Letter 50: To the officers of his army

From the servant of Allah, Ali, Amir al-muminin to the Officer-in-charge of garrisons:

أَمَّا بَعْدُ،

Now,

فَإِنَّ حَقّاً عَلَى الْوَالِي

it is obligatory on an officer

أَلاَّ يُغَيِّرَهُ عَلَى رَعِيَّتِهِ فَضْلٌ نَالَهُ، وَلاَ طَوْلٌ خُصَّ بِهِ،

that the distinction he achieves, or the wealth with which he has been exclusively endowed, should not make him change his behaviour towards those under him,

وَأَنْ يَزِيدَهُ مَا قَسَمَ اللهُ لَهُ مِنْ نِعَمِهِ دُنُوّاً مِنْ عِبَادِهِ،

and that the riches Allah has bestowed on him should increase him in nearness to his people

وَعَطْفاً عَلَى إِخْوَانِهِ.

and kindness over his brethren.

أَلاَ وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي أَلاَّ أَحْتَجِزَ دُونَكُمْ سِرّاً إِلاَّ فِي حَرْب،

Beware, that it is obligatory for you on me that I should not keep anything secret from you except during war,

وَلاَ أَطْوِيَ دُونَكُمْ أَمْراً إِلاَّ فِي حُكْم،

nor should I decide any matter without consulting you except the commands of religion,

وَلاَ أُؤَخِّرَ لَكُمْ حَقّاً عَنْ مَحَلِّهِ،

nor should I ignore the fulfilment of any of your rights

وَلاَ أَقِفَ بِهِ دُونَ مَقْطَعِهِ،

nor desist till I discharge it fully,

وَأَنْ تُكُونُوا عِندِي فِي الْحَقِّ سَوَاءً،

and that for me all of you should be equal in rights.

فَإِذَا فَعَلْتُ ذلِكَ وَجَبَتْ لله عَلَيْكُمُ النِّعْمَةُ،

When I have done all this, it becomes obligatory on you to thank Allah for this bounty

وَلِي عَلَيْكُمُ الطَّاعَةُ،

and to obey me,

وَأَلاَّ تَنْكُصُوا عَنْ دَعْوَة،

and you should not hold back when called,

وَلاَ تُفَرِّطُوا فِي صَلاَح،

nor shirk good acts,

وَأَنْ تَخُوضوا الْغَمَرَاتِ إِلَى الْحَقِّ،

and you should face harships for the sake of right.

فَإِنْ أَنْتُمْ لَمْ تَسْتَقِيمُوا لِي عَلَى ذلِكَ

If you do not remain steadfast in this,

لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ أَهْوَنَ عَلَيَّ

there will be no one more humiliated in my view

مِمَّنْ اعْوَجَّ مِنْكُمْ،

than the one among you who has deviated,

ثُمَّ أُعْظِمُ لَهُ الْعُقُوبَةَ،

and then I will increase the punishment for him,

وَلاَ يَجِدُ عِنْدِي فِيها رُخْصَةً،

wherein no one will get any concession from me.

فَخُذُوا هذَا مِنْ أُمَرَائِكُمْ،

Take this (pledge) from your (subordinate) officers

وَأَعْطُوهُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ مَا يُصْلِحُ اللهُ بِهِ أَمْرَكُمْ.

and accord to them such behaviour from your side by which Allah may improve your matters;

وَ السَّلامُ.

and that is an end to the matter.