want to be safe in vertical and horizontal accountability, then choose the first truth movement that God raises in the heart because all choices and their effects will indeed be accounted for before God without being able to look away. Allah reminds us of this through His words: “And do not follow something that you do not know. Because of hearing, sight, and conscience, all of that will be held accountable” (Surah al-Isra ‘: 36).
Whispering subjective truth commanded by lust is only a “shadow” of deception. For this reason, Abu Turab an-Nakhsyabi once made a will about three things that are loved by humans even though these three things are not for him, namely: (1) humans who love the soul, even though he belongs to Allah SWT. (2) people who love property, even though the property belongs to the heirs. (3) Humans always look for happiness and serenity, even though both are only in heaven.
As if everyone wants to be grasped in various ways. So that everything is legal, the product of the rules can be understood according to the interpretation of the agreement of the stakeholders.
Second, closing the space for multiple interpretations by compiling specific legal products or standard written explanations. If there are still opportunities for various interpretations, either in text or “rubber” explanations, then the opportunity to “play” in the legal area will be wider open, like the image of the story “bread” above. Allah reminds people not to overdo it in understanding the law, especially regarding religious rules. Allah conveys this through His words:
“Dear People of the Book, do not exaggerate your religion in a way that is not right. And do not follow the desires of those who have gone astray, and they have misled many (people), and they have strayed from the straight path” (QS. al-Maidah: 77).
Indeed, the appearance of legal products contrary to higher yields is often only a theory. Moreover, his created product opens the door to such a broad interpretation.
Third, the rules are full of comprehensive studies to produce wisdom, not rush as a basis for responding to momentary interests full of attractions and “take faces”. Mainly when it is made by “unskilled workers” in the field of law; if a job is done in a hurry, it will result in a “failed” product, especially if it’s just for “ABS” purposes. Products like this are like “split bamboo” political products. There will be territories that are profitable and are defended “desperately” (to order). Meanwhile, on the other hand, there will also be areas that are forgotten and used as “victims” to cover up the weaknesses of the drafted legal products. The Prophet reminded me that such an attitude is an act of Satan. The Messenger of Allah reminded through his words: “From the friend of Sahl bin Sa’ad RA, the Messenger of Allah said, “Verily hasty is from the devil” (HR. at-Tirmidhi).
Even so, the word of God is clear, so clear are the words of the Prophet, and so absolute is the truth felt by the heart, but all of them are denied and buried in the mud of interests. It was as if everything was gone, killed by worldly lust. The truth of religion and the heart are only accessories, while the reality of desire is the ultimate goal. If there is a reaction to a violation of justice, it is done by “shifting the issue” or waiting for a “cooling down” period for the following problem “dogs bark, the caravan goes on”. It is extraordinary and what the scholars interpret above is a recurring occurrence in every episode of civilisation. The saying goes, “falling in the same hole, even if a donkey only does it”. If this is chosen as the “scale” of the building of civilisation, then injustice will be created.
What’s more, the collapse of justice begins with “rotten fish head”, which invites caterpillars to destroy their entire body without leaving a bit of it. Incredibly if through, the power of “durian against cucumber” will smooth everything planned. If this is chosen and you no longer hear His verses, please deal with the “trial” of Allah, the Most Just. Because only His judgment can silence human deception and God’s judgment never breaks all of His promises. Wa Allahua’lam bi al-Shawwab.
