The Undesirability of Taking a case before the Unjust Judges

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . do not consume your wealth among yourselves in falsehood and throw them to the rulers.’ (2:188) He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu Basir, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, knows that among the nations there are unjust rulers who commit injustice. He has not thereby meant the rulers of justice but He has meant the unjust rulers. O abu Muhammad, if you have a certain right on a man and you call him before the judges of justice but he refuses and wants to take you before the unjust rulers and judges for judgment for him, he is one of those who has gone for justice before the transgressors. This is mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. “. . . have you considered those who think they have believed in what Allah has sent before you, they like to seek judgment before the transgressors when they are commanded to reject the transgressors, the devil.” (4:60)’”