Nahj al-Balagha Hadith n. 476

Selections from The Sayings and Preaching of Amir al-Muminin Ali ibn Abi Talib (Peace Be Upon Him) Including His Replies to Questions and Maxims Expressed for Various Purposes.
Translated by Sayyid Ali Reza

وقال عليه السلام لزياد بن أبيه. وقد استخلفَهُ لعبد الله بن العباس على فارس وأَعمالها، في كلامٍ طويلٍ كان بينهما، نهاه فيه عن تقدم الخَراج :

When Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, put Ziyad ibn Abih in place of Abdullah ibn Abbas over Fars (in Persia) and its revenues, he had a long conversation with him in which he prohibited him from advance recovery of revenue. Therein he said:

اسْتَعْمِلِ الْعَدْلَ،

Act on justice

وَاحْذَرِ الْعَسْفَ والْحَيْفَ

and keep aloof from violence and injustice

فَإِنَّ الْعَسْفَ يَعُودُ بِالْجَلاَءِ،

because violence will lead them to forsake their abodes

وَالْحَيْفَ يَدْعُو إِلَى السَّيْفِ.

while injustice will prompt them to take up arms.