10 Questions
Why did many people come to Ina-Sanweyne for help?
Because he was brave and did not fear the Sultans, tribal leaders, or other important persons.
What did Ina-Sanweyne never ask for in return for his services?
Money or animals.
What made Ina-Sanweyne a famous traditional judge in Somalia?
He taught people to respect the Islamic Shari'a law.
What was the poor man's complaint to Ina-Sanweyne?
A rich man had stolen his only camel.
What did the rich man do when asked to appear before Ina-Sanweyne?
He came, knowing he could not refuse.
What did Ina-Sanweyne say to the jury before delivering his verdict?
Justice knows only Allah. May Allah forgive us if we make a right judgement, but not if we favour.
What was the outcome of Ina-Sanweyne's verdict?
The rich man returned the camel to the poor man.
Why did Ina-Sanweyne become poor?
Because he could not get enough time to take care of his livestock.
What did the rich man do when asked to return the camel?
He initially refused and threatened the poor man.
What did Ina-Sanweyne's reputation become after the verdict?
No man ever disobeyed an order from this fearless and upright judge.
Study Notes
Ina-Sanweyne: A Famous Traditional Judge
- Ina-Sanweyne was a renowned traditional judge in Somalia who taught people to respect Islamic Shari'a law.
- He was very brave, fearless of Sultans, tribal leaders, and other important persons, and did not give favors to the rich or forget the rights of the poor.
His Popularity and Challenges
- As his popularity grew, many people came to him for help, leaving him with little time to care for his livestock, which led to his poverty.
- Despite this, he never asked for money or animals for his services.
The Case of the Stolen Camel
- A poor man came to Ina-Sanweyne's village, seeking help to retrieve his stolen camel from a rich and powerful man.
- The rich man had refused to return the camel and threatened the poor man.
- Ina-Sanweyne sent a messenger to the rich man, ordering him to appear before the court.
The Court's Decision
- The poor man told the court what had happened, and the rich man responded with bad words and threats.
- Ina-Sanweyne was not afraid and asked the jury for their opinion, which unanimously declared the rich man guilty of stealing the camel.
- Ina-Sanweyne delivered the verdict, saying, "Justice knows only Allah... The camel is not yours, it belongs to this poor man. You must return it to him."
The Outcome and Legacy
- The rich man was surprised by the decision and immediately agreed to return the camel.
- From that day on, no one ever disobeyed an order from Ina-Sanweyne, and the Somali people have never forgotten his services.
- The prayer of the great judge, "Oh! Allah, forgive us if we make a wrong judgment unintentionally, but not if we favor any man," is still recited in courts today.
Learn about a brave and fearless judge from Somalia who taught people to respect Islamic Shari'a law and stood up for the rights of the poor despite the pressure from powerful leaders.
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