ينبغي للخليفة أن يسأل عن أعمال الوالي، وأن يراقبه عن كثب. وعليه أن يُعيّن من يتفقد أحوالهم ويقوم بالتفتيش. كما ينبغي للخليفة أن يلتقي بهم جميعاً أو ببعضهم من حين إلى آخر، وأن يستمع إلى شكاوى الرعية ضدهم.

The Khaleefah should inquire about the actions of the Waali and He should monitor them closely. He should appoint someone, who can check their state of affairs and carry out inspections. The Khaleefah should also meet with all of them or some of them from time to time and listen to the complaints of the subjects against them.

ثبت أن رسول الله ﷺ كان يتفقد الولاة عند تعيينهم، كما فعل مع معاذ وأبي موسى، وكان يبيّن لهم كيف يؤدون أعمالهم، كما فعل مع عمرو بن حزم، وكان يلفت أنظارهم إلى بعض الأمور المهمة، كما فعل مع أبان بن سعيد حين ولّاه على البحرين وقال له:

It has been confirmed that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would examine the Wulah when appointing them, as He did with Mu’az and Abu Moussa. He used to explain to them how they should conduct their duties, as He did with ‘Amr bin Hazm. He also drew their attention to some important matters as He did with Aban bin Sa’id when He appointed Him Waali over Bahrain and said to him:

"أحسِنوا إلى عبد القيس وأكرِموا سادتهم." وكذلك ثبت أنه ﷺ كان يحاسب الولاة، ويتفقد أحوالهم، ويستمع إلى الأخبار التي تُرفع إليه عنهم. وكان ﷺ يطالب الولاة بالحساب عن الإيرادات والنفقات. روى البخاري ومسلم عن أبي حميد الساعدي رضي الله عنه قال: «استعمل رسول الله ﷺ ابن اللُّتْبِيَّة على صدقات بني سُلَيم، فلما جاء حاسَبه، قال: هذا لكم، وهذا أُهدي لي. فقال له رسول الله ﷺ: فهلّا جلستَ في بيت أبيك وأمك حتى يأتيك هديّتك إن كنتَ صادقًا؟ ثم قام رسول الله ﷺ على المنبر، فحمد الله وأثنى عليه، وقال: ما بال عامل أبعثه فيأتي فيقول: هذا لكم وهذا أُهدي لي؟ أفلا جلس في بيت أبيه أو بيت أمه حتى يأتيه هديّته إن كان صادقًا؟ والله لا يأخذ أحدٌ منكم منها شيئًا بغير حقه إلا جاء الله يحمله يوم القيامة، إن كان بعيرًا له رُغاء، أو بقرة لها خُوار، أو شاةً تَيْعَر». ثم رفع يديه حتى رأيتُ بياض إبطيه، فقال: «اللهم هل بلّغتُ، اللهم هل بلّغتُ». وكان عمر رضي الله عنه يراقب الولاة مراقبة دقيقة، وقد عيّن محمد بن مسلمة لفحص أحوالهم وتفتيشهم. وكان عمر يجمع الولاة في موسم الحج لمراجعة أدائهم والاستماع إلى شكاوى الرعية عنهم، وكان يناقشهم أيضًا في شؤون الولايات، ويسألهم عن أحوالهم الخاصة. روي أن عمر قال يوماً لمن حوله: «أترون أني أديت ما علي إن وليت عليكم خير من أعلم، وأمرته بالعدل؟» قالوا: «نعم». قال: «لا، حتى أنظر في عمله، أفعل ما أمرته به أم لا؟» كان عمر معروفاً بالشدة في محاسبة الولاة والعمال، وكان يعزل بعضهم بمجرد الشك دون دليل قاطع، بل كان يعزل الوالي عند أدنى ريبة لا تبلغ حد الشك. وسئل مرة عن ذلك فقال: «إنه يسير أن يُستبدل أميرٌ بأمير لإصلاح أمور الناس». ومع شدته معهم، كان يترك لهم الحرية ويصون سمعتهم في الحكم، فكان يستمع إليهم ويتدبر حجتهم، فإن أعجبته حجة أظهر استحسانه واقتناعه بها، وكان يثني على العامل بعد ذلك. وبلغه يوماً أن عامله عُمير بن سعد قال وهو على منبر حمص: «إن الإسلام يبقى منيعاً ما بقي السلطان قوياً، وليست قوة السلطان بالقتل بالسيف ولا بالجلد بالسوط، ولكن بالحكم بالحق وإقامة العدل». فلما سمع ذلك عمر قال: «وددت أن لي رجلاً مثل عُمير بن سعد أستعين به على أمور المسلمين».

“Look after Abd Qays and honour their leaders.” Likewise it has also been confirmed that He (pbuh) used to hold the Wulah accountable, inspect their situation and listen to news brought to Him about them. He (pbuh) used to ask the Wulah to account for the revenues and expenses spent. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated on the authority of Abu Humaid Al-Sa’idi who said; “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) appointed Ibnul-Utbiyya as ‘Amil in charge of Sadaqat of Banu Saleem. When He returned back to the Prophet (pbuh) and He accounted him, He said; ‘This is for you and (this is a gift) that was presented to me.’ So the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said ‘Why did you not remain in your father’s and mother’s home so that your gift comes to you if you spoke the truth.’ Then the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) stood on the pulpit, addressed the people praised, Allah (swt) and said; ‘What about a State official whom I give an assignment and who comes and says; ‘This is for you and this has been presented to me as a gift?’ Why didn’t He remain in the house of his father or the house of his mother so that his gift be presented to Him if He is truthful? By Allah, any one of you will not take anything from it (Sadaqah) unlawfully but will bring it on the Day of Judgment, carrying on his neck a camel that will be growling, or a cow that will be bellowing or a sheep that will be bleating.’ Then He raised his hands so that I could see the whiteness of his armpits. Then He said twice; ‘O Allah, I have conveyed your command.’” ‘Umar used to closely monitor the Wulah, and He appointed Muhammad Ibnu Maslama to examine their state of affairs and inspect them. ‘Umar used to gather the Wulah during the Hajj season to review their performance and to listen to the complaints of the subjects about them, and He also used to discuss with them the affairs of the Wilayaat and ask about their own conditions. It has been reported that ‘Umar once said to people around him; “‘Would you say that my duty would be fulfilled if I appointed over you the best from amongst you, and ordered Him to be just?’ They said; ‘Yes.’ He said; ‘No. Not until I had checked his performance, and seen whether or not He did what I had ordered Him to do.’ ‘Umar was known to be strict when accounting the Wulah and the ‘Aamileen. He would even remove some of them on just a suspicion without conclusive evidence. He even used to remove a Waali on the slightest doubt that did not even reach the level of suspicion. He was asked about this one day and He said; ‘It is easy to swap an Ameer for another so as to amend the people’s affairs.’” However, despite his strictness with them He used to give them a free hand and safeguarded their reputation in ruling. He used to listen to them and consider their argument. If He liked an argument He would show his approval and conviction of it and would shower the ‘Amil with praise afterwards. Oneday news reached Him about his ‘Amil Umayr Ibnu Sa’d who had said while over the pulpit of Homs; “Islam will remain formidable as long as the authority is strong. And the strength of the authority does not come about with the killing by the sword or the lashing by the whip, but with the judging by the truth and the upholding of justice.” Upon hearing this ‘Umar said; “I wish I had a man like Umayr Ibnu Sa’d to help me with the Muslims’ affairs.”