1896 - ما يَجِبُ عَلَى الوالي في نَفسِهِ‏

1896. WHAT IS OBLIGATORY FOR THE RULER WITH REGARD TO HIMSELF

6786.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - مِن كِتابِهِ للأشتَرِ لَمّا وَلّاهُ مِصرَ - : إنّما يُستَدَلُّ علَى الصّالِحينَ بِما يُجري اللَّهُ لَهُم على‏ ألسُنِ عِبادِهِ ، فلْيَكُن أحَبَّ الذَّخائرِ إلَيكَ ذَخيرَةُ العَمَلِ الصّالِحِ ، فاملِكْ هَواكَ ، وشُحَّ بِنَفسِكَ عَمّا لا يَحِلُّ لَكَ ؛ فإنَّ الشُّحَّ بِالنَّفسِ الإنصافُ مِنها فيما أحَبَّت أو كَرِهَت .¹

6786. Imam Ali (AS), in his lettter to Malik al-Ashtar when he appointed him governor of Egypt, said, 'Surely the virtuous are known by the reputation that Allah circulates for them through the tongues of His creatures. Threfore, the best collection with you should be the collection of good deeds. So control your passions and deprive your heart from doing what is not lawful for you, because depriving the heart means detaining it just half way between what it likes and dislikes.' ²

6787.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - أيضاً - : أنصِفِ اللَّهَ وأنصِفِ النّاسَ مِن نَفِسكَ ، ومِن خاصَّةِ أهلِكَ ، ومَن لَكَ فيهِ هَوىً مِن رَعِيَّتِكَ ؛ فإنَّكَ إلّا تَفعَلْ تَظلِمْ .³

6787. Imam Ali (AS), in his letter to Malik al-Ashtar when he appointed him governor of Egypt, said, 'Be just to 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.' ⁴

6788.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - أيضاً - : وإيّاكَ والإعْجابَ بِنَفسِكَ ، والثِّقَةَ بما يُعجِبُكَ مِنها ، وحُبَّ الإطراءِ ؛ فإنّ ذلكَ مِن أوثَقِ فُرَصِ الشَّيطانِ في نَفسِهِ لِيَمحَقَ مايَكونُ مِن إحسانِ المُحسِنينَ .⁵

6788. Imam Ali (AS), in his letter to Malik al-Ashtar when he appointed him governor of Egypt, said, 'Beware of self-admiration, having reliance in what appears good in yourself and love of exaggerated praise because this is one of the most reliable opportunities for Satan to obliterate the good deeds of the virtuous.' ⁶