Chapter Six:Social Policies
6/1
Establishing Justice
291. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in his letter to Ibn `Abbās: “Your envoy came to me and you have reported what you have seen or heard concerning the people of Basra after my return. I will now inform you about those people: They are either a group who desire something and aspire to obtain it, or one who are afraid of a punishment. So, make the eager ones hopeful by doing justice, being fair and doing good to them.”1
292. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in his instructions to Mālik al-Ashtar: “Let the dearest of your affairs be those which are the nearest of them to rightfulness, most inclusive in justice and most comprehensive in (establishing) the pleasure of the subjects. …Verily the foremost delight of the eye for rulers is the establishment of justice in the land and the appearance of friendship among the subjects.”2
293. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in his letter to Aswad ibn Qutba, the commander of the Hulwān troops: “Now, if the governor’s passions and desires increase, then he will be greatly hampered in justice. All people should be equal in right before you, for there is nothing in tyranny and oppression to substitute for justice. So avoid what you would not like for yourself.”3
1.. Waq`at Siffin, p. ۱۰۵, Nathr al-Durar, vol. ۱, p. ۳۲۲.
2.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Letter ۵۳, Tuhaf al-`Uqul, p. ۱۲۸ ۱۳۳, Da`ā'im al-Islām, vol. ۱, p. ۳۵۵ ۳۵۸.
3.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Letter ۵۹, Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۳۳, p. ۵۱۱, h. ۷۰۸.