Auzubillahi mishshitanil lainerjim
 

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

I Begin in the name of Al-Mighty Allah, the most gracious and the most merciful.
 

My Elders and Leaders
 

Asalamun Alykum.
 

Say “Allah, master of the kingdom! You give kingdom to whom you like, and you take away the kingdom from whom you like. You praise whom you like and you humiliate whom you like, in your hand is the good; verily you have power over all things. (Sure Aali Imran, Ayat 26)

Maalik al-Ashtar was a famous companion and a faithful disciple of Imam Ali (a). He was a brave warrior and had acted as a Commander-in-Chief of the armies of Imam Ali (as). His braveness  had earned him the title of "Fearless Tiger". Imam Ali (as) had specially taught him the principles of administration and jurisprudence. Malik venerated and loved Imam Ali (as) sincerely and therefore earned Mu'awiya's enmity. Mu'awiya conspired against him and got him killed.

 His death deeply grieved Imam Ali (as) who, expressing his grief said: "Malik was to me what I was to the Holy Prophet (saw)".

This letter was written to Malik-e-Ashter by Imam Ali (as) who appointed him as the Governor of Egypt in place of Muhammad bin Abi Bakr:
 

This document, which deservers to be called the constitution of Islamic policy, was prepared by the person who was the greatest scholar of Devine law and acted upon it more then anyone else. From the study of Ameer ul momineen’s way of governance in this letter it can be concluded that his aim was only the enforcement of Divine law and the improvements of the social conditions, and not to disrupt public security or fill treasuries by plunder.  
 

The letter divided in 6 Sections with section 4 sub divided in further 7 sections

1. Qualifications of a leader and his responsibilities

2. Ruling should be in favor of the people as a whole

3. Counselors

4. Classes of people

a. The Army

b. The Justices

c. Executive Officers

d. The Administration of Revenues

e. The Clerical Establishment

f. Traders and Industrialists

g. The Lowest Class

5. Communion with Allah

6. Behavior and actions of a ruler
 

There is a main central idea running all through these instructions, like one single thread out of which the cloth is woven, it is that of Allah. The regime is of Allah, the governors and the governed are both creatures of Allah, and their respective duties are laid down by Allah.

I have highlighted certain sections pf the letter, which I will humbly present in front of you today.

Qualifications of a leader and his responsibilities
first “People will now watch your dealings as you used to watch the dealings of the leaders before you, and they (people) will criticize you as you criticized them (leaders). Surly the virtues are known by the reputations that Allah (SAW) circulates for them through the tongues of His creatures.”

He than says  ”Because you are over them and your Imam is over you, while Allah is over him, who has appointed you. He, Allah has sought you to manage their affairs and tried you through them.”

(Our leaders, although you are voted by us, we can see through his letter that you are chosen by the Allah)

He further says “If the authority in which you are placed produces pride or vanity in you then look at the greatness of Allah over you. This will curb your arrogance, cure you of high temper and bring back to you, your wisdom.”

Lastly he tells “Do justice for Allah and do justice towards the people”

Ruling should be in favor of the people as a whole

Imam Ali tells ”it is the common people of the community, who are the pillars of the religion, and the power of the Muslims.”

(We, the people of the community are the pillars and you my elders are our leaders.” 

Counselors

Firstly he says “Associate yourself with God fearing and truthful counselors then educated them, so that they should not praise you or please you by reason of an action you did not perform, because an access of praise produces pride and drives you near arrogance.”

He than says “Keep on increasing your conversations with the scholars and the discussions with the wise to stabilize the prosperity of the community.”

(Alhumdulila, our community is blessed with many scholars and wise people)

Classes of people

            The Justices

“Then very often check his decisions and allow him so much money, that he has no excuse worth hearing for not being honest, and there remains no occasion for him to go to others for his needs.”

            Executive Officers

Firstly Imam Ali says “Look in to the affairs of your executives, give them appointment after tests, and do not appoint them according to partiality or favoritism because these two things constitute the source of injustice and unfairness”

He goes on to say “Give them abundant livelihood by the way of salary, because this gives them strength to maintain themselves in order and not to have an eye upon the funds in their custody.” “You should also check their activities, and have people who report on them who should be truthful and faithful because your watching their action secretly, will urge them to peruse trust with and to be kind to the people” 

Traders and Industrialists

“Now take some advice about the traders and industrialist, give them good advice, whether they be settled (e.g. Shop keepers) or are traders or physical labors because they are the source of profit and the means of the provisions of the useful articles.” And “Look after their affairs, before yourself, whenever they are in your area”
 

The Lower Class

Imam Ali says “Fear Allah, and keep Allah in view in respect of the lower class, consisting of those who have few means: - the poor, the destitute, the penniless and the disabled, because in this class are both the dissatisfied and those who beg. Take care of them for the sake of Allah, and fix for them a share from the public fund.”

(I am sure; through togetherness we can solve many of the problems of the less fortunate in our community.)

He than says “All these people are those, whose rights have been placed in your charge, therefore a luxurious life, should not keep you away from them. You can not be excused for ignoring small matters, because you were deciding big problems, consequently do not be unmindful of them, nor turn your face from them, out of vanity”

He goes on to say “Take care of the affairs of those, who do not approach you because they are of the unsightly appearance or those whom people regard as low. Appoint from them some trusted people who are God fearing and humble, they should inform you of these people’s conditions, and then you should deal with these problems.”  “And fix the time for the complaints, wherein you make yourself free for them, and sit with them in the common audience and feel humble for the sake of Allah, who created you.”

Imam Ali (A.S) said “I have heard from the Holy Prophet of Allah, Muhammad Mustafa (SAW) say in more than one place “the people among whom the rights of the weak are not secured from those of the strong, without fear will never achieve purity.”

 

Behavior and actions of a ruler
 

Imam Ali says “Then do not keep yourself secluded from the people for a long time, because the seclusion of those in authority form their subjects is a kind of narrow-sightedness and cause ignorance about their affairs. Seclusion also prevents the people from the knowledge of things, they do not know, and as a result they begin to regard big matters as small and small matters are big, good matters are bad and bad matters are good while the truth becomes confused with the falsehood. After all the leader is a human being and can not have knowledge of things which people keep hidden from him.”

He than says “Allow rights to whomsoever it is due, whether near you or far from you. In this matter, you should be enduring and watchful even though it may involve your relations or favorites.”

He goes on to say “If the subjects suspect you of High-handedness, explain to them your position openly, and remove their suspicions with your explanations, because this would mean exercise for your soul and consideration to the subject, while this explanation will secure your aim of keeping them firm in truth.”

He lastly says “Have control over your sense of prestige, any outburst of anger, the might of your arm, and the sharpness of your tongue. Guard against all this, by avoiding haste and by delaying sever action till your anger subsides and you gain your self control. You can not withhold yourself unless you bear in mind that you have to return to Allah.”

Imam Ali ends the letter by asking Allah “I ask Allah (SAW), to the extent of this mercy and greatness of his power, of giving a good inclination that he may prompt me and you to advance a clear plea before him and his creatures in a manner that may attract his pleasure along with handsome praise among the people, good effect in the community and increase in prosperity and heightening of honors and that he allow me and you to die a death of virtue and martyrdom. Surly we have to return to him, peace be on the messenger of Allah, may Allah show his blessings and plentiful salutation on him and his pure and chaste decedents, AND THAT IS AN END TO THE MATTER. 

The famous Arab Christian, jurist, poet and philosopher Abdul Masih Antaaki who died sometime in the beginning of the 20th Century while discussing this letter writes that it is a far superior and better code than the one handed down by Moses and Hamurabi, it explains what a human administration should be like, how it is to be carried out and it justifies the claims of Muslims that Islam wants to introduce a Divine administration of the people for the people and by the people and it wants a ruler to rule not to please himself but to bring happiness to the ruled and no religion before Islam tried to achieve this end, Imam Ali (as) should be congratulated for having introduced these principles during his rule and for having written them down for the future generations.

United Nations’ advice to Arab countries