Chapter Three: Administrative Policies

Encyclopedia of Imam Ali (AS), written by Muhammad Muhammadi Rayshahri, abridged by Mahdi Gholamali, translated by Zaid Alsalami and Safyullah Khan, edited by Hamid Reza Salarkia and published by NORPUB.

197. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :

197. Imam Ali (AS):

هَيهاتَ !

“Far be it!

لَولَا التُّقى

If it had not been for god-wariness,

لَكُنتُ أدهَى العَرَبِ .

I would have been the most cunning of Arabs.”715

الكافي : ج8 ص24 ح4 .

715. Al-Kafi, vol. 8, p. 24, h. 4.

198. عنه عليه السلام :

198. Imam Ali (AS):

وَاللّهِ ما مُعاوِيَةُ بِأَدهى مِنّي ،

“By Allah, Mu`awiyah is not shrewder than I am,

ولكِنَّهُ يَغدِرُ ويَفجُرُ ،

but he deceives and commits evil deeds.

ولَولا كَراهِيَةُ الغَدرِ

Had I not been averse to deceit,

لَكُنتُ مِن أدهَى النّاسِ ،

I would have been the most cunning of all men.

ولكِن كُلُّ غُدَرَةٍ فُجَرَةٌ ،

However, every deceit is a sin,

وكُلُّ فُجَرَةٍ كُفَرَةٌ ،

and every sin is disobedience [to Allah],

ولِكُلِّ غادِرٍ لِواءٌ يُعرَفُ بِهِ يَومَ القِيامَةِ .

and every deceitful person will have a banner by which he will be recognised on the Day of Judgement.

وَاللّهِ ما اُستَغفَلُ بِالمَكيدَةِ ،

By Allah, I cannot be made forgetful by deception,

ولا اُستَغمَزُ بِالشَّديدَةِ .

nor shall I be overpowered by hardships.”

نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 200 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 200.

199. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ في عَهدِهِ إلى مالِكٍ الأَشتَرِ ـ:

199. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his instructions to Malik al-Ashtar:

ألزِمِ الحَقَّ مَن لَزِمَهُ مِنَ القَريبِ وَالبَعيدِ ،

“Impose the right upon whomsoever it is incumbent, those close to you or those far,

وكُن في ذلِكَ صابِرا مُحتَسِبا ،

and be patient and look for your ultimate account,

واقِعا ذلِكَ مِن قَرابَتِكَ وخاصَّتِكَ حَيثُ وَقَعَ ،

even if it affects those of your kin or the closest to you’ desire the ultimate end,

وَابتَغِ عاقِبَتَهُ بِما يَثقُلُ عَلَيكَ مِنهُ ،

and seek its outcome with all its difficulties,

فإِنَّ مَغَبَّةَ ذلِكَ مَحمودَةٌ .

for its ultimate result will be praiseworthy.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 53 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53.

200. الغاراتـ في ذِكرِ النَّجاشِي الشّاعِرِ ـ:

200. Al-Gharat, in mention of the poet al-Najashi:

كانَ شاعِرَ عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام بِصفّينَ ،

“He was the poet of Ali (AS) in Siffin,

فَشَرِبَ الخَمرَ بِالكوفَةِ ،

but he drank alcohol in Kufah,

فَحَدَّهُ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ،

so the Commander of the Faithful executed the punishment on him.

فَغَضِبَ ولَحِقَ بِمُعاوِيَةَ وهَجا عَلِيّا عليه السلام . . .

He got angry, so he joined Mu`awiyah and satirised Ali (AS)....

لَمّا حَدَّ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام النَّجاشِيَّ غَضِبَ لِذلِكَ مَن كانَ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ مِنَ اليَمانِيَّةِ ،

When Ali (AS) punished al-Najashi, his companions from the al-Yamaniyya tribe got angry.

وكانَ أخَصُّهُم بِهِ طارِقَ بنَ عَبدِ اللّهِ بنِ كَعبِ بنِ اُسامَةَ النَّهدِيَّ ،

The closest person to him was Tariq ibn `Abdullah ibn Ka`b ibn Usamah al-Nahdi,

فَدَخَلَ عَلى أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام فَقالَ :

who visited the Commander of the Faithful (AS) and said:

يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ،

“O Commander of the Faithful,

ما كُنّا نَرى أنَّ أهلَ المَعصِيَةِ وَالطّاعَةِ

we never knew that people of disobedience and people of obedience,

وأهلَ الفُرقَةِ والجَماعَةِ

or the people of disparity and the people of unity,

عِندَ وُلاةِ العَدلِ ومَعادِنِ الفَضلِ سِيّانِ فِي الجَزاءِ ،

are regarded the same in the eyes of just rulers and mines of virtue,

حَتّى رَأَيتُ ما كانَ مِن صَنيعِكَ بِأَخِي الحارِثِ ،

until I saw how you dealt with my brother al-Harith [al-Najashi],

فَأَوغَرتَ صُدورَنا ،

and so you hurt our hearts,

وشَتَّتَّ اُمورَنا ،

dispersed our opinions

وحَمَلتَنا عَلَى الجادَّةِ التَّي كُنّا نَرى أنَّ سَبيلَ مَن رَكِبَها النّارُ .

and put us on the path that leads to Hellfire.”

 فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام :  «وَ إِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَا عَلَى الْخَـشِعِينَ» البقرة : 45 ،

So, Ali (AS) said: “And it is indeed hard except for the humble.” Qur’an, 2:45

يا أخا بَني نَهدٍ ،

O brother of Bani Nahd,

وهَل هُوَ إلّا رَجُلٌ مِنَ المُسلِمينَ انتَهَكَ حُرمَةَ مَن حَرَّمَ اللّهُ

is he but a man among the Muslims, who has violated that which Allah has forbidden,

فَأَقَمنا عَلَيهِ حَدّا كانَ كَفّارَتَهُ ،

and so we executed the punishment onto him.

إنَّ اللّهَ تَعالى يَقولُ :  «وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـئانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلَا تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى» المائدة : 8 .

Allah the Almighty says: “And ill feeling for a people should never lead you to be unfair. Be fair; that is nearer to Godwariness.” Qur’an, 5:8

الغارات : ج2 ص533 و ص539 .

Al-Gharat, vol. 2, p. 533 and p. 539.

201. رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه و آله:

201. The Prophet (SA):

 اِرفَعوا ألسِنَتَكُم عَن عَلِيِّ بنِ أبي طالِبٍ ،

“Keep your tongues from criticizing Ali ibn Abi Talib,

فَإِنَّهُ خَشِنٌ في ذاتِ اللّهِ عَزَّ وجَلَّ ،

for he is strict for the sake of Allah

غَيرُ مُداهِنٍ في دينِهِ .

and is uncompromising in His religion.”

الإرشاد : ج1 ص173 .

721. Al-Irshad, vol. 1, p. 173.

202. حلية الأولياء عن عبد الواحد الدمشقي:

202. Hilyat al-Awliya’, narrating from `Abd al-Wahid al-Dimashqi, who said:

 نادى حَوشَبٌ الخَيرِيُّ عَلِيّا يَومَ صِفّينَ ، فَقالَ :

“Hawshab al-Khayri called out to Ali on the day of Siffin, saying:

اِنصَرِف عَنّا يَابنَ أبي طالِبٍ ،

“O son of Abu Talib, leave us;

فَإِنّا نَنشُدُكَ اللّهَ في دِمائِنا ودَمِكَ ،

and be mindful of Allah as regards our blood and yours,

نُخَلّي بَينَكَ وبَينَ عِراقِك ،

and we will let you return to your land of Iraq,

وتُخَلّي بَينَنا وبَينَ شامِنا ،

and you let us return to Syria,

وتَحقِنُ دِماءَ المُسلِمينَ .

and so we will preserve the blood of Muslims.”

فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ : هَيهاتَ يابنَ اُمِّ ظَليمٍ !

Ali said in reply: “Far be it, O son of Um Zalim!

وَاللّهِ لَو عَلِمتُ أنَّ المُداهَنَةَ تَسَعُني في دينِ اللّهِ لَفَعَلتُ ،

By Allah, if I knew that there was a room for compromise in the religion of Allah, I would do it,

ولَكانَ أهوَنَ عَلَيَّ في المَؤونَةِ ،

and it would be easier for me in price;

ولكِنَّ اللّهَ لَم يَرضَ مِن أهلِ القُرآنِ بِالإِدهانِ وَالسُّكوتِ ،

but Allah is not well pleased that the people of the Qur’an compromise and stay silent

واللّهُ يُعصى .

while He is being disobeyed.”

حلية الأولياء : ج 1 ص 85 .

Hilyat al-Awliya’, vol. 1, p. 85.

203. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ في عَهدِهِ إلى مالِكِ الأَشتَرِ ـ:

203. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his instructions to Malik al-Ashtar:

وأمضِ لِكُلِّ يَومٍ عَمَلَهُ ؛ فإِنَّ لِكُلِّ يَومٍ ما فيهِ . . .

“Each day perform the work of that day‚ for each day has its own work...

إيّاكَ وَالعَجَلَةَ بِالاُمورِ قَبلَ أوانِها ،

Beware of being hasty to (accomplish) affairs befor their (proper) time‚

أوِ التَّسَقُّطَ فيها عِندَ إمكانِها ،

or neglecting them when it is possible‚

أو اللَّجاجَةَ فيها إذا تَنَكَّرَت ،

or being persistent in doing them when they are impracticable

أوِ الوَهنَ عَنها إذا استَوضَحَت .

or showing weakness in them when they become clear.

فَضَع كُلَّ أمرٍ مَوضِعَهُ ،

So put everything in its place

وأوقِع كُلَّ أمرٍ مَوقِعَهُ .

and perform every action at its time.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 53 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53.

204. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ في عَهدِهِ إلى مالِكٍ الأَشتَرِ ـ:

204. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his instructions to Malik al-Ashtar:

فَاصطَفِ لِوِلايَةِ أعمالِكَ أهلَ الوَرَعِ وَالعِلمِ وَالسِّياسَةِ .

 “Elect the people of piety, knowledge and politics to take charge of the work you have.”

تحف العقول : ص137 .

Tuhaf al-`Uqul, p. 137.

205. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام:

205. Imam Ali (AS) said:

 آفَهُ الأَعمالِ عَجْزُ العُمّالِ .

 “The blight of works is the incapacity of workers.”

غرر الحكم : ح 3958 .

Ghurar al-Hikam, h. 3985.

206. عنه عليه السلام:

206. Imam Ali (AS) said:

 إنَّ المُغيرَةَ بنَ شُعبَةَ قَد كانَ أشارَ عَلَيَّ أن أستَعمِلَ مُعاوِيَةَ عَلَى الشّامِ

“Al-Mughira ibn Shu`ba suggested to me to appoint Mu`awiyah as governor of Syria

وأنَا بِالمَدينَةِ ،

and I rule over Medinah,

فَأَبَيتُ ذلِكَ عَلَيهِ ،

but I rejected his suggestion,

ولَم يَكُنِ اللّهُ لِيَراني أتَّخِذُ المُضِلّينَ عَضُدا . إشارة إلى الآية 51 من سورة الكهف .

for Allah will never see me take the misguided as assistants.” [Referring to the verse: “Nor do I take those who mislead as assistants.” Qur’an, 18:51.]

وقعة صفّين : ص52 .

Waq`at Siffin, p. 52.

207. عنه عليه السلامـ مِن كِتابِهِ إلى رِفاعَةَ قاضِيهِ عَلَى الأَهوازِ ـ:

207. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his letter to Rifa`a, his judge in Ahwaz:

اِعلَم يا رِفاعَةُ أنَّ هذِهِ الإِمارَةَ أمانَةٌ ؛

“O Rifa`a, know that this rulership is trust.

فَمَن جَعَلَها خِيانَةً فَعَلَيهِ لَعنَةُ اللّهِ إلى يَومِ القيامَةِ ،

Whoever betrays will have the damnation of Allah until Judgment Day,

ومَنِ استَعمَلَ خائِنا

and whoever employs a traitor,

فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدا صلى الله عليه و آله بَريءٌ مِنهُ فِي الدُّنيا وَالآخِرَةِ .

then Muhammad (SA) is indeed averse (bari’) to him in this world and the hereafter.”

دعائم الإسلام : ج2 ص531 ح1890 .

Da`a’im al-Islam, vol. 2, p. 531, h. 1890.

208. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ في عَهدِهِ إلى مالِكٍ الأَشتَرِ ـ:

208. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his instructions to Malik al-Ashtar:

ثُمَّ أسبِغ عَلَيهِمُ الأَرزاقَ ؛

“Then bestow provisions upon them abundantly‚

فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ قُوَّةٌ لَهُم عَلَى استِصلاحِ أنفُسِهِم ،

for that will empower them to reform themselves

وغِنىً لَهُم عَن تَناوُلِ ما تَحتَ أيديهِم ،

and it will make them needless from consuming what is under their authority

وحُجَّةٌ عَلَيهِم إن خالَفوا أمرَك أو ثَلَموا أمانَتَكَ .

and it is an argument against them if they should disobey your command or sully your trust.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 53 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53.

209. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ في عَهدِهِ إلى مالِكٍ الأَشتَرِ ـ:

209. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his instructions to Malik al-Ashtar:

ثُمَّ انظُر في اُمورِ عُمّالِكَ فَاستَعمِلهُمُ اختِبارا . . .

“Then look into the affairs of your administrators and employ them after having tested (them)....

ثُمَّ تَفَقَّد أعمالَهُم ،

Then investigate their actions.

وَابعَثِ العُيونَ مِن أهلِ الصِّدقِ وَالوَفاءِ عَلَيهِم ؛

Dispatch truthful and loyal observers (to watch) over them‚

فَإِنَّ تَعاهُدَكَ فِي السِّرِّ لِاُمورِهِم حَدوَةٌ لَهُم عَلَى استِعمالِ الأَمانَةِ ،

for your investigation of their affairs in secret will incite them to carry out their trust faithfully

وَالرِّفقِ بِالرَّعِيَّةِ ،

and to act kindly towards the subjects.

وتَحَفَّظ مِنَ الأَعوانِ ؛

Be mindful of aides.

فَإِن أحَدٌ مِنهُم بَسَطَ يَدَهُ إلى خِيانَةٍ اِجتَمَعَت بِها عَلَيهِ عِندَكَ أخبارُ عُيونِكَ ،

If one of them should extend his hand in a treacherous act‚ concerning which the intelligence received against him from your observers‚

اكتَفَيتَ بِذلِكَ شاهِدا ،

and you are satisfied with that as a witness‚

فَبَسَطتَ عَلَيهِ العُقوبَةَ في بَدَنِهِ ،

subject him to corporeal punishment

وأخَذتَهُ بِما أصابَ مِن عَمَلِهِ ،

and hold him responsible for the consequences of his actions.

ثُمَّ نَصَبتَهُ بِمَقامِ المَذَلَّةِ ،

Then subject him to humilation‚

ووَسَمتَهُ بِالخِيانَةِ ،

brand him with treachery

وقَلَّدتَهُ عارَ التُّهَمَةِ .

and gird him with the shame of accusation.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 53 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53.

210. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ في عَهدِهِ إلى مالِكٍ الأَشتَرِ ـ:

210. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his instructions to Malik al-Ashtar:

ولا يَكونُ المُحسِنُ وَالمُسيءُ عِندَكَ بِمَنزِلَةٍ سَواءٍ ؛

“Never let the good-doer and the evil-doer possess an equal station before you,

فَإِنَّ في ذلِكَ تَزهيدا لاِهلِ الإِحسانِ فِي الإِحسانِ ،

for that would cause the good-doer to abstain from his good-doing

وتَدريبا لِأَهلِ الإِساءَةِ عَلَى الإِساءَةِ .

and urge the evil-doer to his evil-doing.

وألزِم كُلّاً مِنهُم ما ألزَمَ نَفسَهُ .

Impose upon each of them what he has imposed upon himself.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 53 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53.

211. نثر الدرّ :

211. Nathr al-Durr:

قالَ ]عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام [ لِلأَشعَثِ بنِ قَيسٍ :

“He [Ali (AS)] said to al-Ash`ath ibn Qays:

أدِّ [ يعنى: ما أخذه من بيت المال ظلما] وإلّا ضَرَبتُكَ بِالسَّيفِ .

 “Return [that which you unrightfully took from the Muslim Treasury], or else I will strike you with a sword.”

فَأَدّى ما كانَ عَلَيهِ ،

So al-Ash`ath returned what was due.

فَقالَ لَهُ : مَن كانَ عَلَيكَ لَو كُنّا ضَرَبناكَ بِعَرضِ السَّيفِ ؟

He (AS) said to him: “Who would have protected you if we were to have hit you with a sword?”

فَقالَ : إنَّكَ مِمَّن إذا قالَ فَعَلَ .

He said: “You are among those who, when they say something, do it.”

نثر الدرّ : ج1 ص292 .

Nathr al-Durr, vol. 1, p. 292.

212. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ مِن كِتابِهِ إلى زِيادِ بنِ أبيهِ ـ:

212. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his letter to Ziyad ibn Abih:

إنّي اُقسِمُ بِاللّهِ قَسَما صادِقا ،

“I swear by Allah an honest oath that

لَئِن بَلَغَني أنَّكَ خُنتَ مِن فَيءِ المُسلِمينَ شَيئا صَغيرا أو كَبيرا ،

if I come to know you have betrayed the wealth of the Muslims, small or large,

لَأَشُدَّنَّ عَلَيكَ شِدَّةً تَدَعُكَ قَليلَ الوَفر ، ثَقيلَ الظَّهرِ ، ضَئيلَ الأَمرِ . وَالسَّلامُ .

I will punish you in such a way that will leave you with an empty hand a heavy burden and humiliated.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 20 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 20.

213. الاستيعاب :

213. Al-Isti`ab:

كانَ عَليٌّ عليه السلام . . . لا يَخُصُّ بِالوِلاياتِ إلّا أهلَ الدِّياناتِ وَالأَماناتِ ،

“Ali (AS) would.....only appoint the faithful and the trustworthy in the cities.

وإذا بَلَغَهُ عَن أحَدِهِم خِيانَةٌ كَتَبَ إلَيهِ :

If he was informed that someone had betrayed, he would write to him:

قَد جاءَتكُم مَوعِظَةٌ مِن رَبِّكُم

“There has certainly come to you an admonition from your Lord.

فَأَوفُوا الكَيلَ وَالميزانَ بِالقَسطِ

Observe fully the measure and the balance,

ولا تَبخَسُوا النَّاسَ أشياءَهُم

and do not cheat the people in their goods

ولا تَعثَوا فِي الأَرضِ مُفسِدينَ .

and do not act wickedly on earth causing corruption.

بَقِيَّةُ اللّهِ خَيرٌ لَكُم إن كُنتُم مُؤمِنينَ وما أنَا عَلَيكُم بِحَفيظٍ (اقتباس من سورة الأعراف : 85 وهود : 85 و 86).

What remains of Allah’s provisions is better for you, should you be faithful, and I am not a keeper over you. [Extracted from the following verses of the Qur’an: 7:85, and 11:85-6]

إذا أتاكَ كِتابي هذا فاحتَفِظ بِما في يَدَيكَ مِن أعمالِنا حَتّى نَبعَثَ إلَيكَ مَن يَتَسَلَّمُهُ مِنكَ ،

When my letter reaches you, settle what you are in charge of until I dispatch to you he who will take it over from you.”

ثُمَّ يَرفَعُ طَرفَهُ إلَى السَّماءِ فَيَقولُ :

He then turned his face to the sky and said:

اللّهُمَّ إنَّكَ تَعلَمُ أنّي لَم آمُرهُم بِظُلمِ خَلقِكَ ،

“O Allah, you indeed know that I did not command them to oppress Your creatures,

ولا بِتَركِ حَقِّكَ .

nor to abandon Your rights.”

 وخُطَبُهُ ومَواعِظُهُ ووَصاياهُ لِعُمّالِهِ إذ كانَ يُخرِجُهُم إلى أعمالِهِ كَثيرَةٌ مَشهورَةٌ لَم أرَ التَّعَرُّضَ لِذِكرِها ، لِئَلّا يَطولَ الكِتابُ ، وهِيَ حِسانٌ كُلُّها .

His sermons, admonitions and orders to his governors are numerous and well known.”

الاستيعاب : ج3 ص210 .

Al-Isti`ab, vol. 3, p. 210.

214. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ مِن عَهدِهِ إلى مالِكٍ الأَشتَرِ في مُراقَبَةِ العُمّالِ ـ:

214. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his instructions to Malik al-Ashtar:

فَإِن أحَدٌ مِنهُم بَسَطَ يَدَهُ إلى خِيانَةٍ اجتَمَعَت بِها أخبارُ عُيونِكَ ،

“If one of them should extend his hand in a treacherous act concerning which the intelligence received against him from your observers,

اكتَفَيتَ بِذلِكَ شاهِدا ،

and if you are satisfied with that as a witness,

فَبَسَطتَ عَلَيهِ العُقوبَةَ في بَدَنِهِ ،

subject him to corporeal punishment

وأخَذتَهُ بِما أصابَ مِن عَمَلِهِ ،

and charge him for what befell from his action.

ثُمَّ نَصَبتَهُ بِمَقامِ المَذَلَّةِ ،

Then set him in a position of degradation,

ووَسَمتَهُ بِالخِيانَةِ ،

brand him with treachery

وقَلَّدتَهُ عارَ التُّهَمَةِ .

and gird him with the shame of accusation.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 53 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53.