Rule of Law in Islam

Multiple-Choice Questions

1 What does the rule of law primarily mean?
(a) Everyone is subject to law (b) Rulers may act without limits
(c) Only citizens must obey law (d) None of these

2 Which source provides the principal foundation for Islamic law?
(a) Tribal custom alone (b) The Quran and Sunnah
(c) Decisions of foreign rulers (d) None of these

3 Which Quranic chapter contains the command to judge with justice?
(a) Surah Al-Nisa (b) Surah Al-Fil
(c) Surah Al-Masad (d) None of these

4 According to Quran 4:58, trusts should be returned to whom?
(a) Only relatives (b) Only political leaders
(c) Their rightful owners (d) None of these

5 What principle is emphasized in Quran 4:135?
(a) Justice even against oneself and relatives (b) Preferential treatment of the wealthy
(c) Loyalty above truth (d) None of these

6 In Islam, justice should be administered regardless of a person’s:
(a) Wealth or social status (b) Family influence
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these

7 Which term commonly refers to Islamic jurisprudence?
(a) Tafsir (b) Fiqh
(c) Tajwid (d) None of these

8 What is Sharia in the broad Islamic sense?
(a) A political party’s programme (b) A tribal code alone
(c) Divine guidance governing human life (d) None of these

9 Which of the following is a recognized source of Islamic law?
(a) Sunnah (b) Personal prejudice
(c) Arbitrary preference (d) None of these

10 What does the principle of equality before the law reject?
(a) Fair trial (b) Accountability
(c) Legal privilege based solely on status (d) None of these

11 What should a judge do when hearing a dispute?
(a) Hear only the wealthier party (b) Hear both sides fairly
(c) Decide on family pressure (d) None of these

12 Which Quranic instruction is directly relevant to impartial judgment?
(a) Judge with justice (b) Favor one’s tribe
(c) Protect every powerful person (d) None of these

13 What does the Arabic term “Adl” mean?
(a) Wealth (b) Authority
(c) Justice (d) None of these

14 What does “Qist” commonly signify in Quranic usage?
(a) Inheritance alone (b) Equity and justice
(c) Trade alone (d) None of these

15 Which conduct contradicts the rule of law?
(a) Applying law fairly (b) Reviewing evidence
(c) Punishing someone solely because of personal hostility (d) None of these

16 Why is evidence important in judicial proceedings?
(a) It supports fair and reasoned decisions (b) It replaces all legal principles
(c) It makes impartiality unnecessary (d) None of these

17 What is the purpose of due process?
(a) To protect only officials (b) To ensure fair legal procedures
(c) To prevent every investigation (d) None of these

18 In Islamic legal tradition, a qadi is generally a:
(a) Judge (b) Merchant
(c) Poet (d) None of these

19 What should a judge avoid when deciding a case?
(a) Examining testimony (b) Considering relevant evidence
(c) Bribery and undue influence (d) None of these

20 Which Quranic principle opposes hatred becoming a cause of injustice?
(a) Quran 5:8 (b) Quran 105:1
(c) Quran 111:1 (d) None of these

21 According to Quran 5:8, believers should uphold justice even toward:
(a) Friends only (b) Their own families only
(c) People they dislike (d) None of these

22 What is the Islamic legal significance of the Sunnah?
(a) It provides prophetic guidance and legal interpretation (b) It cancels every Quranic principle
(c) It consists only of poetry (d) None of these

23 Which concept refers to scholarly reasoning in Islamic jurisprudence?
(a) Hijrah (b) Ijtihad
(c) Ihram (d) None of these

24 What is Qiyas in Islamic jurisprudence?
(a) Pilgrimage ritual (b) Charity
(c) Analogical reasoning (d) None of these

25 What is Ijma commonly understood to mean in Islamic jurisprudence?
(a) Scholarly consensus (b) Individual anger
(c) Military command (d) None of these

26 Does the rule of law permit a ruler to disregard justice at will?
(a) Yes, in all circumstances (b) Yes, if wealthy
(c) No, authority is morally and legally accountable (d) None of these

27 What is the function of a court?
(a) To guarantee victory to the powerful (b) To adjudicate disputes according to applicable law
(c) To replace all evidence with rumors (d) None of these

28 Which action undermines public confidence in justice?
(a) Transparent proceedings (b) Impartial judgments
(c) Corruption in judicial decisions (d) None of these

29 What does judicial impartiality require?
(a) Equal and fair consideration of parties (b) Automatic support for officials
(c) Automatic support for relatives (d) None of these

30 Which principle is associated with the Islamic prohibition of bribery?
(a) Wealth guarantees justice (b) Officials may sell judgments
(c) Justice must not be corrupted by improper payments (d) None of these

31 What should be the basis of a lawful judgment?
(a) Rumor alone (b) Relevant evidence and applicable legal principles
(c) Personal revenge (d) None of these

32 Which Quranic chapter includes guidance on reconciliation and disputes within the community?
(a) Surah Al-Hujurat (b) Surah Al-Kawthar
(c) Surah Quraysh (d) None of these

33 What is the relationship between justice and public authority in Islam?
(a) Authority removes responsibility (b) Justice is optional
(c) Authority carries responsibilities and obligations (d) None of these

34 What does accountability of rulers mean?
(a) Rulers are beyond scrutiny (b) Public power must be answerable
(c) Only ordinary people are accountable (d) None of these

35 Which of the following is an example of legal equality?
(a) Applying the same relevant legal standards fairly (b) Exempting influential people automatically
(c) Denying a hearing to the poor (d) None of these

36 Why is the presumption of innocence important in modern legal systems?
(a) It abolishes evidence (b) It prevents courts from hearing cases
(c) It protects against punishment without proper proof (d) None of these

37 Which principle should guide testimony and witness conduct?
(a) Concealing truth for friends (b) Truthfulness and fairness
(c) Supporting the strongest party regardless of facts (d) None of these

38 What does Quran 2:188 warn against in the context of wrongful acquisition?
(a) Wrongfully consuming others’ wealth and using authorities to do so (b) Lawful trade
(c) Voluntary charity (d) None of these

39 What is the primary aim of impartial justice?
(a) To preserve privilege (b) To satisfy personal rivalries
(c) To uphold rights and resolve disputes fairly (d) None of these

40 Which institution historically administered justice in many Muslim societies?
(a) A poetry assembly only (b) The qadi’s court
(c) A private merchant guild exclusively (d) None of these

41 What does “Hukm” generally relate to in an Islamic legal context?
(a) Judgment or ruling (b) Agricultural harvest
(c) Pilgrimage clothing (d) None of these

42 What is the danger of arbitrary law enforcement?
(a) Greater legal certainty (b) Consistent fairness
(c) Unequal treatment and abuse of power (d) None of these

43 Which principle requires laws and penalties to be applied through lawful procedures?
(a) Personal vengeance (b) Due process
(c) Collective blame without evidence (d) None of these

44 In Islamic teachings, what should a person do when entrusted with a judgment?
(a) Decide according to favoritism (b) Sell the decision
(c) Fulfil the trust with justice (d) None of these

45 Which of the following best reflects the rule of law?
(a) No person is above lawful accountability (b) Leaders may ignore all laws
(c) Wealth determines legal outcomes (d) None of these

46 Why must legal decisions distinguish between accusation and proof?
(a) To protect rumors (b) To avoid all court proceedings
(c) To prevent unjust punishment (d) None of these

47 Which Quranic chapter is particularly associated with the command to stand firmly for justice?
(a) Surah Al-Lahab (b) Surah Al-Nisa
(c) Surah Al-Fil (d) None of these

48 What is a central ethical requirement of a judge?
(a) Integrity (b) Favoritism
(c) Corruption (d) None of these

49 Which practice is consistent with Islamic legal ethics?
(a) Concealing relevant evidence to help a friend (b) Giving judgment under political pressure
(c) Listening fairly and deciding justly (d) None of these

50 What is the broad objective of the rule of law in an Islamic framework?
(a) Unrestricted personal power (b) Justice, protection of rights, and lawful accountability
(c) Privilege for a single social class (d) None of these

Answer Key

1 (a) Everyone is subject to law
2 (b) The Quran and Sunnah
3 (a) Surah Al-Nisa
4 (c) Their rightful owners
5 (a) Justice even against oneself and relatives
6 (c) Both (a) and (b)
7 (b) Fiqh
8 (c) Divine guidance governing human life
9 (a) Sunnah
10 (c) Legal privilege based solely on status
11 (b) Hear both sides fairly
12 (a) Judge with justice
13 (c) Justice
14 (b) Equity and justice
15 (c) Punishing someone solely because of personal hostility
16 (a) It supports fair and reasoned decisions
17 (b) To ensure fair legal procedures
18 (a) Judge
19 (c) Bribery and undue influence
20 (a) Quran 5:8
21 (c) People they dislike
22 (a) It provides prophetic guidance and legal interpretation
23 (b) Ijtihad
24 (c) Analogical reasoning
25 (a) Scholarly consensus
26 (c) No, authority is morally and legally accountable
27 (b) To adjudicate disputes according to applicable law
28 (c) Corruption in judicial decisions
29 (a) Equal and fair consideration of parties
30 (c) Justice must not be corrupted by improper payments
31 (b) Relevant evidence and applicable legal principles
32 (a) Surah Al-Hujurat
33 (c) Authority carries responsibilities and obligations
34 (b) Public power must be answerable
35 (a) Applying the same relevant legal standards fairly
36 (c) It protects against punishment without proper proof
37 (b) Truthfulness and fairness
38 (a) Wrongfully consuming others’ wealth and using authorities to do so
39 (c) To uphold rights and resolve disputes fairly
40 (b) The qadi’s court
41 (a) Judgment or ruling
42 (c) Unequal treatment and abuse of power
43 (b) Due process
44 (c) Fulfil the trust with justice
45 (a) No person is above lawful accountability
46 (c) To prevent unjust punishment
47 (b) Surah Al-Nisa
48 (a) Integrity
49 (c) Listening fairly and deciding justly
50 (b) Justice, protection of rights, and lawful accountability