See 5/5 (Development of Trade).

5/5

Development of Trade

187. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Engage in trade as it makes you self-sufficient and independent of what is in the hands of others.”¹

188. Imām Ali (a.s.) – to the freed slaves: “Carry on trade, may God grant you blessing. Verily, I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) say: “Provision is in ten parts. Nine parts are in trade, and one is in other occupations.”²

189. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in his instructions to Mālik al-Ashtar: “Then make merchants and craftsmen --those who are permanently fixed, those who move about with their wares and those who profit from (the labor of) their own body-- your own concern, and urge others to do so, for they are the bases of benefits and the means of attaining conveniences. They bring (benefits and conveniences) from remote and inaccessible places in the land, sea, plains and mountains, and from places where men neither gather together nor dare to go. They (the merchants and craftsmen) are gentle people from whom there is no fear of calamity and pacifying people from whom there is no worry of disruption. Examine their affairs in your presence and in every corner of your land.”³

190. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in his instructions to Mālik al-Ashtar (as reported in Tuhaf al-`Uqul): “Now have the best intentions with merchants and craftsmen and give them good counsel whether they are settled (shopkeepers) or traders or laborers, because
they are sources of profits and their providers and bringers. They bring them from distant and remote areas throughout the lands and sea, plains or mountains, from where people do not feel at ease or dare to go, like the countries of your enemies they are people by whose hands God has brought comfort.
So protect their dignity, secure their paths and give them back their rights, for they are peaceful and there is no fear of their harm. The most favorable affairs for them are safeguarding their security and their authority. Look after their affairs in your presence and in every corner of your land.”⁴

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التّنمیة التّجاریّة

187. الإمام عليّ علیه السلام: تَعَرَّضوا لِلتِّجارَةِ؛ فَإِنَّ فيها غِنىً لَكُم عَمّا في أيدِي النّاسِ.¹

188. عنه علیه السلام ـ لِلمَوالي ـ: اِتَّجِروا، بارَكَ اللهُ لَكُم؛ فَإِنّي قَد سَمِعتُ رَسولَ اللهِ صلی الله علیه وآله يَقولُ: الرِّزقُ عَشَرَةُ أجزاءٍ؛ تِسعَةُ أجزاءٍ فِي التِّجارَةِ، وَواحِدَةٌ في غَيرِها.²

189. عنه علیه السلام ـ في عَهدِهِ إلى مالِك الأَشتَرِ ـ: ثُمَّ استَوصِ بِالتُّجّارِ وذَوِي الصِّناعاتِ ،وأوصِ بِهِم خَيراً، المُقيمِ مِنهُم وَالمُضطَرِبِ بِمالِهِ، وَالمُتَرَفِّقِ بِبَدَنِهِ؛ فَإِنَّهُم مَوادُّالمَنافِعِ، وأسبابُ المَرافِقِ، وجُلّابُها مِنَ المَباعِدِ وَالمَطارِحِ ،³ في بَرِّكَ وبَحرِكَ، وسَهلِكَ وجَبَلِكَ، وحَيثُ لا يَلتَئِمُ النّاسُ لِمَواضِعِها، ولا يَجتَرِؤونَ عَلَيها؛ فَإِنَّهُم سِلمٌ لا تُخافُ بائِقَتُهُ، وصُلحٌ لا تُخشَى غائِلَتُهُ. وتَفَقَّد اُمورَهُم بِحَضرَتِكَ، وفي حَواشي بِلادِكَ.⁴

190. عنه علیه السلام ـ في عَهدِهِ إلى مالِك الأَشتَرِ (في روايَةِ تُحَفِ العُقولِ) ـ: ثُمَّ التُّجّارَ وذَوِي الصِّناعاتِ فَاستَوصِ وأوصِ بِهِم خَيراً؛ المُقيمِ مِنهُم، وَالمُضطَرِبِ⁵ بِمالِهِ، وَالمُتَرَفِّقِ
بِيَدِهِ؛ فَإِنَّهُم مَوادٌّ لِلمَنافِعِ، وجُلّابُها فِي البِلادِ في بَرِّكَ وبَحرِكَ وسَهلِكَ وجَبَلِكَ، وحَيثُ لا يَلتَئِمُ النّاسُ لِمَواضِعِها ولا يَجتَرِئونَ عَلَيها مِن بِلادِ أعدائِكَ مِن أهلِ الصِّناعاتِ الَّتي أجرَى اللهُ الرِّفقَ مِنها عَلى أيديهِم فَاحفَظ حُرمَتَهُم، وآمِن سُبُلَهُم، وَخُذ لَهُم بِحُقوقِهِم؛ فَإِنَّهُم سِلمٌ لا تُخافُ بائِقَتُهُ، وصُلحٌ لا تُحذَرُ غائِلَتُهُ، أحَبُّ الاُمورِ إلَيهِم أجمَعُها لِلأَمنِ وأجمَعُها لِلسُّلطانِ، فَتَفَقَّد اُمورَهُم بِحَضرَتِكَ، وفي حَواشي بِلادِكَ.⁶