Mtume wa Allah ﷺ alikuwa akiwateua mahakimu; alimteua 'Ali kuwa hakimu juu ya Yemen na akampa maelekezo kuhusu jinsi ya kuhukumu kwa kusema: "Ikiwa watu wawili wanaogombana watakufikia, usihukumu kwa ajili ya yeyote kati yao mpaka usikie atakalosema mwenzake." Pia alimteua 'Abdullah ibn Nawfal kuwa hakimu juu ya Madina ﷺ.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) used to appoint the judges; he appointed ‘Ali as judge over Yemen and he gave him instructions about how to judge by saying, “If two disputing persons came to you do not judge for either of them until you have heard what the other had to say.” He (saw) also appointed ‘Abdullah ibn Nawfal as judge over Madinah.

Hata hivyo, majaji wote hawakuwa wa aina moja, na maeneo ambayo walikuwa na mamlaka juu yake yalitofautiana kulingana na majukumu waliyopewa. Baadhi ya majaji walishughulikia migogoro baina ya watu, wengine walishughulikia kutatua madhara yoyote yanayoathiri maslahi ya pamoja ya watu, na wengine walishughulikia eneo la migogoro baina ya watu na wale waliokuwa na mamlaka juu yao.