310. Imām Ali (a.s.): “The beauty of a free person (from all sorts of bondages) is in keeping away from infamy.”1
311. Imām Ali (a.s.): “A free person remains free even if distress befalls him and a slave remains a slave even if destiny assists him.”2
312. Imām Ali (a.s.): “O Kufans! I am entangled with you, there are three things [that you possess] and two others [that you lack]: [Concerning the three things] you are deaf in spite of having ears, dumb in spite of speaking and blind in spite of having eyes. [As for the two] you are neither true supporters in combat nor dependable brothers in distress.”3
313. Imām Ali (a.s.) – after hearing about the issue of the arbitration: “Woe betide you! I had to bear a lot of difficulties from you. One day I have to call you loudly (to jihād) and on one day I have to whisper to you in confidence, you are neither true free men at the time of the call nor trustworthy brothers at the time of speaking in confidence.”4
314. Imām Ali (a.s.) – from the aphorisms attributed to him: “Whatever befalls a free man, he will bear it and see it as per his magnanimity, unless when a [small] fraction of his freedom is degraded; and that is when he refuses and does not respond to it.”5
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Attaching Importance to the Pleasure of the Public
315. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in his instructions to Mālik al-Ashtar: “Let the dearest of your affairs be those which are middlemost in rightfulness, most inclusive in justice and most comprehensive in (establishing) the content of the subjects, for the discontent of the masses invalidates the content of favorite [people] and the discontent of favorites is pardoned at the achievement of the content of the masses. Whereas the support of religion, the
solidarity of Muslims and preparedness in the face of the enemy lie only with the common people of the community, so let your inclination and affection be towards them. Verily the foremost delight of the eye for rulers is the establishment of justice in the land and the appearance of friendship for the subjects. But surely the subjects’ love will not appear without their hearts being sound.”6
1.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۴۷۴۵, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۲۲۲, h. ۴۳۳۳.
2.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۱۳۲۲, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۴۸, h. ۱۲۰۲-۳, Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۷۸, p. ۱۲, h. ۷۰.
3.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Sermon ۹۷.
4.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Sermon ۱۲۵.
5.. Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah, vol. ۲۰, p. ۲۷۹, h. ۲۱۰.
6.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Letter ۵۳, Tuhaf al-`Uqul, p. ۱۲۸ ۱۳۳, Da`ā'im al-Islām, vol. ۱, p. ۳۵۵ ۳۵۸.
