Summary: The hukm (judging or ruling) between people is in matters of the Boundaries (divinely prescribed punishments) and rights and they are of two types. First, Boundaries and rights which are not for specific individuals but rather their benefits are for the Muslims at large, or a sector of them and all are in need of them. These are called the Boundaries of Allah such as that of highway robbers and gangsters, thieves, adulterers and the like. Similar are judgments relating to the public properties, trusts and grants which are not to specific individuals. These are among the most important functions of governance. This is why Ali ibn Abi Talib said:..
