Chapter Four: Cultural 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.

215. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :

215. Imam Ali (AS) said:

عَلَى الإِمامِ

“It is incumbent upon the leader

أن يُعَلِّمَ أهلَ وِلايَتِهِ حُدودَ الإِسلامِ والإِيمانِ .

to teach his subjects the laws and boundaries of Islam and faith.”

غرر الحكم : ح6199 .

Ghurar al-Hikam, h. 6199.

216. عنه عليه السلامـ مِن كِتابٍ لَهُ عليه السلام إلى قُثَمِ بنِ العَبّاسِ ، وهوَ عامِلُهُ عَلى مَكَّةَ ـ:

216. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his letter to Qutham ibn al-`Abbas, his governor in Mecca:

أمّا بَعدُ ،

“[After glorifying Allah and praising the Prophet (SA)] Now,

فَأَقِم لِلنّاسِ الحَجَّ ،

let it be it known to you that you should make all the necessary arrangements for the Hajj pilgrimage

وذَكِّرهُم بِأَيّامِ اللّهِ ،

and remind people of the importance of the Days of Allah.

وَاجلِس لَهُمُ العَصرَينِ ،

Sit for audience in the mornings and evenings,

فَأَفتِ المُستَفِتيَ ،

answer the questions,

وعَلِّمِ الجاهِلَ ،

teach the ignorant

وذاكِرِ العالِمَ .

and discuss with the learned.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 67 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53.

217. الإمام الباقر عليه السلام:

217. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said:

 كانَ عَلِيٌّ عليه السلام إذا صَلَّى الفَجرَ لَم يَزَل مُعَقِّبا إلى أن تَطلُعَ الشَّمسُ ،

 “When Ali (AS) prays morning prayers, he keeps on with after-prayer invocation until sunrise;

فَإِذا طَلَعَتِ اجتَمَعَ إلَيهِ الفُقَراءُ وَالمَساكينُ وغَيرُهُم مِنَ النّاسِ ،

when the sun rises, the poor, the needy and other people gather around him,

فَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الفِقهَ وَالقُرآنَ ،

and he teaches them religion and the Qur’an.

وكانَ لَهُ وَقتٌ يَقومُ فيهِ مِن مَجلِسِهِ ذلِكَ .

He has also a special time for the end of gathering.”

شرح نهج البلاغة : ج4 ص109 .

Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 4, p. 109.

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

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

لا تَنقُض سُنَّةً صالِحَةً عَمِلَ بِها صُدورُ هذِهِ الاُمَّةِ ،

“Abolish no proper custom (sunna) which has been acted upon by the leaders of this community,

وَاجتَمَعَت بِهَا الاُلفَةُ ،

through which harmony has been strengthened

وصَلَحَت عَلَيهَا الرَّعِيَّةُ ،

and because of which the subjects have prospered.

ولا تُحدِثَنَّ سُنَّةً تَضُرُّ بِشَيءٍ مِن ماضي تِلكَ السُّنَنِ ؛

Create no new custom which might in any way damage the customs of the past,

فَيَكونَ الأَجرُ لِمَن سَنَّها ،

lest their reward belong to him who originated them

وَالوِزرُ عَلَيكَ بِما نَقَضتَ مِنها . . .

and the burden be upon you for abolishing them.

وَالواجِبُ عَلَيكَ

It is incumbent upon you

أن تَتَذَكَّرَ مامَضى لِمَن تَقَدَّمَكَ مِن حُكومَةٍ عادِلَةٍ ،

to recall the just government,

أو سُنَّةٍ فاضِلَةٍ ،

the excellent customs,

أو أثَرٍ عَن نَبِيِّنا صلى الله عليه و آله ، أو فَريضَةٍ في كِتابِ اللّهِ .

the sunna of our Prophet (SA) and the obligations (promulgated) in the Book of God, which preceded you (and follow them).”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 53 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53.

219. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :

219. Imam Ali (AS) said:

اِعلَم أنَّ أفضَلَ عِبادِ اللّهِ عِندَ اللّهِ إمامٌ عادِلٌ ،

“Know that the most distinguished servants of God, before God is the just leader (imam)

هُدِيَ وهَدى ،

who has been guided [by God] and guides others,

فَأَقامَ سُنَّةً مَعلومَةً ،

and so he establishes the recognised customs of the Prophet’s sunna

وأماتَ بِدعَةً مَجهولَةً ،

and destroys unrecognised innovations.

وإنَّ السُّنَنَ لَنَيِّرَةٌ لَها أعلَامٌ ،

The [Prophet’s] ways are clear and have signs,

وإنَّ البِدَعَ لَظاهِرَةٌ لَها أعلامٌ .

while innovations are also clear and have signs as well.”

نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 164 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 164.

220. الإمام عليّ عليه السلامـ في عَهدِهِ إلى مالِكٍ الأَشتَرِ بَعدَ ذِكرِ خَصائِصِ البِطانَةِ الصّالِحَةِ ـ:

220. Imam Ali (AS) said, in his instructions to Malik al-Ashtar after mentioning the characteristics of the righteous people:

فَاتَّخِذ اُولئِكَ خاصَّةً لِخَلَواتِكَ وحَفَلاتِكَ ،

“So choose these men as your special companions in privacy and at assemblies.

ثُمَّ ليَكُن آثَرُهُم عِندَكَ أقوَلَهُم بِمُرِّ الحَقِّ لَكَ ،

Then let the most influential among them be he who speaks most to you with the bitterness of the truth

وأقَلَّهُم مُساعَدَةً فيما يَكونُ مِنكَ مِمّا كَرِهَ اللّهُ لِأَولِيائِهِ،

and supports you least in activities which God dislikes in His friends,

واقِعا ذلِكَ مِن هَواكَ حَيثُ وَقَعَ .

even though this may contradict your pleasure.

وَالصَق بِأَهلِ الوَرَعِ وَالصِّدقِ ،

Cling to men of piety and veracity.

ثُمَّ رُضهُم عَلى ألّا يُطروكَ ولا يَبجَحوكَ  بِباطِلٍ لَم تَفعَلهُ ؛

Then accustom them not to lavish praise upon you nor (to try to) gladden you by (attributing to you) a vanity you did not do,

فَإِنَّ كَثرَةَ الإِطراءِ تُحدِثُ الزَّهوَ ،

for lavishing of abundant praise causes arrogance

وتُدني مِنَ العِزَّةِ .

and draws (one) close to pride.”

نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 53 .

Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 53.