Public Affairs   (Al-‘Awāṣim min al-Qawāṣim)   Captain Mohammed Hassan Al-Tahir

Date: March 19, 2026

🔹 Public affairs are the sum of issues, decisions, and policies that affect the lives of all people and influence their common interests, whether political, economic, or social.

It is the sphere in which authority is exercised and resources are managed, and it is supposed to be based on justice, transparency, and the public good.

🔹 Job Description:

In any public office, it is expected that the official should:

– Be a servant of society, not its master.

– Balance rights and duties.

– Place the public interest above personal or partisan considerations.

Public office is not a privilege but a duty and responsibility. It is part of the system of public affairs, built on trust and oversight. Hence arises an important question:

🔹 Why does everyone, from the elite to the ordinary, speak when someone is appointed to a position in Sudan?

The logical answer:

Because public office in Sudan—as in other societies—does not belong to the individual alone, but to the entire nation.

Appointing someone to a position of responsibility sparks discussion among both elites and the public because it:

– Affects people’s interests.

– Reflects the image of the state in its justice or deviation.

Thus, appointment becomes a matter of public opinion, debated by all, and regarded as a measure of the integrity of the political system according to standards of:

Justice:

– That the position be given to the one who deserves it by competence and merit, without injustice or favoritism.

Virtue:

– That the official may honor relatives or close associates with gifts or recognition, as long as this does not harm the public interest.

Here, a pause with tradition is necessary:

In his book Al-‘Awāṣim min al-Qawāṣim, Ibn al-‘Arabi defended Uthman (may God be pleased with him) in this matter, considering what he did to be a legitimate ijtihād (independent reasoning) that combined justice and virtue—but only after distinguishing between eligibility and favoritism, where:

– Eligibility is the standard of competence and ability to perform the role.

– Favoritism is giving the position to one undeserving, merely due to kinship or loyalty.

The difference between them marks the boundary between:

– A state of justice and a state of corruption.

– Public affairs that serve the people and private affairs that serve individuals.

Therefore, distinguishing between them requires setting measures and standards that prioritize merit and competence in normal circumstances, or exceptions in extraordinary circumstances—where individuals with special qualities may emerge, compelled by the situation, which must be judged proportionately according to jurisprudential principles.

🔹

– Standard: The general rule that defines the conditions of appointment (competence, integrity, experience).

– Measure: The application of that rule to the candidate, comparing him with others to determine his worthiness.

Thus, appointment becomes a rational and methodological process, not merely an emotional or political decision.

🗝️ Conclusion

Public affairs are not the property of an individual or group, but the trust of the entire nation. Hence the importance of debate over appointments to positions, as they reflect the state’s commitment to justice and transparency.

In light of Ibn al-‘Arabi’s exposition in Al-‘Awāṣim min al-Qawāṣim, it can be said that balancing justice and virtue, eligibility and favoritism, standard and measure, is the path to sound governance of public affairs—preserving rights and building trust between state and society without harm or obstinacy.

This is achieved only by following a single path whose end is that the success of the person appointed determines the credibility of his eligibility for the great responsibility. As the author of al-Ḥikam al-‘Aṭā’iyya said: Among the signs of success in endings is alignment in beginnings.

And finally:

Stand still and listen, O neighbor.