We went out and Ghalib bin Abjar was accompanying us. He fell ill on the way and when we arrived at Medina he was still sick....
BITS ‘N’ PIECES
Narrated by Khalid bin Sa’ad (R.A)
We went out and Ghalib bin Abjar was accompanying us. He fell ill on the way and when we arrived at Medina he was still sick. Ibn Abi 'Atiq (R.A) came to visit him and said to us, "Treat him with black cumin. Take five or seven seeds, crush them, and mix the powder with oil. Drop the resulting mixture into both nostrils, for Aisha narrated to me that she heard the Prophet (S.A.W) say, ‘This black cumin is healing for all diseases except As-Sam.’ Aisha asked, ‘What is As-Sam?’ He replied, ‘Death.’"
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 71, Number 591
Emperor Jahangir instituted Zanjeer-e-Adal to dispense justice.
Emperor Jahangir, the fourth Mughal emperor, who ruled from 1605 to 1627, is primarily known for his contributions to art and culture, his emphasis on justice, and his detailed autobiography, the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.
Jahangir had a deep appreciation for fine arts, particularly painting. Under his reign, the Mughal painting tradition flourished, reaching new heights in miniature painting. He encouraged naturalistic representation and detailed portraiture, which became hallmarks of Mughal art. Architecturally, his contributions were fewer compared to Akbar or Shah Jahan.
Jahangir emphasized justice as a cornerstone of his administration. And, to this end, he instituted the Chain of Justice or Zanjeer-e-Adal. The Chain of Justice was a large chain with bells attached, suspended outside Jahangir’s palace. The chain was made of pure gold, measuring 30 yards in length, and it had 60 bells attached. It was fastened to the wall of the Agra Fort and extended to the bank of the Jumna River (also called Yamuna River). It was directly connected to the emperor's quarters, allowing anyone—regardless of social status, wealth, or power—to petition him directly. The Chain was a medium through which citizens could seek redress for grievances, bypassing corrupt officials or delayed bureaucratic processes. By ringing the bell, petitioners would alert the emperor, who pledged to personally hear their complaints.
The installation of the Chain of Justice was inspired by a specific incident. A widow had approached Emperor Akbar seeking justice for her son, who had been unjustly executed by local officials. The incident reportedly left a deep impression on Jahangir, who was determined to create a system where such grievances could directly reach the emperor. Jahangir wanted to ensure that no one in his empire, regardless of social or economic status, would suffer due to the negligence or corruption of officials.
The Chain of Justice represented Jahangir's ideals of accountability, equality, and a ruler’s duty to his people. It emphasized the direct relationship between the emperor and his subjects, ensuring that justice was not monopolized by the elite or distorted by intermediaries. In Jahangir’s autobiography, the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, the Chain of Justice is frequently mentioned as an emblem of his efforts to deliver impartial rulings. His judicial approach earned him respect among his subjects and admiration from foreign travelers who wrote about the Mughal court's fairness.
The Chain of Justice gradually fell into disuse after his reign. While it symbolized justice and accessibility during Jahangir's time, subsequent Mughal emperors did not maintain or revive the practice in the same spirit.