The Art of Islamic Government
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Government" based on a letter which was written by the Amir al
Mu'minin, Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, from the collection
of sayings entitled "Nahjul Balagha" (The Peak of Eloquence).
The qualifications of a governor and his responsibilities
"Then, know O Malik [ibn al Harith al Asthtar--appointed Governor
of Egypt] that I have sent you to an area where there have been
governments before you, both just and oppressive. People will now
watch your dealings as you used to watch the dealings of the rulers
before you...Surely, the virtuous are known by their reputation that
Allah circulates for them through the tongues of His creatures. There
-fore, the best collection with you should be the collection of good
deeds. So, control your passions and check your heart from doing
what is not lawful for you because checking the hearts means detaining it
just half way between what it likes and dislikes.
Habituate your heart to mercy for the subjects and to affection
and kindness to them. Do not stand over them like greedy beasts who
feel it is enough to devour them, since they are of two kind; either
your brother in religion or one like you in creation. They will commit
slips...may act wrongly, wilfully or by neglect. So, extend to them your
forgiveness and pardon, in the same way as you would like Allah to
extend His forgiveness and pardon to you...He (Allah) has sought you
to managed their affairs and has tried you through them.
Do not set yourself to fight Allah because you have no power
before His Power and you cannot do without His Pardon and Mercy.
Do not repent of forgiving and be merciful in punishing. Do not act hastily
during anger if you can find a way out of it. Do not say:
"I have been given authority, I should be obeyed when I order," because it
engenders confusion in the heart, weakens the religion
and takes one near ruin. If the authority in which you are placed produces
pride or vanity in you then look at the greatness of the
realm of Allah over you and His might the like of which you do not
even possessed over yourself. This will curb your haughtiness, cure your
high temper and bring back to you your wisdom which had gone away from you.
Beware of comparing yourself to Allah in His Greatness or likening
yourself to Him in His Power, for Allah humiliates every claimant of
power and disgraces every one who is haughty.
Do justice for Allah and do justice towards the people, as against
yourself, your near ones and those of your subjects for whom you
have a liking, because if you do not do so you will be oppressive, and
when a person oppresses the creatures of Allah then, instead of His
creatures, Allah become his opponent, and when Allah is the opponent
of a person, He tramples his plea; and he will remain in the position of
being at war with Allah until he gives it up and repents. Nothing is more
inducive of the reversal of Allah's Bounty or for the hastening of His
Retribution than continuance of oppression, because Allah hears the
prayer of the oppressed and is on the look out for oppressors."
[pp. 3-4]
About counsellors
"Do not include among those you consult a miser who would keep
you back from being generous and caution you against destitution, nor
a coward who would make you feel too weak for your affairs, nor a greedy
person who would make beautiful to you the collection of wealth by evil
ways...
The worst minister for you is he who has been a minister for
mischievous persons before you, and who joined them in sins. Therefore, he
should not be your chief man, because they are
abettors of sinners and brothers of the oppressors. You can find
good substitutes for them who will be like them in their views and
influence, while not being like them in sins and vices...
The more preferable among them for you should be those who openly speak
better truths before you and support you least in those of your actions
which Allah does not approve in His friends, even though they may be
according to your wishes..." [p. 6]
The different classes of people
"Know that the people consist of classes who prosper only with the
help of one another, and they are not independent of one another...
Allah has fixed the share of every one of them and laid down His
precepts about the limits of each in His Book (Qur'an) and the
Sunnah of His Prophet by way of a settlement which is preserved
with us...
1. The Army
Put in command of your forces the man who in your view is the
best well-wisher of Allah, His Prophet and your Imam. The chastest
of them in heart and the highest of them in endurance is he who is
slow in getting enraged, accepts excuses, is kind to the weak and is
strict with the strong; violence should not raise his temper and weakness
should not keep him sitting.
3. Executive Officers
Thereafter, look into the affairs of your executives. Give
them appointments after tests and do not appoint them according to
partiality or favoritism, because these two things constitute sources
of injustive and unfairness. Select among them those who are people
of experience and modesty...such persons (who) possess high manners
and untarnished honour. They are the least inclined towards greed and
always have their eyes on the ends of matters.
Give them an abundant of livelihood (by way of salary) because
this gives them the strength to maintain themselves in order and not
to have an eye upon the funds in their custody, and it would be an
argument against them if they disobeyed your orders or misappropriated your
trust...If any of them extends his hands
towards misappropriation and the reports of your reporters reaching you
confirm it, that should be regarded as enough evidence. You should then
inflict corporal punishment on him and recover what he has misappropriated.
You should put him in a place of disgrace, blacklist
him...and make him wear the necklace of shame for his offence.
6. Traders and Industrialists
...Give them good counsel whether they be settled (shopkeepers)
or traders or physical labourers because they are sources of profit
and the means of provision of useful articles.
Look after their affairs before yourself wherever they may be
in your area. Know, along with this, that most of them are very narrow-
minded, and awfully avaricious. They hoard goods for profiteering and
fix high prices for goods. This is a source of harm to the people and
a blot on the officers in charge. Stop people from hoarding, because
the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wasallam, has prohibited it.
The sale should be smooth...not harmful to either party, the seller or
the purchaser; whoever commits hoarding after you prohibit it, give
him exemplary, but not excessive punishment.
7. The lowest class
(Fear) Allah and keep Allah in view with respect to the lowest
class, consisting of those who have few means: the poor, the destitute,
the penniless and the disabled...Take care for the sake of Allah of
His obligations towards them for which He has made you responsible.
Fix for them a share from the public funds and a share from the crops of
lands...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 cannot 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.
Take care of the affairs of those of them who do not approach
you because they are of unsightly appearance or those who people
regard as low. Appoint for them some trusted people who are God-fearing
and humble...Then deal with them with a sense of responsibility to Allah on
the day you will meet Him, because of all
the subjects these people are the most deserving of equitable treatment...
...in fact, every right is heavy. Allah lightens it for those who
seek the next world so they endure (hardships) upon themselves
and trust on the truthfulness of Allah's promise to them. And fix
a time for complaints wherein you make yourself free for them
[the weakest class], and sit for them in common audience and feel
humble therein for the sake of Allah who created you. (On that
occasion) you should keep away your army and your assistants such
as guards and the police, so that anyone who like to speak may speak
to you without fear, because I have heard the Messenger of Allah,
salla Allahu alaihi wasallam, say in more than one place, "The people
among whom the right of the weak is not secured from the strong
without fear, will never achieve purity." Tolerate their awkwardness
and inability to speak. Keep away from you narrowness and haughtiness;
Allah would, on this account, spread over the skirts of His mercy and
assign the reward of His obedience for you."
[The Art of Islamic Government by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, published by The
Muslim Converts' Assoc. of Singapore; pp. 8-16]
--R. Sarpin