99 - الحُقوقُ المُتَبادَلَةُ بَينَ الإمامِ وَالاُمَّةِ

99. The Reciprocal Duties and Rights Between the Imam and the Community

316.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : حَقٌّ على‏ الإمامِ أنْ يَحْكُمَ بما أنْزَلَ اللَّهُ وأنْ يُؤدّيَ الأمانةَ ، فإذا فَعَلَ فَحَقٌّ علَى النّاسِ أنْ يَسْمَعوا لَهُ وأنْ يُطيعوا وأنْ يُجيبوا إذا دُعوا .¹

316.Imam Ali (AS) said, 'It is the duty of an Imam to rule in accordance with what Allah has revealed, and that he delivers what he has been entrusted with. If he does that, then it is the duty of the people to listen to him and to obey him and to hearken [to his call] when they are called.' ²

317.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أمّا بَعْدُ ، فإنَّ حَقّاً عَلَى الوالي أَلاّ يُغَيِّرَهُ على‏ رَعِيَّتِهِ فَضْلٌ نالَهُ ، ولا طَوْلٌ خُصَّ بِهِ ، وأنْ يَزيدَهُ ما قَسَمَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مِنْ نِعَمِهِ دُنُوّاً مِنْ عِبادِهِ ، وعَطْفاً على‏ إخْوانِهِ.
ألَا وإنَّ لَكُمْ عِندي ألّا أحْتَجِزَ دُونَكُمْ سِرّاً إلّا في حَرْبٍ ، ولا أطْويَ دُونَكُمْ أمْراً إلّا في حُكْمٍ ، ولا اُؤخِّرَ لَكُمْ حَقّاً عَنْ مَحِلِّهِ ، ولا أقِفَ بِهِ دُونَ مَقْطَعِهِ ، وأنْ تَكونوا عِندي في الحَقِّ سَواءً ، فإذا فَعَلْتُ ذلكَ وَجَبَتْ للَّهِ عَلَيْكُمُ النِّعْمَةُ ولي عَلَيْكُمُ الطّاعةُ .³

317.Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Now it is obligetory upon a ruler that the distinction he achieves, or the wealth with which he has been exclusively endowed, should not make him change his behaviour towards those under him. Rather the bounties that Allah has bestowed on him should increase him in nearness to his people and in kindness towards his brethren.
Beware then that it is my duty towards you that I should not keep anything secret from you except during war, nor should I decide any matter without consulting you except with regards to the commands of religion, nor should I postpone the fulfilment of any of your rights nor desist until I discharge it fully. And that all of you are equal to me in your rights. When I have done all this, it becomes obligatory upon you to thank Allah for this bounty and to obey me.' ⁴