See: The Encyclopedia of Amir al-Mu'minin: (al-Mundhir ibn Jārud).
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Dismissing Treacherous Administrators
134. al-Isti`āb: “Ali (a.s.) would appoint only the faithful and the trustworthy people [in the cities], and if any one of them was reported to him to have committed treachery, he would write to him the following: “There has certainly come to you admonition from your Lord. Observe fully the measure and balance, and do not cheat the people of their goods and do not cause corruption on the earth. What remains of God’s provision is better for you, should you be faithful, and I am not a keeper over you.”1 When my letter reaches you, settle what you are in charge of until I send someone to take it over from you.” He would then turn his face towards the sky and say: “O God! Certainly You know that I neither ordered them to tyrannize Your creatures nor to abandon Your rights.”23
135. Da‘ā’im al-Islām: “Ali (a.s.) summoned Ash`ath ibn Qays, who was appointed by `Uthmān as the governor of Azerbaijan and received a hundred thousand dirhams. Some said `Uthmān had granted that money to him and others believed that he had gained it through his work.
Ali (a.s.) commanded him to present that money, but he refused and said: “O Commander of the Faithful! I have not obtained this money in your government.”
The Imām said: “By God, if you do not present it to the public treasury, I will strike you with my sword and it will take from you what it must.”
Thereupon he brought back the property and the Imām placed it in the treasury. He followed up this [inquiry] in relation to `Uthmān’s administrators, taking back whatever of [unlawful] property left in their hands and fining them for what they had wasted.”4
1.. Taken from the Qur'ān, ۷: ۸۵, ۱۱: ۸۵ – ۸۶.
2.. al-Isti`āb, vol. ۳, p. ۲۱۰, Ibid, p. ۲۱۱, h. ۱۸۷۵.
3.. The speeches, sermons and recommendations of the Imām to his administrators when he would send them on their missions are abundant, but many are not mention here in order here to avoid lengthening the present book, as enlightening as they are.
4.. Da`ā'im al-Islām, vol. ۱, p. ۳۹۶.
