Contents of the Nahj al-balāgha

The Nahj al-balāgha brings together a selection of speeches (pl. ḵuṭab, sing. ḵuṭba), letters (pl.
kutub, sing. kitāb), and rulings, along with other statements and pithy sayings that were attributed
to Ali. For the most part, this material is found scattered in various earlier sources. But rarely
verbatim. Standard editions of the Nahj al-balāgha, contain a total of 241 speeches, 79 letters, and
few hundred miscellaneous statements. The number of sections as well their ordering may differ
slightly among manuscripts and even from one modern edition to another. The range and depth of
the contents vary as well. Shorter speeches comprise merely a few lines and the longer ones run
into a four to six pages in print.

The first speech, in over one thousand words, begins with the praise of God, and then turns to
theological teachings, focusing on the foundational tenet of Islam, the Oneness of God (tawḥīd).
The speech continues with observations on the creation of the heaven, the earth, and Adam.
Throughout, the speech emphasizes the inability of humans in fathoming the essence of the Divine.
A brief passage follows:

All praise belongs to God, for whom spoken words fall short. His bounties extend
beyond the reckoning of the reckoners. The truth about Him may never be grasped,
no matter how high one aspires to reach or how deep one’s mind penetrates. His
attributes go beyond all limits, and no description fits Him. Never bound by time
or extension, He created the creation with His power; He sent the breeze in
compassion …
The prime purpose of religion is to know Him. To know Him in perfection is to
acknowledge that He truly exists; to acknowledge this perfectly is to realize His
Oneness; and to realize His perfection is dedicate oneself entirely to Him ….1

Battleground speeches

Several of the speeches in the Nahj al-balāgha record addresses that Ali had made on the
battlefield. One such speech, among the shortest speeches in the Nahj al-balāgha, records
instructions to his son Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥanafiya, as Ali passed the standard to him during the
Battle of the Camel, in the year 656:2

َّ ُ‫ َوغ‬،‫صى ال َق ْوِم‬ ِ ِ ‫ تِ ْد يف االْ ْر‬،‫ك‬ ِ ‫ أ‬،‫ض علَى ََن ِج ِذ َك‬ ُ َ‫ول اجلِب‬
‫ َو ْاعلَ ْم أَ َّن‬،‫صَرَك‬
َ َ‫ض ب‬ َ َ‫ ْارم بِب‬،‫ك‬
َ ْ‫ص ِرَك أَق‬ َ ‫ض قَ َد َم‬ َ َ‫َع ِر هللاَ ُُج ُج َمت‬ َ َّ ‫ال َوالَ تَ ُزْل! َع‬ ُ ‫تَ ُز‬
ِ ِ ِ ِ
.ُ‫َّصَر م ْن عْند هللا ُسْب َحانَه‬
ْ ‫الن‬
Mountains may move from their position, but you should not move from yours.
Grit your teeth. Lend to Allah your head (in fighting for Allah, give yourself to
Allah). Plant your feet firmly on the ground. Have your eye on the remotest foe and
close your eyes (to their numerical majority). And keep sure that succor is but from
Allah, the Glorified.

1
For a different full English translation, see https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons/sermon-1-
praise-due-allah-whose-worth-cannot-be-described
2
https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons/sermon-11-mountains-may-move-their-position-you-
should-not
The Description of those Who Have Taqwā (Ḵuṭba al-muttaqīn)3

It is related that a companion of Amir al-mu'minin called Hammām1 who was a man devoted to
worship said to him, "O' Amir al-mu'minin, describe to me the pious man in such a way as though
I see them." Amir al-mu'minin avoided the reply and said, "O Hammam, fear Allah and perform
good acts because 'Verily, Allah is with those who guard (themselves against evil), and those
who do good (to others)'" (Qur'an, 16:128). Hammam was not satisfied with this and pushed him
to speak. Thereupon, Amir al-mu'minin praised Allah and extolled Him and sought His blessings
on the Holy Prophet and then spoke:
)‫ومن خطبة له (عليه السالم‬
‫يصف فيها المتقين‬
:‫ فقال له‬،ً‫أن صاحبا ً الميرالمؤمنين(عليه السالم) يقال له ه ّما ٌم كان رجالً عابدا‬ ّ ‫روي‬
.‫ صف لي المتقين كأني أنظر إليهم‬،‫يا أميرالمؤمنين‬
( ‫ق هللاَ وأحْ س ِْن فَـ‬
ِ ‫ات‬ ، ‫م‬
ُ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬
ّ ‫ه‬ ‫يا‬ :)‫السالم‬ ‫قال(عليه‬ ‫ثم‬ ،‫جوابه‬ ‫عن‬ ‫إن هللاَ َم َع الَّذِينَ اتَّقَ ْوا والَّذِينَ ُه ْم ُمحْ ِسنُونَ ) فتثاقل‬
َّ
ّ َ
‫فلم يقنع ه ّما ٌم بِذلِكَ القول حتى عزم عليه‬
:)‫ ثم قال (عليه السالم‬،)‫ وصلّى على النبي (صلى هللا عليه وآله‬،‫ فحمد هللا وأثنى عليه‬:‫قال‬

Now then, Allah the Glorified, the Sublime, created (the things of) creation. He created them
without any need for their obedience or being safe from their sinning, because the sin of anyone
who sins does not harm Him nor does the obedience of anyone who obeys Him benefit Him. He
has distributed among them their livelihood, and has assigned them their positions in the world.
‫صيَةُ َم ْن‬ ِ ‫ ِالنَّةُ الَ تَض ُُّرهُ َم ْع‬،‫صيَتِ ِه ْم‬ ِ ‫عتِ ِه ْم ِآمنا ً ِم ْن َم ْع‬ َ ‫طا‬َ ‫ع ْن‬ َ ً ‫غنِيّا‬ َ ‫س ْب َحانَهُ َوتَعَالَى ـ َخلَقَ ْالخ َْلقَ ِحينَ َخلَقَ ُه ْم‬ ُ ‫ فَإِ َّن هللاَ ـ‬،ُ‫أ َ َّما بَ ْعد‬
.‫اض َع ُه ْم‬ ِ ‫ض َع ُه ْم ِمنَ الدُّ ْنيَا َم َو‬ َ ‫ َو َو‬،‫ش ُه ْم‬ َ ‫س َم بَ ْينَ ُه ْم َم َعا ِي‬َ َ‫ فَق‬،ُ‫عه‬َ ‫طا‬ َ َ‫عةُ َم ْن أ‬ َ ‫طا‬ َ ُ‫ َوالَ ت َ ْنفَعُه‬،ُ‫صاه‬ َ ‫ع‬ َ
Thus, the God-fearing, in it are the people of distinction. Their speech is to the point, their dress is
moderate and their gait is humble. They keep their eyes closed to what Allah has made unlawful
for them, and they put their ears to that knowledge which is beneficial to them. They remain in the
time of trials as though they remain in comfort. If there had not been fixed periods (of life) ordained
for each, their spirits would not have remained in their bodies even for the twinkling of an eye
because of (their) eagerness for the reward and fear of chastisement. The greatness of the Creator
is seated in their heart, and, so, everything else appears small in their eyes. Thus to them Paradise
is as though they see it and are enjoying its favors. To them, Hell is also as if they see it and are
suffering punishment in it.
ُ‫ع َّما َح َّر َم هللا‬ َ ‫ار ُه ْم‬ َ ‫ص‬ َ ‫غضُّوا أَ ْب‬ َ .‫ض ُع‬ ُ ‫ َو َم ْشيُ ُه ُم الت َّ َوا‬،ُ‫صاد‬ ْ ‫س ُه ُم ا‬
َ ِ‫ال ْقت‬ ُ َ‫ َو َم ْلب‬،‫اب‬ ُ ‫ص َو‬ َّ ‫ َم ْن ِطقُ ُه ُم ال‬:‫ضائِ ِل‬ َ َ‫فَ ْال ُمتَّقُونَ فِي َها ُه ْم أ َ ْه ُل ْالف‬
َ ‫ال َج ُل الَّذِي َكت‬
ُ‫َب هللا‬ ْ ‫ لَ ْو الَ ا‬.‫َاء‬ ِ ‫الرخ‬ َّ ‫ت فِي‬ ْ َ‫س ُه ْم ِم ْن ُه ْم فِي ْالبَالَ ِء كَالَّتِي نَزَ ل‬ ْ َ‫ نَزَ ل‬.‫علَى ْال ِع ْل ِم النَّافِ ِع لَ ُه ْم‬
ُ ُ‫ت أ َ ْنف‬ َ ‫ع ُه ْم‬َ ‫ َو َوقَفُوا أ َ ْس َما‬،‫علَ ْي ِه ْم‬ َ
ُ
‫صغ َر َما‬ َ ُ ْ ُ
َ ‫عظ َم الخَا ِلق فِي أنف ِس ِه ْم ف‬ ْ ُ َ .‫ب‬ َ ْ ً
ِ ‫ َوخ َْوفا ِمنَ ال ِعقا‬،‫ب‬ َّ َ ً
ِ ‫ ش َْوقا إِلى الث َوا‬،‫عيْن‬ َ َ َ
َ ‫سا ِد ِه ْم ط ْرفة‬ َ َ َ َ
َ ْ‫عل ْي ِه ُم ل ْم ت َ ْست َ ِق َّر أ ْر َوا ُح ُه ْم فِي أج‬ َ
. َ‫ فَ ُه ْم فِي َها ُم َعذَّبُون‬،‫ار َك َم ْن قَ ْد َرآهَا‬ ُ َّ‫ َو ُه ْم َوالن‬، َ‫ فَ ُه ْم فِي َها ُمنَعَّ ُمون‬،‫ فَ ُه ْم َو ْال َجنَّةُ َك َم ْن قَ ْد َرآهَا‬،‫دُونَهُ فِي أ َ ْعيُنِ ِه ْم‬
Their hearts are grieved, others are protected from their evils, their bodies are thin, their needs are
scanty, and their souls are chaste. They endured (hardship) for a short while, and in consequence
they secured comfort for a long time. It is a beneficial transaction that Allah made easy for them.
The world aimed at them, but they did not aim at it. It captured them, but they freed themselves
from it by a ransom.
ً‫يرة ً أ َ ْعقَبَتْ ُه ْم َرا َحة‬ َ ‫ص‬ ِ َ‫صبَ ُروا أَيَّاما ً ق‬ َ .ٌ‫ع ِفيفَة‬ ُ ُ‫ َوأ َ ْنف‬،ٌ‫ َو َحا َجات ُ ُه ْم َخ ِفيفَة‬،ٌ‫سادُ ُه ْم ن َِحيفَة‬
َ ‫س ُه ْم‬ َ ْ‫ َوأَج‬،ٌ‫ور ُه ْم َمأ ْ ُمونَة‬ ُ ‫ش ُر‬ ُ ‫ َو‬،ٌ‫قُلُوبُ ُه ْم َمحْ ُزونَة‬
.‫س ُه ْم ِم ْن َها‬ ُ
َ ُ‫س َرتْ ُه ْم فَفَدَ ْوا أ ْنف‬ َ َ‫ َوأ‬،‫ أَ َرادَتْ ُه ُم ْالدُّ ْنيَا َولَ ْم يُ ِريدُوهَا‬.‫ يَس ََّرهَا لَ ُه ْم َربُّ ُهم‬،ٌ‫ارة ٌ َم ْر ِب َحة‬ َ ‫ تِ َج‬،ً‫ط ِويلَة‬ َ
During a night they are upstanding on their feet reading portions of the Qur'an and reciting it in a
well-measured way, creating through it grief for themselves and seeking by it the cure for their
3
https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons/sermon-193-now-then-allah-glorified-sublime-created
ailments. If they come across a verse creating eagerness (for Paradise) they pursue it avidly, and
their spirits turn towards it eagerly, and they feel as if it is in front of them. And when they come
across a verse which contains fear (of Hell) they bend the ears of their hearts towards it, and feel
as though the sound of Hell and its cries are reaching their ears.
They bend themselves from their backs, prostrate themselves on their foreheads, their palms, their
knees and their toes, and beseech Allah, the Sublime, for their deliverance. During the day they
are enduring, learned, virtuous and God-fearing. Fear (of Allah) has made them thin like arrows.
If any one looks at them he believes they are sick, although they are not sick, and he says that they
have gone mad. In fact, great concern (i.e., fear) has made them mad.
‫ فَإِذَا َم ُّروا‬،‫يرونَ ِب ِه دَ َوا َء دَائِ ِه ْم‬ ُ ِ‫ َو َي ْستَث‬،‫س ُه ْم‬ َ ُ‫ يُ َح ِ ّزنُونَ ِب ِه أ َ ْنف‬،ً‫آن ي َُر ِت ّلُونَ َها ت َْرتِيال‬ ِ ‫اء ْالقُ ْر‬ ِ َ‫ ت َالِينَ ِالََ جْ ز‬،‫صافُّونَ أ َ ْقدَا َم ُه ْم‬ َ َ‫أ َ َّما اللَّ ْي َل ف‬
‫صغ َْوا‬ ْ ‫يف أ‬ َ ٌ ‫ َوإِذَا َم ُّروا بِآيَة فِي َها ت َْخ ِو‬،‫ب أ ْعيُنِ ِه ْم‬ َ َ ‫ص‬ َ ً
ْ ُ‫ َوظنُّوا أنَّ َها ن‬،‫س ُه ْم إِل ْي َها ش َْوقا‬ َ ُ ‫ت نُفُو‬ َّ َ ً َ
ْ َ‫ َوتَطلع‬،‫يق َر َكنُوا إِل ْي َها ط َمعا‬ َ ٌ ‫بِآيَة فِي َها ت َ ْش ِو‬
،‫شونَ ِل َج َبا ِه ِه ْم َوأَ ُك ِفّ ِه ْم‬ ُ ‫ ُم ْفت َِر‬،‫اط ِه ْم‬ِ ‫س‬ َ ْ ‫و‬ َ ‫أ‬ ‫ى‬ َ ‫ل‬‫ع‬ َ َ‫ون‬ ُ ‫ن‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ح‬ َ ُْ ِْ‫م‬ ‫ه‬ َ ‫ف‬ ، ‫م‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ن‬
ِ ‫ا‬َ ‫ذ‬ ‫آ‬ ‫ل‬
ِ ُ‫و‬ ‫ص‬ ُ ‫أ‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ف‬
ِ ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬ َ ‫ق‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ش‬
َ
َ ِ َ َ َ َ َ ‫و‬ ‫م‬ َّ ‫ن‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ج‬ ‫ير‬ ‫ف‬
ِ َ‫ز‬ ‫ن‬ َّ َ ‫أ‬ ‫وا‬ ُّ ‫ن‬ َ
‫ظ‬ ‫و‬ َ ْ ِ ِ ُ‫ام َع قُل‬
، ‫م‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ب‬ ‫و‬ ِ ‫س‬َ ‫ِإلَ ْي َها َم‬
َ
.‫َاك ِرقابِ ِه ْم‬ َ
ِ ‫ يَطلبُونَ إِلى هللاِ فِي فَك‬،‫اف أقدَ ِام ِه ْم‬ ُ ْ ْ َ ِ ‫ط َر‬ ْ َ ‫َوأ‬
‫ َو َما ِب ْالقَ ْو ِم ِم ْن‬،‫ضى‬ َ ‫سبُ ُه ْم َم ْر‬ َ ْ‫اظ ُر فَيَح‬ ِ َّ‫ظ ُر ِإلَيْه ُم ْالن‬ ُ ‫ يَ ْن‬،‫اح‬ ِ َ‫ي ْال ِقد‬ َ ‫ف بَ ْر‬ ُ ‫ قَ ْد بَ َرا ُه ْم ْالخ َْو‬،‫ار أَتْ ِقيَا ُء‬ ٌ ‫ أَب َْر‬،‫علَ َما ُء‬ ُ ‫ار فَ ُحلَ َما ُء‬ َ ‫َوأ َ َّما النَّ َه‬
!‫ع ِظي ٌم‬ َ َ َ َ َ
َ ‫ ق ْد خو ِلطوا! َولق ْد خَالط ُه ْم أ ْم ٌر‬:ُ‫ َويَقول‬،‫َم َرض‬ ُ ُ َ ُ
They are not satisfied with their meagre good acts, and do not regard their major acts as great.
They always blame themselves and are afraid of their deeds. When anyone of them is spoken of
highly, he says: "I know myself better than others, and my Lord knows me better than I know. O
Allah, do not deal with me according to what they say, and make me better than they think of me
and forgive me (those shortcomings) which they do not know."
‫َاف‬َ ‫ي أ َ َحدٌ ِم ْن ْه ْم خ‬ َ ‫ ِإذَا ُز ِ ّك‬. َ‫ َو ِم ْن أ َ ْع َما ِل ِه ْم ُم ْش ِفقُون‬، َ‫ فَ ُه ْم ِال ْنفُ ِس ِه ْم ُمت َّ ِه ُمون‬،‫ير‬ َ ِ‫ َوالَ َي ْست َ ْكثِ ُرونَ ْال َكث‬،َ‫ض ْونَ ِم ْن أ َ ْع َما ِل ِه ُم ْالقَ ِليل‬ َ ‫الَ َي ْر‬
‫ض َل ِم َّما‬ ْ َ ْ ُ
َ ‫ َواجْ عَلنِي أف‬، َ‫اخذنِي بِ َما يَقولون‬ُ ْ ُ َّ ْ
ِ ‫ َو َر ِبّي أ ْعل ُم ِم ِنّي بِنَفسي! الل ُه َّم الَ ت َؤ‬،‫غي ِْري‬ َ َ ْ َ َ
َ ‫ أنَا أ ْعل ُم بِنَفسِي ِم ْن‬:ُ‫ فَيَقول‬،ُ‫ِم َّما يُقَا ُل له‬ َ ُ َ
. َ‫ َوا ْغ ِف ْر ِلي َما الَ يَ ْعلَ ُمون‬، َ‫ظنُّون‬ ُ َ‫ي‬
Among the signs of anyone of them is that you will see that he has strength in religion,
determination along with leniency, faith with conviction, eagerness for knowledge, and knowledge
with forbearance, moderation in riches, devotion in worship, gracefulness in starvation, endurance
in hardship, desire for the lawful, pleasure in guidance and hatred from greed. He performs virtuous
deeds but still feels afraid. In the evening he is anxious to offer thanks (to Allah). In the morning
his anxiety is to remember (Allah).
He passes the night in fear and rises in the morning in joy - fear lest night is passed in forgetfulness,
and joy over the favour and mercy received by him. If his self refuses to endure a thing which it
does not like he does not grant its request towards what it likes. The coolness of his eye lies in
what is to last for ever, while from the things (of this world) that will not last he keeps aloof. He
transfuses knowledge with forbearance, and speech with action.
‫صدا ً فِي‬ ْ َ‫ َوق‬،‫ َو ِع ْلما ً فِي ِح ْلم‬،‫ َو ِح ْرصا ً فِي ِع ْلم‬،‫ َوإِي َمانا ً فِي يَ ِقين‬،‫ َو َح ْزما ً فِي ِلين‬،‫عالَ َم ِة أ َ َح ِد ِه ْم أَنَّكَ ت ََرى لَهُ قُ َّوة ً فِي دِين‬ َ ‫فَ ِم ْن‬
‫ يَ ْع َم ُل‬.‫ط َمع‬ َ ‫ع ْن‬ َ ً ‫ َوتَ َح ُّرجا‬،‫ى‬ ً ‫ َونَشاطا ً فِي هُد‬،‫طلَبا ً فِي َحالَل‬ َ ‫ َو‬،‫صبْرا ً فِي ِشدَّة‬ َ ‫ َو‬،‫ َوت َ َج ُّمالً فِي فَاقَة‬،‫شوعا ً فِي ِعبَادَة‬ ُ ‫ َو ُخ‬،‫نى‬ ً ‫ِغ‬
ّ َ ً
َ‫ َحذِرا ل َّما ُحذ َِر ِمن‬،‫صبِ ُح ف ِرحا‬ ً َ ً
ْ ُ‫ َوي‬،‫َحذِرا‬ ُ‫يت‬ ْ ّ ُ
ِ‫ يَب‬،‫صبِ ُح َو َه ُّمه ال ِذك ُر‬ ْ ُّ ُ
ْ ُ‫ َوي‬،‫ يُ ْمسِي َو َه ُّمه الشك ُر‬،‫على َو َجل‬ َ َ ‫صا ِل َحة َوه َُو‬ َ َّ ‫ال ْع َما َل ال‬ ْ ‫ا‬
‫ع ْينِ ِه فِيَما‬ َ ُ ‫ قُ َّرة‬. ُّ‫سؤْ لَ َها فِيَما ت ُ ِحب‬ ُ ‫سهُ فِيَما ت َ ْك َرهُ لَ ْم يُ ْع ِط َها‬ ُ ‫علَ ْي ِه نَ ْف‬ َ ‫ت‬ ْ َ‫صعَب‬ْ َ ‫ إِ ِن ا ْست‬.‫الرحْ َم ِة‬ َّ ‫ض ِل َو‬ ْ َ‫اب ِمنَ الف‬ْ َ ‫ص‬ َ ‫ َوفَ ِرحا ً بِ َما أ‬،‫ْالغَ ْفلَ ِة‬
َ
.‫ َو ْالقَ ْو َل ِب ْال َع َم ِل‬،‫ َي ْم ُز ُج ْال ِح ْل َم ِب ْال ِع ْل َم‬،‫ َوزَ هَادَتُهُ ِف َيما الَ َي ْبقَى‬،ُ‫الَ َي ُزول‬
You will see his hopes simple, his shortcomings few, his heart fearing, his spirit contented, his
meal small and simple, his religion safe, his desires dead and his anger suppressed. Good alone is
expected from him. Evil from him is not to be feared. Even if he is found among those who forget
(Allah) he is counted among those who remember (Him), but if he is among the rememberers he
is not counted among the forgetful. He forgives him who is unjust to him, and he gives to him who
deprives him. He behaves well with him who behaves ill with him.
 .ُ‫ظه‬ُ ‫غ ْي‬
ُ ً ‫ظوما‬ ُ ‫ َم ْك‬،ُ‫ش ْه َوتُه‬ َ ً‫ َم ِيّتَة‬،ُ‫ َح ِريزا ً دِينُه‬،ُ‫س ْهالً أ َ ْم ُره‬ َ ،ُ‫ َم ْن ُزورا ً أ َ ْكلُه‬،ُ‫سه‬ ُ ‫ قَانِ َعةً نَ ْف‬،ُ‫ قَ ِليالً زَ ل ُل هُ خَا ِشعا ً قَ ْلبُه‬،ُ‫ت ََراهُ قَ ِريبا ً أ َ َملُه‬
ْ ْ َ َّ
. َ‫ َوإِ ْن َكانَ فِي الذا ِك ِرينَ ل ْم يُكتَبْ ِمنَ الغَافِلِين‬، َ‫ب فِي الذا ِك ِرين‬ َّ ُ ْ
َ ِ‫ إِ ْن َكانَ فِي الغَافِلِينَ كت‬.‫ون‬ ٌ ‫ش ُّر ِم ْنهُ َمأ ْ ُم‬ َّ ‫ َوال‬،ٌ‫ْال َخي ُْر ِم ْنهُ َمأ ْ ُمول‬
.ُ‫ط َعه‬ َ َ‫ص ُل َم ْن ق‬ ِ َ‫ َوي‬،ُ‫ َويُ ْع ِطي َم ْن َح َر َمه‬،ُ‫ظلَ َمه‬ َ ‫ع َّم ْن‬ َ ‫يَ ْعفُو‬
Indecent speech is far from him, his utterance is lenient, his evils are non-existent his virtues are
ever present, his good is ahead and mischief has turned its face (from him). He is dignified during
calamities, patient in distresses, and thankful during ease. He does not commit excess over him
whom he hates, and does not commit sin for the sake of him whom he loves. He admits truth before
evidence is brought against him. He does not misappropriate what is placed in his custody, and
does not forget what he is required to remember. He does not call others bad names, he does not
cause harm to his neighbour, he does not feel happy at others misfortunes, he does not enter into
wrong and does not go out of right.
‫ َوفِي‬،‫ُور‬ ٌ ‫صب‬ َ ‫َار ِه‬ ِ ‫ َوفِي ْال َمك‬،‫ور‬ ٌ ُ‫لزالَ ِز ِل َوق‬ َّ ‫ فِي ا‬.ُ‫ ُم ْد ِبرا ً ش َُّره‬،ُ‫ ُم ْق ِبالً َخي ُْره‬،ُ‫اضرا ً َم ْع ُروفُه‬ ِ ‫ َح‬،ُ‫ غَائِبا ً ُم ْنك َُره‬،ُ‫ لَ ِيّنا ً قَ ْولُه‬،ُ‫شه‬ ُ ‫َب ِعيدا ً فُح‬
َ‫ َوال‬،‫ظ‬ َ ‫ض ِيّ ُع َما ا ْستُحْ ِف‬ َ
َ ُ‫ ال ي‬.‫عل ْي ِه‬ َ ْ
َ َ‫ق ق ْب َل أ ْن يُش َهد‬َ َ ِ ّ ‫ف بِال َح‬ْ ُ ‫ يَ ْعت َِر‬. ُّ‫ َوال يَأث ُم فِي َم ْن ي ُِحب‬،‫ض‬ َ ْ َ ُ ‫على َم ْن يُ ْب ِغ‬ َ َ ‫يف‬ ُ ‫ ال يَ ِح‬.‫ور‬ َ ٌ ‫شك‬ ُ َ ‫َاء‬ ِ ‫الرخ‬
َّ
.‫ق‬ِّ ‫ والَ يَ ْخ ُر ُج ِمنَ ْال َح‬،‫اط ِل‬ ِ َ‫ َوالَ يَ ْد ُخ ُل فِي ْالب‬،‫ب‬ ِ ِ‫صائ‬ َ َ ‫م‬ ْ
‫بال‬ ُ‫ت‬ ‫م‬
َ ْ
‫ش‬ ‫ي‬
َ َ ‫ال‬ ‫و‬ َ ِ، ‫جار‬ ْ
‫بال‬ ‫ار‬
ُّ ‫ض‬
َ ُ ‫ي‬ َ ‫ال‬ ‫و‬
َ ، ‫ب‬
ِ ‫ا‬ َ ‫ق‬ ْ
‫ل‬ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬
ِ ِ ‫ز‬ُ ‫ب‬ ‫َا‬ ‫ن‬ ُ ‫ي‬ َ ‫ال‬ ‫و‬
َ َ ، ‫ر‬ ّ
‫ك‬ ِ ُ ‫ذ‬ ‫ا‬ َ َ ‫يَ ْن‬
‫م‬ ‫ى‬ ‫س‬
If he is silent his silence does not grieve him, if he laughs he does not raise his voice, and if he is
wronged he endures till Allah takes revenge on his behalf. His own self is in distress because of
him, while the people are in ease from him. He puts himself in hardship for the sake of his next
life, and makes people feel safe from himself. His keeping away from those who distance
themselves from him is by way of asceticism and purification, and his nearness to those who draw
near to him is by way of leniency and mercifulness. His keeping away is not by way of vanity or
feeling of greatness, nor his nearness by way of deceit and cheating.
‫سهُ ِم ْنهُ فِي‬ ُ ‫ نَ ْف‬.ُ‫صبَ َر َحتّى يَ ُكونَ هللاُ ُه َو الَّذِي يَ ْنت َ ِق ُم لَه‬ َ ‫علَ ْي ِه‬ َ ‫ي‬ َ ‫ َوإِ ْن بُ ِغ‬،ُ‫ص ْوتُه‬ َ ‫ض ِحكَ لَ ْم يَ ْع ُل‬ َ ‫ َوإِ ْن‬،ُ‫ص ْمتُه‬ َ ُ‫ص َمتَ لَ ْم يَغُ َّمه‬ َ ‫إِ ْن‬
‫ َودُنُ ُّوهُ ِم َّم ْن دَنَا‬،ٌ‫ع ْنهُ ُز ْهدٌ َونَزا َهة‬ َ َ َ ‫د‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬
َ َ ‫ت‬ ‫ن‬ ْ ‫م‬
َّ ‫ع‬
َ ُ ‫ه‬ ُ ‫د‬ ‫ع‬
ْ ُ ‫ب‬ . ‫ه‬
ِ ‫س‬ِ ْ
‫ف‬ ‫ن‬
َ ْ
‫ن‬ ‫م‬
ِ ‫اس‬
َ َّ ‫ن‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ح‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ر‬
َ َ َ َ ‫أ‬ ‫و‬ ، ‫ه‬
ِ ‫ت‬
ِ ‫ر‬
َ ‫خ‬ ِ ‫ال‬
ِ ‫نفسه‬ ‫ب‬
َ َ ‫ع‬ ْ ‫ت‬َ ‫أ‬ .‫ة‬ ‫ح‬
َ َ ‫ا‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ف‬
ِ ُ ‫ه‬ ْ
‫ن‬ ‫م‬ ِ ‫اس‬ُ َّ ‫ن‬ ‫ال‬‫و‬َ ،‫عنَاء‬ َ
ْ
.‫ َوال دُن ُّوهُ بِ َمكر َو َخدِيعَة‬،‫عظ َمة‬ ُ َ َ َ ‫عدُهُ بِ ِكبْر َو‬ ُ ‫ْس تَبَا‬ َ ٌ
َ ‫ لي‬،‫ين َو َرحْ َمة‬ ٌ ‫ِمنَهُ ِل‬
It is related that Hammam passed into a deep swoon and then expired. Then Amir al-mu'minin
said: Verily, by Allah I had this fear about him. Then he added: Effective advice produces such
effects on receptive minds. Someone 2 said to him: O Amir al-mu'minin, how is it you do not
receive such an effect? Amir al-mu'minin replied: Woe to you! For death there is a fixed hour
which cannot be exceeded, and a cause which does not change. Now look, never repeat such talk
which Satan had put on your tongue.
:َ‫ ث ُ َّم قَال‬.‫علَ ْي ِه‬َ ‫ أ َ َما َوهللاِ لَقَ ْد ُك ْنتُ أَخَافُ َها‬:)‫ فقال أميرالمؤمنين (عليه السالم‬.‫سه فيها‬ ُ ‫ فصعق ه ّمام رحمه هللا صعقةً كانت نف‬:‫قال‬
!‫ظ ال َبا ِلغَةُ ِبأ َ ْه ِل َها‬ ُ ‫صنَ ُع ْال َم َوا ِع‬ ْ َ ‫ه َكذَا ت‬
َ‫ ال‬،ً‫ فَ َم ْهال‬،ُ‫سبَبا ً الَ يَت َ َج َاو ُزه‬ َ ً ْ َ ُ
َ ‫ َو‬،ُ‫ إِ َّن ِلك ِّل أ َجل َوقتا ال يَ ْعدُوه‬، َ‫ َو ْي َحك‬:)‫ فما بالك يا أميرالمؤمنين ؟ فقال(عليه السالم‬:‫فقال له قائل‬
! َ‫سانِك‬ َ ‫علَى ِل‬ َ ُ‫طان‬ َ ‫ش ْي‬ َّ ‫َث ال‬ َ ‫ فَإِنَّ َما نَف‬،‫تعُ ْد ِل ِمثْ ِل َها‬

Letter 53: An order to Malik al-Ashtar 4

Written1 for (Malik) al-Ashtar an-Nakha'i, when the position of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr had
become precarious, and Amir al-mu'minin had appointed al- Ashtar as the Governor of Egypt and
the surrounding areas; it is the longest document and contains the greatest number of beautiful
sayings.
‫ كتبه لالشتر النَّخَعي رحمه هللا‬:)‫ومن عهد له(عليه السالم‬
‫ وهو أطول عهد كتبه وأجمعه للمحاسن‬،‫ل ّما واله على مصر وأعمالها حين اضطرب أمر مح ّمد بن أبي بكر رحمه هللا‬

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

‫الرحيم‬
َّ ‫من‬
ِ ‫الرح‬
َّ ِ‫سم هللا‬
ِ ‫ِب‬
4
https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-2-letters-and-sayings/letter-53-order-malik-al-ashtar
This is what Allah's servant `Ali, Amir al-mu'minin, has ordered Malik ibn al-Harith al-Ashtar in
his instrument (of appointment) for him when he made him Governor of Egypt for the collection
of its revenues, fighting against its enemies, seeking the good of its people and making its cities
prosperous.
َ‫ َو ِج َهاد‬،‫اج َها‬ ِ ‫ ِجبْوة َ خ ََر‬:‫ص َر‬ ْ ‫ ِحينَ َوالَّهُ ِم‬،‫ع ْه ِد ِه ِإلَ ْي ِه‬ َ ‫ال ْشت ََر فِي‬ ْ ‫ثا‬ ِ ‫ار‬ ِ ‫ َمالِكَ بْنَ ْال َح‬، َ‫ي أَم ِي ُر ْال ُمؤْ ِمنِين‬ ٌ ‫ع ِل‬ َ ِ‫ع ْبدُ هللا‬ َ ‫هذَا َما أ َ َم َر ِب ِه‬
َ
.‫ارة َ بِال ِدهَا‬ َ ‫ َو ِع َم‬،‫صال َح أه ِل َها‬ ْ َ َ ْ ِ‫ َوا ْست‬،‫عد ّ ُِوهَا‬ َ
He has ordered him to fear Allah, to prefer obedience to Him, and to follow what He has
commanded in His Book (Qur'an) out of His obligatory and elective commands, without following
which one cannot achieve virtue, nor (can one) be evil save by opposing them and ignoring them,
and to help Allah the Glorified, with his heart, hand and tongue, because Allah whose name is
Sublime takes the responsibility for helping him who helps Him, and for protecting him who gives
Him support. He also orders him to break his heart off from passions, and to restrain it at the time
of their increase, because the heart leads towards evil unless Allah has mercy.
َّ‫ َوالَ يَ ْشقَى ِإال‬،‫ الَّتِي الَ يَ ْس َعدُ أَ َحدٌ ِإالَّ ِبا ِت ّبَا ِع َها‬،‫سنَنِ ِه‬ ُ ‫ض ِه َو‬ ِ ِ‫ ِم ْن فَ َرائ‬:‫ َوا ِت ّبَاعِ َما أ َ َم َر ِب ِه فِي ِكت َا ِب ِه‬،‫عتِ ِه‬ َ ‫طا‬ َ ‫ار‬ ِ َ ‫ َو ِإيث‬،ِ‫أ َ َم َرهُ ِبت َ ْق َوى هللا‬
ْ‫ َوإِعْزَ ِاز َمن‬،ُ‫ص َره‬ ْ
َ َ‫ص ِر َمن ن‬ َّ َ َ
ْ َ‫ ق ْد تَكف َل بِن‬،ُ‫ َجل ا ْس ُمه‬،ُ‫ فإِنه‬،‫سانِ ِه‬ َّ َّ َ ْ َ
َ ‫س ْب َحانَهُ بَيَ ِد ِه َوقلبِ ِه َو ِل‬ ُ َ‫ص َر هللا‬ ْ
ُ ‫ َوأن يَن‬،‫عتِ َها‬ ْ َ َ ‫ضا‬ َ ِ‫َم َع ُج ُحو ِدهَا َوإ‬
.ُ‫ ِإالَّ َما َر ِح َم هللا‬،‫ُّوء‬ ِ ‫ارة ٌ ِبالس‬ َ ‫س أَ َّم‬َ ْ
‫ف‬ َّ ‫ن‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ن‬ َّ ِ ‫إ‬ َ ‫ف‬ ،ِ ‫ت‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ح‬
َ ‫م‬َ ‫ج‬ َ ْ
‫ال‬ َ ‫د‬ ْ
‫ن‬ ‫ع‬
ِ ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬
َ ‫ع‬
َ َ‫ز‬ ‫ي‬
َ ‫و‬َ ،ِ ‫ت‬ ‫ا‬ ‫و‬ ‫ه‬
ََ َّ
‫ش‬ ‫ال‬ َ ‫د‬ ْ
‫ن‬ ‫ع‬
ِ ُ ‫ه‬ ‫س‬
َ ْ
‫ف‬ ‫ن‬
َ ‫ِر‬
َ ‫س‬ ْ
‫ك‬ َ‫ َوأ َ َم َرهُ أ َ ْن ي‬.ُ‫ع َّزه‬َ َ‫أ‬
The qualifications of a governor and his responsibilities
Then, know, O Malik, that I have sent you to an area where there have been governments before
you, both just as well as oppressive. People will now watch your dealings as you used to watch the
dealings of the rulers before you, and they (people) will criticise you as you criticised them (rulers).
Surely, the virtuous are known by the reputation that Allah circulates for them through the tongues
of His creatures. Therefore, the best collection with you should be the collection of good deeds.
So, control your passions and check your heart from doing what is not lawful for you, because
checking the heart means detaining it just half way between what it likes and dislikes.
‫وركَ فِى ِمثْ ِل‬ ِ ‫ظ ُرونَ ِم ْن أ ُ ُم‬ ُ ‫اس يَ ْن‬ َ َّ‫ َوأ َ َّن الن‬،‫عدْل َو َج ْور‬ َ ‫ ِم ْن‬، َ‫علَ ْي َها د َُو ٌل قَ ْبلَك‬ َ ‫ت‬ ْ ‫ أ َ ِنّي ق ْد َو َّج ْهتُكَ ِإلَى ِبالَد قَ ْد َج َر‬، ُ‫ث ُ َّم ا ْعلَ ْم يَا َمالك‬
‫على‬ َ َ
َ ‫صا ِل ِحينَ بِ َما يُجْ ِري هللاُ ل ُه ْم‬ َّ ‫على ال‬ َ َ ‫إِن َما يُ ْستدَل‬،‫ َويَقُولُونَ فِيكَ َما كنتَ تقول فِي ِه ْم‬، َ‫ور ْال ُوالَةِ قَ ْبلَك‬
ُّ َ َّ ُ ُ َ ْ ُ ِ ‫ظ ُر فِي ِه ِم ْن أ ُ ُم‬ ُ ‫َما ُك ْنتَ ت َ ْن‬
‫ش َّح بِالنَّ ْف ِس‬ ُّ ‫ فَإِ َّن ال‬، َ‫ع َّما الَ يَ ِح ُّل لَك‬ َ َ‫ش َّح بِنَ ْفسِك‬ ُ ‫ َو‬، َ‫ام ِل ْك ه ََواك‬ ْ َ‫ ف‬،‫ح‬ ِ ‫صا ِل‬ َّ ‫يرة ُ العَ َم ِل ال‬ ْ َّ
َ ‫ فَليَ ُك ْن أ َحبَّ الذخَائِ ِر إِلَيْكَ ذَ ِخ‬.ِ‫س ِن ِعبَا ِده‬ َ ْ ُ ‫أ َ ْل‬
. َ‫اف ِم ْن َها فَ َيما أَحْ َببْتَ َوك َِر ْهت‬ ُ ‫ص‬ َ ‫ال ْن‬ْ ‫ا‬
Habituate your heart to mercy for the subjects and to affection and kindness for them. Do not stand
over them like greedy beasts who feel it is enough to devour them, since they are of two kinds,
either your brother in religion or one like you in creation. They will commit slips and encounter
mistakes. They may act wrongly, wilfully or by neglect. So, extend to them your forgiveness and
pardon, in the same way as you would like Allah to extend His forgiveness and pardon to you,
because you are over them and your responsible Commander (Imam) is over you while Allah is
over him who has appointed you. He (Allah) has sought you to manage their affairs and has tried
you through them.
َ‫ إِ َّما أ َ ٌخ لَك‬:‫َان‬ ِ ‫ص ْنف‬ ِ ‫ فَإِنَّ ُه ْم‬،‫اريا ً ت َ ْغتَنِ ُم أَ ْكلَ ُه ْم‬ ِ ‫ض‬ َ ً ‫سبُعا‬ َ ‫علَ ْي ِه ْم‬ َ ‫ َوالَ ت َ ُكون ََّن‬،‫ف بِ ِه ْم‬ َ ‫ط‬ ْ ُّ‫ َوالل‬،‫ َو ْالـ َم َحبَّةَ لَ ُه ْم‬،‫لر ِعيَّ ِة‬ َّ ‫الرحْ َمةَ ِل‬ َّ َ‫َوأ َ ْش ِع ْر قَ ْلبَك‬
‫ْط ِه ْم ِم ْن‬ َ
ِ ‫ فَأع‬،َ‫طا‬ ْ
َ ‫علَى أ ْي ِدي ِه ْم فِي الَعَ ْم ِد َوال َخ‬ َ َ ‫يُؤْ تَى‬،ُ‫ض لَ ُه ُم ال ِعلَل‬ ْ ُ ‫ َوتَ ْع ِر‬،ُ‫الزلَل‬ ُ
َّ ‫ يَ ْف ُرط ِم ْن ُه ُم‬،‫ق‬ ْ ْ
ِ ‫ير لَكَ فِي الخَل‬ ٌ ‫ َوإ ّما ن َِظ‬،‫ِين‬ ِ ّ‫فِي الد‬
! َ‫ َوهللاُ فَ ْوقَ َم ْن َوالَّك‬، َ‫علَيْكَ فَ ْوقَك‬ َ ِْ ‫ر‬ ‫م‬ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫و‬ ‫و‬ ، ‫م‬ ‫ه‬ َ ‫ق‬ ‫و‬َ ‫ف‬
ِ َ َ ْ ُ ْ َ‫ْ ِ َكَ ُ ِ َ ِ َ َ ِ ِ ِ ك‬ َّ ‫ن‬ ‫إ‬ َ ‫ف‬ ، ‫ه‬ ‫ح‬ ْ
‫ف‬ ‫ص‬ ‫و‬ ‫ه‬
ِ ‫و‬‫ف‬ْ ‫ع‬ ‫ن‬ْ ‫م‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ط‬ ‫ع‬ ُ ‫ي‬ ْ
‫ن‬ َ ‫أ‬ ُّ‫ب‬ ‫ح‬ ِ ُ ‫ت‬ ‫ِي‬ ‫ذ‬ َّ ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬ ْ
َ ِ َ‫ع ْف ِوكَ َو َ ِ ك‬
‫ث‬ ‫م‬ ‫ح‬ ْ
‫ف‬ ‫ص‬ َ
.‫ َوا ْبتَالَكَ بِ ِه ْم‬،‫َوقَ ِد ا ْست َ ْكفَاكَ أ َ ْم َر ُه ْم‬
Do not set yourself to fight Allah because you have no power before His power and you cannot do
without His pardon and mercy. Do not repent of forgiving or be merciful in punishing. Do not act
hastily during anger if you can find way out of it. Do not say: "I have been given authority, I should
be obeyed when I order," because it engenders confusion in the heart, weakens the religion and
takes one near ruin. If the authority in which you are placed produces pride or vanity in you then
look at the greatness of the realm of Allah over you and His might the like of which might you do
not even possess over yourself. This will curb your haughtiness, cure you of your high temper and
bring back to you your wisdom which had gone away from you.
،‫ َوالَ تَ ْب َج َح َّن ِبعُقُوبَة‬،‫ع ْفو‬ َ ‫علَى‬ َ ‫ َوالَ تَ ْندَ َم َّن‬.‫ع ْف ِو ِه َو َرحْ َمتِ ِه‬ َ ‫ع ْن‬ َ َ‫ َوالَ ِغنَى ِبك‬،‫ي لَكَ ِبنِ ْق َمتِ ِه‬ ْ َ‫ فَإِنَّ ْه الَيَد‬،ِ‫ب هللا‬ ِ ‫سكَ ِل َح ْر‬ َ ‫صبَ َّن نَ ْف‬ ِ ‫َوالَ ت َ ْن‬
ٌ ْ
ِ ّ‫ َو َمن َه َكة ِللد‬،‫ب‬
،‫ِين‬ ْ َ ْ َّ َ َ ُ َ ّ
ِ ‫ فإِن ذلِكَ إِ ْدغَا ٌل فِي القل‬،ُ‫ إِ ِني ُم َؤ َّم ٌر آ ُم ُر فأطاع‬:‫ َوال تَقولن‬،‫عن إِلى بَاد َِرة َو َج ْدتَ ِمن َها َمندُو َحة‬ َّ َ ُ َ ً ْ ْ َ َّ َ ‫َوالَ تُس ِْر‬
‫علَى َما‬ َ َ‫ َوقُ ْد َرتِ ِه َم ْنك‬، َ‫ظ ِم ُمل ِك هللاِ فَ ْوقَك‬ ْ َ ‫ظ ْر ِإلَى ِع‬ ُ ‫ فَا ْن‬،ً‫طانِكَ أبَّ َهةً أ َ ْو َم ِخيلَة‬ ُ ْ
َ ‫سل‬ ُ ‫ث لَكَ َما أ َ ْنتَ فِي ِه ِم ْن‬ ْ
َ َ‫ َو ِإذَا أَحْ د‬.‫َوتَقَ ُّربٌ ِمنَ ال ِغيَ ِر‬
! َ‫عقلِك‬ ْ ْ
َ ‫عنكَ ِمن‬ ْ َ ‫ب‬ َ َ‫عز‬ َ
َ ‫يَ ِفي ُء إِليْكَ بِ َما‬، َ‫عنكَ ِمن غ َْربِك‬ ْ ْ َ ‫ف‬ ُ
ُّ ‫ َويَك‬، َ‫احك‬ ْ
ِ ‫ام إِليْكَ ِمن ِط َم‬ َ ُ‫ن‬ ِ ‫ فَإِ َّن ذلِكَ يُط‬، َ‫علَ ْي ِه ِم ْن نَ ْفسِك‬
َ َ ‫در‬ ِ ‫الَ ت َ ْق‬
Beware of comparing yourself to Allah in His greatness or likening yourself to Him in His power,
for Allah humiliates every claimant of power and disgraces every one who is haughty.
.‫ َويُ ِهينُ ُك َّل ُم ْختَال‬،‫ فَإِ َّن هللاَ يُ ِذ ُّل ُك َّل َجبَّار‬،‫شبُّهَ بِ ِه فِي َجبَ ُروتِ ِه‬ َ َّ ‫ َوالت‬،‫ظ َمتِ ِه‬ َ ‫ع‬ َ ‫سا َماة َ هللاِ فِي‬ َ ‫إِيَّاكَ َو ُم‬
Do justice for Allah and do justice towards the people, as against yourself, your near ones and
those of your subjects for whom you have a liking because if you do not do so you will be
oppressive, and when a person oppresses the creatures of Allah then, instead of His creatures,
Allah becomes his opponent, and when Allah is the opponent of a person He tramples his plea;
and he will remain in the position of being at war with Allah until he gives it up and repents.
Nothing is more inducive of the reversal of Allah's bounty or for the hastening of His retribution
than continuance in oppression, because Allah hears the prayer of the oppressed and is on the look
out for the oppressors.
َ‫ظلَ َم ِعبَاد‬ َ ‫ َو َم ْن‬،‫ فَإِنَّكَ إِالَّ ت َ ْفعَ ْل ت َْظ ِل ْم‬، َ‫ى ِم ْن َر ِعيَّتِك‬ ً ‫ َو َم ْن لَكَ فِي ِه هَو‬، َ‫ص ِة أَ ْهلِك‬ َّ ‫ َو ِم ْن خَا‬، َ‫اس ِم ْن نَ ْفسِك‬ َ َّ‫ف الن‬ ِ ‫ص‬ ِ ‫ف هللاَ َوأ َ ْن‬ ِ ‫ص‬ ِ ‫أ َ ْن‬
.‫وب‬َ ُ ‫ع َو َيت‬َ ‫ َو َكانَ هلل َح ْربا ً َحتَّى َي ْنز‬،ُ‫ض ُح َّجتَه‬ َ ‫ص َمهُ هللاُ أ َ ْد َح‬ َ ‫ َو َم ْن خَا‬،ِ‫ص َمهُ دُونَ ِع َبا ِده‬ ْ ‫هللا َكانَ هللاُ َخ‬ ِ
َّ
َ‫ َوه َُو ِللظا ِل ِمين‬، َ‫ومين‬ ُ ْ ْ
ِ ‫سميِ ٌع دَع َْوة َ ال َمظل‬ َ َ‫ فَإِ َّن هللا‬،‫على ظلم‬ ْ ُ َ ْ
َ ‫ير نِ ْع َم ِة هللاِ َوت َ ْع ِجي ِل نِق َمتِ ِه ِم ْن إِقَا َمة‬ ِ ِ‫عى إِلى ت َ ْغي‬َ َ ‫ش ْي ٌء أَ ْد‬ َ ‫ْس‬ َ ‫َولَي‬
.ِ‫صاد‬ َ ‫ِب ْال ِم ْر‬
Ruling should be in favor of the people as a whole
The way most coveted by you should be that which is the most equitable for the right, the most
universal by way of justice, and the most comprehensive with regard to the agreement among those
under you, because the disagreement of the common people sweeps away the arguments of the
chiefs while the disagreement of the chiefs can be disregarded when compared with the agreement
of the common people.
No one among those under you is more burdensome to the ruler in times of ease, less helpful in
distress, more disliking of equitable treatment, more importunate in asking favors, less thankful
when given (anything), less appreciative of reasons at the time of refusal, and weaker in endurance
at the time of the discomforts of life than the chiefs. It is the common people of the community
who are the pillars of the religion, the power of the Muslims and the defense against the enemies.
Your leanings should therefore be towards them and your inclination with them.
‫ضى‬ َ ‫ف ِب ِر‬ ُ ‫ط ْال َعا َّم ِة يُجْ ِح‬ َ ‫س ْخ‬ ُ ‫ فَإِ َّن‬،‫الر ِعيَّ ِة‬ َّ ‫ضى‬ َ ‫ َوأَجْ َمعُ َها ِل ِر‬،‫ع ُّم َها فِي ْال َع ْد ِل‬ َ َ ‫ َوأ‬،‫ق‬ ِ ّ ‫ط َها فِي ْال َح‬ ُ ‫س‬ َ ‫ور ِإلَيْكَ أ َ ْو‬ ِ ‫ال ُم‬ ْ ‫ُك ْن أ َ َحبَّ ا‬
ً‫ َوأَقَ َّل َمعُونَة‬،‫َاء‬ ِ ‫الرخ‬ ً
َّ ‫على ال َوا ِلي َمؤُونَة فِي‬ ْ َ َ ْ َ
َ ‫ أثق َل‬،‫الر ِعيَّ ِة‬ َّ َ‫ْس أ َحدٌ ِمن‬ َ َ
َ ‫ َولي‬.‫ضى العَا َّم ِة‬ ْ َ ‫ص ِة يُغتَف َُر َم َع ِر‬ ْ ْ
َّ ‫سخط الخَا‬ َ ْ َّ
ُ ‫ َوإِن‬،‫ص ِة‬ َّ ‫ْالخَا‬
َ‫صبْرا ً ِع ْند‬ َ ‫ف‬ َ ‫ض َع‬ َ ْ
ْ ‫ َوأ‬،‫ع ْذرا ً ِع ْندَ ال َم ْن ِع‬ ُ ‫طأ‬ َ َ
َ ‫ َوأ ْب‬،‫اء‬ ِ ‫ط‬ َ ‫ال ْع‬ ْ ‫ش ْكرا ً ِع ْندَ ا‬ ُ ‫ َوأقَ َّل‬،‫اف‬َ ِ ‫الل َح‬ ْ َ
ْ ‫ َوأسْأ َل ِبا‬،‫اف‬ َ ِ ‫ص‬ َ ‫ال ْن‬ َ
ْ ‫ َوأ ْك َرهَ ِل‬،‫لَهُ فِي البَالَ ِء‬ ْ
َ
،‫صغ ُوكَ ل ُه ْم‬ ْ ْ ُ ْ َ ْ
ِ ‫ فليَكن‬،‫ العَا َّمة ِمنَ اال َّم ِة‬،‫اء‬ ُ ْ ْ ُ َّ ْ
ِ َ‫ َوالعُدة ِلال ْعد‬، َ‫ع ال ُم ْس ِل ِمين‬ ْ ُ ‫ َو ِج َما‬،‫ِين‬ ّ
ِ ‫ع ُمودُ الد‬ َّ
َ ‫ َوإِن َما‬،‫ص ِة‬ َّ ‫ت الدَّ ْه ِر ِم ْن أ َ ْه ِل ْالخَا‬ ِ ‫ُم ِل َّما‬
.‫َو َم ْيلُكَ َمعَ ُه ْم‬
The one among the people under you who is furthest from you and the worst of them in your view
should be he who is the most inquisitive of the shortcomings of the people, because people do have
shortcomings and the ruler is the most appropriate person to cover them. Do not disclose whatever
of it is hidden from you because your obligation is to correct what is manifest to you, while Allah
will deal with whatever is hidden from you. Therefore, cover shortcomings so far as you can; Allah
would cover those of your shortcomings which you would like to remain under cover from your
subjects. Unfasten every knot of hatred in the people and cut away from yourself the cause of every
enmity. Feign ignorance from what is not clear to you. Do not hasten to second a backbiter, because
a backbiter is a cheat although he looks like those who wish well.
‫ع َّما‬َ ‫ فَالَ تَ ْك ِشف ََّن‬،‫ست ََرهَا‬ َ ‫ ْال َوا ِلي أَ َح ُّق َم ْن‬،ً ‫عيُوبا‬ ُ ‫اس‬ ِ َّ‫فإن في الن‬ َّ ،‫اس‬ ِ َّ‫ب الن‬ ِ ِ‫طلَبُ ُه ْم ِل َم َعائ‬ ْ َ ‫ أ‬، َ‫ َوأ ْشنَأ َ ُه ْم ِع ْندَك‬، َ‫َو ْليَ ُك ْن أ َ ْب َعدَ َر ِعيَّتِكَ ِم ْنك‬
ْ ُ َ
‫ فا ْست ِر العَ ْو َرة َ َما ا ْستَطعْتَ يَ ْست ِر هللاُ ِمنكَ ما‬، َ‫عنك‬ ْ ُ َ ْ َ ‫َاب‬َ ‫على َما غ‬ َ ُ
َ ‫ َوهللاُ يَحْ ك ُم‬، َ‫ظ َه َر لك‬ َ َ ‫ير َما‬ ُ ‫علَيْكَ ت َْط ِه‬ َ ‫ فَإنَّ َما‬،‫ع ْنكَ ِم ْن َها‬ َ ‫َاب‬َ ‫غ‬
‫ َوالَ تَ ْع َجلَ َّن‬، َ‫ض ُح لَك‬ ِ َ‫ع ْن ك ِّل َما الَ ي‬ َ ‫َاب‬ َ ‫ َوتَغ‬،‫ب ُك ِّل ِوتْر‬ َ َ‫سب‬َ َ‫ع ْنك‬ َ ‫ط ْع‬ َ ‫ َوا ْق‬،‫ع ْقدَة َ ُك ِّل ِح ْقد‬ ُ ‫اس‬ ِ َّ‫ع ِن الن‬ ْ
َ ‫ أَط ِل ْق‬. َ‫ستْ َرهُ ِم ْن َر ِعيَّتِك‬ َ ُّ‫ت ُ ِحب‬
. َ‫اص ِحين‬ ِ َّ‫شبَّهَ بِالن‬ َ َ ‫ َوإِ ْن ت‬،‫َاش‬ ٌ ‫يغ‬ َ ‫ فَإِ َّن السَّا ِع‬،‫ساع‬ َ ‫ق‬ ِ ‫صدِي‬ْ َ ‫إِلَى ت‬
About counsellors
Do not include among those you consult a miser who would keep you back from being generous
and caution you against destitution, nor a coward who would make you feel too weak for your
affairs, nor a greedy person who would make beautiful to you the collection of wealth by evil
ways. This is because miserliness, cowardice and greed are different qualities that an unfavorable
opinion of Allah brings together.
َ‫ش َره‬ َّ ‫ َوالَ َح ِريصا ً يُزَ ِيّنُ لَكَ ال‬،‫ور‬ ْ ‫ع ِن ا‬
ِ ‫ال ُم‬ َ َ‫ َوالَ َجبَانا ً يُض ِعّفُك‬،‫ َويَ ِعدُكَ ْالفَ ْق َر‬،‫ض ِل‬ ْ َ‫ع ِن ْالف‬ َ َ‫ورتِكَ بَ ِخيالً يَ ْع ِد ُل بِك‬ َ ‫ش‬ ُ ‫َوالَ تُد ِْخلَ َّن فِي َم‬
َّ ‫سو ُء‬
.ِ‫الظ ِّن ِباهلل‬ ُ ‫شتَّى يَجْ َمعُ َها‬ َ ‫ص غ ََرائِ ُز‬ َ ‫ فَإِ َّن ْالب ُْخ َل َو ْال ُجبْنَ َو ْال ِح ْر‬،‫ِب ْال َج ْو ِر‬
The worst minister for you is he who has been a minister for mischievous persons before you, and
who joined them in sins. Therefore, he should not be your chief man, because they are abettors of
sinners and brothers of the oppressors. You can find good substitutes for them who will be like
them in their views and influence, while not being like them in sins and vices. They have never
assisted an oppressor in his oppression or a sinner in his sin. They will give you the least trouble
and the best support. They will be most considerate towards you and the least inclined towards
others. Therefore, make them your chief companions in privacy as well as in public.
َّ ُ‫ َوإِ ْخ َوان‬،‫الثَ َم ِة‬
،‫الظلَ َم ِة‬ ْ ‫ فَإِنَّ ُه ْم أَع َْوانُ ا‬،ً‫طانَة‬ َ ِ‫ فَالَ يَ ُكون ََّن لَكَ ب‬،‫الث َ ِام‬ ْ ‫ َو َم ْن ش َِر َك ُه ْم فِي ا‬،ً‫ال ْش َر ِار قَ ْبلَكَ َو ِزيرا‬ ْ ‫ش َُّر ُوزَ َرائِكَ َم ْن َكانَ ِل‬
ً ‫ظا ِلما‬ َ ‫ ِم َّم ْن لَ ْم يُ َعا ِو ْن‬،‫ام ِه ْم‬ ِ َ‫ار ِه ْم َوأَ ْوزَ ا ِر ِه ْم َو آث‬ ِ ‫ص‬ َ ‫علَ ْي ِه ِمثْ ُل آ‬ َ ‫ْس‬ َ ‫ َولَي‬،‫آرائِ ِه ْم َونَفَا ِذ ِه ْم‬ َ ‫ف ِم َّم ْن لَهُ ِمثْ ُل‬ ِ َ‫اجدٌ ِم ْن ُه ْم َخي َْر ْال َخل‬ ِ ‫َوأ َ ْنتَ َو‬
ْ‫ فَات َّ ِخذ‬،ً‫ َوأَقَ ُّل ِلغَي ِْركَ إِ ْلفا‬،ً‫طفا‬ ْ ‫ع‬َ َ‫عل ْيك‬ َ َ ً
َ ‫ َوأحْ نَى‬،‫سنُ لكَ َمعُونَة‬ َ َ ً
َ ْ‫ َوأح‬،‫عليْكَ َمؤُونَة‬ َ َ ‫َف‬ َ ُ
ُّ ‫ أولئِكَ أخ‬،‫على إِث ِم ِه‬ ْ َ َ ‫ َوال آثِما‬،‫ظ ْل ِم ِه‬
ً َ ُ ‫علَى‬ َ
، َ‫صةً ِل َخلَ َواتِكَ َو َحفَالَتِك‬ َّ ‫أُولئِكَ خَا‬
Then, more preferable among them for you should be those who openly speak better truths before
you and who support you least in those of your actions which Allah does not approve in His friends,
even though they may be according to your wishes. Associate yourself with God-fearing and
truthful people; then educate them, so that they should not praise you or please you by reason of
an action you did not perform, because an excess of praise produces pride and drives you near
haughtiness.
‫ْث‬ُ ‫ َواقِعا ً ذلِكَ ِم ْن ه ََواكَ َحي‬،‫عدَة ً فِ َيما َي ُكونُ ِم ْنكَ ِم َّما َك ِرهَ هللاُ ِال ْو ِل َيائِ ِه‬ َ ‫سا‬ َ ‫ وأَقَلَّ ُه ْم ُم‬، َ‫ق لَك‬ ِ ّ ‫ث ُ َّم ْل َي ُك ْن آث َ ُر ُه ْم ِع ْندَكَ أ َ ْق َولَ ُه ْم ِب ُم ِ ّر ْال َح‬
َّ ُ
،‫اء تحْ دِث الز ْه َو‬ ُ ْ ْ ْ ْ
ِ ‫ فَإِ َّن كَث َرةَ االط َر‬،ُ‫اطل ل ْم تَفعَله‬ ْ َ َ
ِ َ‫على أال يُط ُروكَ َوال يُبَ ِ ّجحُوكَ بِب‬ ْ َّ َ َ َ ‫ض ُه ْم‬ ْ ‫ ث ُ َّم ُر‬،‫ق‬ ِ ‫ص ْد‬ّ ِ ‫ص ْق بِأ َ ْه ِل ْال َو َرعِ َوال‬ َ ‫ َو ْال‬.‫َوقَ َع‬
.ِ‫َوت ُ ْدنِي ِمنَ ْال ِع َّزة‬
The virtuous and the vicious should not be in equal position before you because this means
dissuasion of the virtuous from virtue and persuasion of the vicious to vice. Keep everyone in the
position which is his. You should know that the most conducive thing for the good impression of
the ruler on his subjects is that he should extend good behavior towards them, lighten their
hardships, and avoid putting them to unbearable troubles.
You should therefore, in this way follow a course by which you will leave a good impression with
your subjects, because such good ideas will relieve you of great worries. Certainly, the one most
entitled to have a favorable impression of you is he whom you have treated well, and the one most
entitled to have a bad opinion of you is he whom you have treated badly.
‫علَى‬ َ ِ‫سا َءة‬ ْ ‫تَد ِْريبا ً ِال ْه ِل ا‬،‫ان‬
َ ‫ال‬ ِ ‫س‬َ ْ‫الح‬ْ ‫ان فِي ا‬ ِ ‫س‬ َ ْ‫الح‬ ْ ‫ فَإِ َّن فِي ذلِكَ ت َْزهِيدا ً ِال ْه ِل ا‬،‫س َواء‬ َ ‫َوالَ يَ ُكون ََّن ْالـ ُمحْ ِسنُ َو ْال ُمسِي ُء ِع ْندَكَ بِ َم ْن ِزلَة‬
‫ َوت َْخ ِفي ِف ِه‬،‫سانِ ِه ِإلَ ْي ِه ْم‬ َ ْ‫ظ ِّن َوال ِب َر ِعيَّتِ ِه ِم ْن إح‬ َ ‫عى ِإلَى ُحس ِْن‬ َ ‫ش ْي ٌء ِبأ َ ْد‬ َ ‫ْس‬ َ ‫ َوا ْعلَ ْم أَنَّهُ لَي‬.ُ‫سه‬ َ ‫ َوأ َ ْل ِز ْم ُكالًّ ِم ْن ُه ْم َما أ َ ْلزَ َم نَ ْف‬،ِ‫سا َءة‬ ْ ‫ا‬
َ ‫ال‬
َّ‫ فَإِن‬، َ‫الظ ِّن بِ َر ِعيَّتِك‬ َّ ُ‫ فَ ْليَ ُك ْن ِم ْنكَ فِي ذلِكَ أ َ ْم ٌر يَ َجت َِم ُع لَكَ بِ ِه ُح ْسن‬،‫ْس لهُ قِبَلَ ُه ْم‬ َ
َ ‫على َما لي‬ َ ُ ْ
َ ‫ َوت َْر ِك ا ْستِك َرا ِه ِه إِيَّاه ْم‬،‫عل ْي ِه ْم‬ َ َ ‫ت‬ ِ ‫ْال َمؤُونَا‬
 ‫سا َء‬ َ ‫ظنُّكَ ِب ِه لَ َم ْن‬ َ ‫سا َء‬ َ ‫ َو ِإ َّن أ َ َح َّق َم ْن‬،ُ‫ظنُّكَ ِب ِه لَ َم ْن َحسُنَ َبالَؤُكَ ِع ْندَه‬ َ َ‫ َو ِإ َّن أ َ َح َّق َم ْن َحسُن‬،ً‫ط ِويال‬ َ ً ‫ص با‬ َ َ‫ع ْنكَ ن‬ َ ‫ط ُع‬ َ ‫الظ ِّن َي ْق‬ َّ َ‫ُحسْن‬
.ُ‫بَالَؤُكَ ِع ْندَه‬
Do not discontinue the good practices which the earlier people of this community had acted upon,
by virtue of which there was general unity and through which the subjects prospered. Do not
innovate any line of action which injures these earlier practices because (in that case) the reward
for those who had established those practices will continue, but the burden for discontinuing them
will be on you. Keep on increasing your conversations with the scholars and discussions with the
wise to stabilize the prosperity of the areas under you, and to continue with that in which your
predecessors had established.
‫سنَّةً تَض ُُّر ِبشَيء‬ ُ ‫الَ تُحْ ِدث َ َّن‬،ُ‫علَ ْي َها ال َّر ِعيَّة‬ َ ‫ت‬ ْ ‫صلَ َح‬َ ‫ َو‬،ُ‫ال ْلفَة‬ ْ ‫عت ِب َها ا‬ ْ ‫ َواجْ ت َ َم‬،‫ال َّم ِة‬ ْ ‫ُور ه ِذ ِه ا‬ ُ ‫صد‬ ُ ‫ع ِم َل ِب َها‬ َ ً‫صا ِل َحة‬ َ ً‫سنَّة‬ ُ ‫ض‬ ْ ُ‫َوالَ تَ ْنق‬
‫ فِي‬،‫اء‬ ْ َ َ
ِ ‫ َو ُمنَافَثة ال ُح َك َم‬،‫اء‬ َ َ
ِ ‫سة العُل َم‬ َ َ ‫ار‬ ْ َ
َ َ‫ َوأكثِ ْر ُمد‬.‫عليْكَ بِ َما نَقَضْتَ ِم ْن َها‬ َ ْ
َ ‫ َوال ِو ْز ُر‬،‫سنَّ َها‬ َ ‫ فَيَ ُكونَ االجْ ُر بِ َم ْن‬،‫سن َِن‬ ْ ُّ ‫اضي تِلكَ ال‬ ْ ِ ‫ِم ْن َم‬
. َ‫اس قَ ْبلَك‬ ُ َّ ‫ن‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ه‬
ِ ‫ب‬
ِ َ ‫ام‬ َ ‫ق‬َ ‫ت‬ ‫س‬
ْ ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬
َ َ َِ ‫ة‬
ِ ‫م‬ ‫ا‬ َ ‫ق‬ ‫إ‬‫و‬ ، َ‫ِك‬ ‫د‬ َ ‫ال‬ ‫ب‬
ِ ُ ‫ر‬ ‫م‬
ْ َ ‫أ‬ ‫ه‬
ِ ‫ي‬
ْ َ ‫ل‬‫ع‬َ َ َ ‫ت َم‬
‫ح‬ َ ‫ل‬ ‫ص‬ ‫ا‬ ِ ‫ت َثْ ِبي‬
The different classes of people
Know that the people consist of classes who prosper only with the help of one another, and they
are not independent of one another. Among them are the army of Allah, then the secretarial workers
of the common people and the chiefs, then the dispensers of justice, then those engaged in law and
order, then the payers of head tax (jizyah) and land tax (kharaj) from the protected unbelievers and
the common Muslims, then there are the traders and the men of industry and then the lowest class
of the needy and the destitute. Allah has fixed the share of every one of them and laid down His
precepts about the limits of each in His Book (Qur'an) and the sunnah of His Prophet by way of of
a settlement which is preserved with us.
،‫ص ِة‬ َّ ‫اب ْالعَا َّم ِة َو ْالخَا‬ ُ َّ ‫م ْن َها ُكت‬، ِ ِ‫ فَ ِم ْن َها ُجنُودُ هللا‬:‫ع ْن بَ ْعض‬ َ ‫ض َها‬ ِ ‫ َوالَ ِغنَى بِبَ ْع‬،‫ض َها إالَّ بِبَ ْعض‬ ُ ‫صلُ ُح بَ ْع‬ ْ َ‫طبَقَاتٌ الَ ي‬ َ َ‫الر ِعيَّة‬ َّ ‫َوا ْعلَ ْم أ َ َّن‬
‫َّار‬ ُ ‫ َو ِم ْن َها التُّج‬،‫اس‬ ِ َّ‫َراج ِم ْن أَ ْه ِل ال ِذّ َّم ِة َو ُم ْس ِل َم ِة الن‬ ِ ‫ َو ِم ْن َها أ َ ْه ُل ْال ِج ْزيَ ِة َو ْالخ‬،‫ق‬ ِ ‫الر ْف‬ ّ ِ ‫اف َو‬ ِ ‫ص‬ َ ‫ال ْن‬ ْ ‫ع َّما ُل ا‬ ُ ‫ َو ِمن َها‬،‫ضاة ُ ْال َع ْد ِل‬ َ ُ‫َو ِم ْن َها ق‬
‫ضتِ ِه فِي‬ َ
َ ‫على َح ِدّ ِه َوف ِري‬ َ َ ‫ض َع‬ َ ‫ َو َو‬،ُ‫س ْه َمه‬ َ ُ‫س َّمى هللا‬ َ ُ ْ
َ ‫ َوك ٌّل ق ْد‬،‫سفلى ِمن ذ ِوي ال َحا َج ِة َوال َم ْس َكنَ ِة‬ ْ َ ْ َ ْ ُ َ
ُّ ‫ َو ِمن َها الطبَقة ال‬،ِ‫عات‬َّ َ ‫صنَا‬ ّ ِ ‫َوأ َ ْه ُل ال‬
.ً‫ع ْهدا ً ِم ْنهُ ِع ْندَنَا َمحْ فُوظا‬ َ )‫سنَّ ِة نَ ِب ِيّ ِه (صلى هللا عليه وآله‬ ُ ‫ِكتَا ِب ِه أ َ ْو‬
Now the army is, by the will of Allah, the fortress of the subjects, the ornament of the ruler, the
strength of the religion and the means of peace. The subjects cannot exist without them while the
army can be maintained only by the funds fixed by Allah in the revenues, through which they
acquire the strength to fight the enemies, on which they depend for their prosperity, and with which
they meet their needs. These two classes cannot exist without the third class namely the judges,
the executives and the secretaries who pass judgements about contracts, collect revenues and are
depended upon in special and general matters.
َّ‫ام ِل ْل ُجنُو ِد إِال‬ َ ‫ ث ُ َّم الَ قِ َو‬.‫الر ِعيَّةُ إِالَّ بِ ِه ْم‬ َّ ‫ْس تَقُو ُم‬ ْ ‫سبُ ُل ا‬
َ ‫ َولَي‬،‫ال ْم ِن‬ ُ ‫ َو‬،‫ِين‬ ِ ّ‫ و ِع ُّز الد‬،ِ‫ َوزَ يْنُ ْال ُوالَة‬،‫الر ِعيَّ ِة‬ َّ ُ‫صون‬ ُ ‫ ُح‬،ِ‫ بِإِ ْذ ِن هللا‬،ُ‫فَ ْال ُجنُود‬
‫ ث ُ َّم‬.‫اء َحا َجتِ ِه ْم‬ ِ ‫ َويَ ُكونُ ِم ْن َو َر‬،‫صلَح ُه ْم‬ ْ ‫علَ ْي ِه فِيَما أ‬ َ َ‫ َويَ ْعت َِمدُون‬،‫عدُ ِو ِه ْم‬ َ ‫اج الَّذِي يَ ْق َو ْونَ ِب ِه فِي ِج َها ِد‬ ِ ‫ِب َما ي ُْخ ِر ُج هللاُ لَ ُه ْم ِمنَ ْالخ ََر‬
ْ ْ ْ
،‫ َويَجْ َمعُونَ ِمن ال َمنَافِ ِع‬،ِ‫ ِل َما يُحْ ِك ُمونَ ِمنَ ال َمعَاقِد‬،‫ب‬ َّ ُ ْ
ِ ‫ضاةِ َوالعُ َّما ِل َوالكتا‬ ْ ُ
َ ‫ث ِمنَ الق‬ ْ ِ ‫ف الثا ِل‬َّ ِ ‫صن‬ ْ ّ ِ ‫ص ْنفَي ِْن إِالَّ بِال‬ ّ ِ ‫ام ِلهذَي ِْن ال‬ َ ‫الَ قِ َو‬
.‫ع َوا ِ ّم َها‬ َ ‫ور َو‬ ِ ‫ال ُم‬ ْ ‫اص ا‬ ّ ِ ‫علَ ْي ِه ِم ْن خ ََو‬ َ َ‫َويُؤْ ت َ َمنُون‬
And these classes cannot exist except with the traders and men of industry, who provide necessities
for them, establish markets and make it possible for others not to do all this with their own hands.
Then is the lowest class of the needy and the destitute support of and help for whom is an
obligation, and everyone of them has (a share in) livelihood in the name of Allah. Everyone of
them has a right on the ruler according to what is needed for his prosperity. The ruler cannot acquit
himself of the obligations laid on him by Allah in this matter except by striving and seeking help
from Allah and by training himself to adhere to the right and by enduring on that account all that
is light or hard.
َ‫ َويَ ْكفُونَ ُه ْم ِمن‬،‫ َويُ ِقي ُمونَهُ ِم ْن أَس َْواقِ ِه ْم‬،‫علَ ْي ِه ِم ْن َم َرافِ ِق ِه ْم‬ َ َ‫ فِيَما يَجْ ت َِمعُون‬،ِ‫عات‬ َ ‫صنَا‬ ّ ِ ‫َّار َوذَ ِوي ال‬ ِ ‫ام لَ ُه ْم َج ِميعا ً ِإالَّ ِبالتُّج‬ َ ‫َوالَ قِ َو‬
ُ ُ ْ ُّ َّ َ
ِ‫ َوفِي هللا‬.‫سفلى ِمن أه ِل ال َحا َج ِة َوال َم ْسكنَ ِة الذِينَ يَ ِحق ِرفدُه ْم َو َمعُونَت ُه ْم‬ ْ ْ ْ َ ْ َ ْ ُ َ َّ
ُّ ‫ ث َّم الطبَقة ال‬.‫غي ِْر ِه ْم‬ ُ ُ ْ ُ ُ
َ ‫ق بِأ ْيدِي ِه ْم م ّما ال يَ ْبلغهُ ِرفق‬ َ َ ِ ُّ‫الت َّ َرف‬
 ‫مام َواال ْستِ َعانَ ِة‬ ِ ِ‫ال ْهت‬ ْ ‫ْس َي ْخ ُر ُج ْال َوا ِلي ِم ْن َح ِقيقَ ِة َما أ َ ْلزَ َمهُ هللاُ ِم ْن ذلِكَ ِإالَّ ِبا‬ َ ‫ َولَي‬.ُ‫ص ِل ُحه‬ ْ ُ‫علَى ْال َوا ِلي َح ٌق ِبقَد ِْر َما ي‬ َ ‫ َو ِل ُك ٍّّل‬،ٌ‫س َعة‬ َ ‫ِل ُك ّل‬
ُ َ
.َ‫عل ْي ِه أ ْو ثقل‬ َ َ َ ‫َف‬ َّ ‫عل ْي ِه فِيَما خ‬ َ َ ‫صب ِْر‬ َّ ‫ َوال‬،‫ق‬ ْ
ِ ّ ‫وم ال َح‬ ِ ‫على ل ُز‬ ُ َ َ ‫ين نَف ِس ِه‬ ْ ِ ‫ َوت َْو ِط‬،ِ‫بِاهلل‬
1. The Army
Put in command of your forces the man who in your view is the best well - wisher of Allah, His
Prophet and your Imam. The chastest of them in heart and the highest of them in endurance is he
who is slow in getting enraged, accepts excuses, is kind to the weak and is strict with the strong;
violence should not raise his temper and weakness should not keep him sitting.
‫ َو َي ْست َِري ُح‬،‫ب‬ ِ ‫ض‬ َ َ‫ع ِن ْالغ‬ َ ‫ضلَ ُه ْم ِح ْلما ً ِم َّم ْن يُب ِْطى ُء‬ َ ‫ َوأ َ ْف‬،ً‫ َوأ َ ْنقَا ُه ْم َجيْبا‬، َ‫امك‬ ِ ‫سو ِل ِه َو ِال َم‬ ُ ‫ص َح ُه ْم ِفي نَ ْفسِكَ هلل َو ِل َر‬ َ ‫فَ َو ِّل ِم ْن ُجنُودِكَ أ َ ْن‬
.‫ف‬ُ ‫ض ْع‬ َّ ‫ َوالَ يَقعُدُ بِ ِه ال‬،‫ف‬ْ ُ ‫يرهُ العُ ْن‬ ْ ُ ِ‫ َو ِم َّم ْن الَ يُث‬،‫اء‬ ْ
ِ َ‫علَى االق ِوي‬ْ َ ‫ َويَ ْنبُو‬،‫َاء‬ ِ ‫ضعَف‬ ُّ ‫ف بِال‬ ُ َ ‫ َويَ ْرأ‬،‫إِلَى ْالعُ ْذ ِر‬
Also associate with considerate people from high families, virtuous houses and decent traditions,
then people of courage, valour, generosity and benevolence, because they are repositories of
honour and springs of virtues. Strive for their matters as the parents strive for their child. Do not
regard anything that you do to strengthen them as big nor consider anything that you have agreed
to do for them as little (so as to give it up), even though it may be small, because this will make
them your well-wishers and create a good impression of you. Do not neglect to attend to their small
matters, confining yourself to their important matters, because your small favors will also be of
benefit to them while the important ones are such that they cannot ignore them.
‫َاء‬
ِ ‫سخ‬ َّ ‫ َوال‬،‫ع ِة‬ َ ‫ش َجا‬ َّ ‫ ث ُ َّم أ َ ْه ِل النَّجْ دَةِ َوال‬،‫سنَ ِة‬ َ ‫ق ْال َح‬ ِ ِ‫ َوالس ََّواب‬،‫صا ِل َح ِة‬ َّ ‫ت ال‬ ِ ‫ َوأ َ ْه ِل ْالبُيُوت َا‬،‫ب‬ ِ ‫سا‬ َ ْ‫الح‬ ْ ‫ت َوا‬ ِ ‫ص ْق بَذَ ِوي ْال ُم ُرو َءا‬ َ ‫ث ُ َّم ْال‬
َ‫ َوالَ َيتَفَاقَ َم َّن ِفي نَ ْفسِك‬،‫ان ِم ْن َولَ ِد ِه َما‬ ِ َ‫ور ِه ْم َما َيتَفَقَّدُهُ ْال َوا ِلد‬ ِ ‫ ث ُ َّم تَفَقَّ ْد ِم ْن أ ُ ُم‬.‫ف‬ ِ ‫ش َعبٌ ِمنَ ْالعُ ْر‬ ُ ‫ َو‬،‫ع ِمنَ ْالك ََر ِم‬ ٌ ‫ فَإِنَّ ُه ْم ِج َما‬،‫َوالسَّما َح ِة‬
َُّ‫ع تَفَقد‬ َّ
ْ َ‫ َوالَ تَد‬. َ‫ َو ُحس ِْن الظ ِّن بِك‬، َ‫صي َح ِة لك‬ َ ْ َ َ ٌ
ِ َّ‫ فَإِنَّهُ دَا ِعيَة ل ُه ْم إِلى بَذ ِل الن‬،َّ‫ َوالَ تَحْ ِق َر َّن لطفا تَعَا َه ْدت َ ُه ْم بِ ِه َوإِ ْن قَل‬،‫ش ْي ٌء قَ َّو ْيت َ ُه ْم بِ ِه‬ ً ْ ُ َ
.ُ‫ع ْنه‬ َ َ‫ون‬ ُ ‫ن‬ ْ
‫غ‬ َ ‫ت‬ ‫س‬
ْ ‫ي‬
َ َ ‫ال‬ ً ‫ا‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ق‬
ِ ‫و‬ ‫م‬ ‫ِيم‬ ‫س‬ ‫ج‬
َْ ِ َ َ ِ ُ َ ِ َْْ
‫ل‬ ‫ل‬
ِ ‫و‬ ، ‫ه‬
ِ ‫ب‬ َ‫ون‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ف‬ِ َ ‫ت‬ ْ
‫ن‬ ‫ي‬ ً ‫ا‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ض‬ ‫و‬ ‫م‬ َ‫ِك‬ ‫ف‬ ْ
‫ط‬ ُ ‫ل‬ ‫ن‬ْ ‫م‬
ِ ‫ِير‬ ‫س‬
ِ َ ِ َ ‫ي‬ ْ
‫ل‬ ‫ل‬
ِ َّ
‫ن‬ ‫إ‬ َ ‫ف‬ ،‫ا‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ِيم‬
ِ ‫س‬ ‫ج‬ َ ‫ى‬ َ ‫ل‬‫ع‬َ ً ‫ال‬ ‫َا‬ ‫ك‬ ّ ‫ت‬
ِ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ ‫ه‬ِ
ُ ِ ُ ‫ور‬ ‫م‬ ُ ‫أ‬ ‫ف‬
ِ ِ َ‫ل‬
‫ي‬ ‫ط‬
That commander of the army should have such a position before you that he renders help to them
equitably and spends from his money on them and on those of their families who remain behind
so that all their worries converge on the one worry for fighting the enemy. Your kindness to them
will turn their hearts to you. The most pleasant thing for the rulers is the establishment of justice
in their areas and the manifestation of the love of their subjects, but the subjects' love manifests
itself only when their hearts are clean. Their good wishes prove correct only when they surround
their commanders (to protect them). Do not regard their positions to be a burden over them and do
not keep watching for the end of their tenure. Therefore, be broad-minded in regard to their desires,
continue praising them and recounting the good deeds of those who have shown such deeds,
because the mention of good actions shakes the brave and rouses the weak, if Allah so wills.
‫وف أ َ ْه ِلي ِه ْم‬ِ ُ‫س ُع َم ْن َو َرا َء ُه ْم ِم ْن ُخل‬ َ ‫سعُ ُه ْم َي‬ َ ‫علَ ْي ِه ْم ِم ْن ِجدَتِ ِه ِب َما َي‬ َ ‫ض َل‬ َ ‫ َوأ َ ْف‬،‫سا ُه ْم فِي َمعُونَتِ ِه‬ َ ‫ؤوس ُج ْندِكَ ِع ْندَكَ َم ْن َوا‬ ِ ‫َو ْل َي ُك ْن آث َ ُر ُر‬
ْ ُ َ
‫عي ِْن ال ُوالةِ ا ْستِقَا َمة العَ ْد ِل‬ ْ َ ِ‫ض َل ق َّرة‬ُ ْ َ
َ ‫ َوإِ َّن أف‬. َ‫عليْك‬ َ َ ‫ف قلوبَ ُه ْم‬ ُ ُ ُ ‫عل ْي ِه ْم يَ ْع ِط‬ َ َ َ‫عطفَك‬ ْ ْ
َ ‫ فَإِ َّن‬،‫احدا فِي ِج َها ِد العَد ّ ُِو‬ ً ً
ِ ‫َحتَّى يَ ُكونَ َه ُّم ُه ْم َه ّما َو‬
ِ‫علَى ُوالَة‬ َ ‫طتِ ِه ْم‬ َ ‫َصي َحت ُ ُه ْم ِإالّ ِب ِحي‬ ِ ‫َص ُّح ن‬ ِ ‫ َوالَ ت‬،‫ُور ِه ْم‬ ِ ‫صد‬ ُ ‫سالَ َم ِة‬ َ َ‫ َو ِإنَّهُ الَ ت َْظ َه ُر َم َودَّت ُ ُه ْم ِإالَّ ب‬،‫الر ِعيَّ ِة‬ َّ ِ‫ور َم َودَّة‬ ُ ‫ظ ُه‬ ُ ‫ َو‬،ِ‫فِي ْال ِبالَد‬
َ
‫ َوتَ ْعدِي ِد َما أبْلى‬،‫عل ْي ِه ْم‬ َ َّ
َ ‫صل فِي ُحس ِْن الثنَا ِء‬ ْ ِ ‫ َو َوا‬،‫سحْ فِي آ َما ِل ِه ْم‬ ْ َ
َ ‫ فاف‬.‫اء ان ِقطاعِ ُمدَّتِ ِه ْم‬ َ ْ ِ ‫ َوت َْر ِك ا ْستِ ْبط‬،‫ َوقِلَّ ِة ا ْستِثقا ِل د َُو ِل ِه ْم‬،‫ور ِه ْم‬
َ َ ْ ِ ‫أ ُ ُم‬
.ُ‫ ِإ ْن شَا َء هللا‬،َ‫ض النَّا ِكل‬ ُ ‫ َوت ُ َح ِ ّر‬،‫ع‬ َ ‫ش َجا‬ َ ْ
ُّ ‫ فَإِ َّن كَث َرة َ ال ِذّ ْك ِر ِل ُحس ِْن أ ْف َعا ِل ِه ْم ت َ ُه ُّز ال‬،‫ذَ ُووالبَالَ ِء ِم ْن ُه ْم‬ ْ
Appreciate the performance of every one of them, do not attribute the performance of one to the
other, and do not minimize the reward below the level of the performance. The high position of a
man should not lead you to regard his small deeds as big, nor should the low position of a man
make you regard his big deeds as small.
‫ف‬ ُ ‫ع َونَّكَ ش ََر‬ ُ ‫ َوالَ َي ْد‬،‫ص َر َّن ِب ِه دُونَ غَا َي ِة َبالَئِ ِه‬ ّ ِ َ‫ َوالَ تُق‬،ِ‫غي ِْره‬ َ ‫ام ِرىء ِإلَى‬ ْ ‫ض َّم َّن َبالَ َء‬ ُ َ ‫ َوالَ ت‬،‫ف ِل ُك ِّل ا ْم ِرىء ِم ْن ُه ْم َما أَبْلى‬ ْ ‫ث ُ َّم ا ْع ِر‬
ً.‫عظيِما‬ َ َ‫ص ِغ َر ِم ْن يَالَئِ ِه َما َكان‬ َ
ْ َ ‫ضعَة ا ْم ِرىء إِلى أ ْن ت َ ْست‬ َ ُ َ َ‫ َوال‬،‫ص ِغيرا‬ ً َ َ‫ام ِرىء إِلى أ ْن ت ْع ِظ َم ِم ْن بَالَئِ ِه َما َكان‬ ُ َ َ ْ
Refer to Allah and His Prophet the affairs which wory you and matters which appear confusing to
you, because, addressing the people whom Allah the Sublime, wishes to guide, He said:
O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Prophet and those vested with authority from
among you: and then if you quarrel about anything refer it to Allah and the Prophet if you
believe in Allah and in the Last Day (of Judgement). . . (Qur'an, 4:59)
Referring to Allah means to act according to what is clear in His Book and referring to the Prophet
means to follow his unanimously agreed Sunnah in regard to which there are no differences.
‫ (يَا أَيُّ َها‬:‫ فَقَ ْد قَا َل هللاُ سبحانه ِلقَ ْوم أ َ َحبَّ إِ ْرشَادَ ُه ْم‬،‫ور‬ ِ ‫ال ُم‬ ْ ‫علَيْكَ ِمنَ ا‬ َ ُ‫ َويَ ْشتَبِه‬،‫ب‬ ِ ‫طو‬ ُ ‫ض ِلعُكَ ِمنَ ْال ُخ‬ ْ ُ‫سو ِل ِه َما ي‬ ُ ‫اردُ ْد إِلَى هللا َو َر‬ ْ ‫َو‬
:ِ‫الردُّ ِإلَى هللا‬ َّ َ‫ ف‬،)‫سو ِل‬ َّ ‫ش ْيء فَ ُردُّوهُ ِإلَى هللاِ َو‬
ُ ‫الر‬ َ ‫إن تَنَازَ ْعت ُ ْم فِي‬ ْ َ‫ال ْم ِر ِم ْن ُك ْم ف‬ ْ ‫سو َل َوأو ِلي ا‬ ُ ُ ‫الر‬َّ ‫الَّذِينَ آ َمنُوا أ َ ِطيعُوا هللاَ َوأ ِطيعُوا‬
َ
.‫غي ِْر ْال ُمف ِ َّرقَ ِة‬ َ ‫امع ِة‬ ِ ‫سنَّ ِت ِه ْال َج‬ ُ ‫ال ْخذُ ِب‬ ْ ‫ ا‬:‫سو ِل‬ ُ ‫الر‬ َّ ‫الردُّ ِإلَى‬ َّ ‫ َو‬،‫ال ْخذُ ِب ُمحْ ك َِم ِكت َا ِب ِه‬ ْ ‫ا‬
2. The Chief Judge
For the settlement of disputes among people select him who is the most distinguished of your
subjects in your view. The cases (coming before him) should not vex him, disputation should not
enrage him, he should not insist on any wrong point, and should not grudge accepting the truth
when he perceives it; he should not lean towards greed and should not content himself with a
cursory understanding (of a matter) without going thoroughly into it.
He should be most ready to stop (to ponder) on doubtful points, most regardful of arguments, least
disgusted at the quarrel of litigants, most patient at probing into matters and most fearless at the
time of passing judgement. Praise should not make him vain and elation should not make him lean
(to any side). Such people are very few.
َ‫ َوال‬،‫الزلَّ ِة‬ َّ ‫ َوالَ َيت َمادَى ِفي‬،‫صو ُم‬ ُ ‫ َوالَ ت ُ َم ِ ّح ُكهُ ْال ُخ‬،‫ور‬ ُ ‫ال ُم‬ ْ ‫يق ِب ِه ا‬ ُ ‫َض‬ ِ ‫ ِم َّم ْن الَ ت‬، َ‫ض َل َر ِعيَّتِكَ ِفي نَ ْفسِك‬ َ ‫اس أ َ ْف‬ ِ َّ‫اخت َْر ِل ْل ُح ْك ِم َبيْنَ الن‬ ْ ‫ث ُ َّم‬
،ِ‫شبُ َهات‬ َ
ُّ ‫ أ ْوقَفَ ُه ْم فِي ال‬،ُ‫صاه‬ َ َ
َ ‫ َوالَ يَكت َ ِفي بِأ ْدنَى فَ ْهم دُونَ أق‬،‫على ط َمع‬ ْ َ َ َ ُ‫سه‬ ُ ‫ف نَف‬ْ ُ ‫ َوالَ ت ُ ْش ِر‬،ُ‫ع َرفَه‬ َ ‫ق إذَا‬ ْ َ
ِ ّ ‫ص ُر ِمنَ الفَ ْي ِء إِلى ال َح‬ ْ َ ْ‫يَح‬
‫ ِم َّم ْن الَ َي ْزدَهِي ِه‬،‫اح ْال ُح ْك ِم‬ ِ َ ‫ض‬ ّ ‫ت‬
ِ ‫ا‬ َ ‫د‬ ‫ن‬ْ ‫ع‬
ِ ‫م‬ ‫ه‬ ‫م‬
ُْ َ َ ‫ر‬ ‫ص‬ْ َ ‫أ‬ ‫و‬ ، ‫ور‬
َ ِ ُ ‫م‬ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ف‬ ِ ُّ
‫ش‬ َ
‫ك‬ َ ‫ت‬ ‫ى‬ َ ‫ل‬‫ع‬ ‫م‬ ُ
‫ه‬ ‫ر‬
َ ْ ََ َ ِ ‫ب‬ ‫ص‬
ْ َ ‫أ‬‫و‬ ، ‫م‬ ‫ص‬
ْ ‫خ‬َ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫ة‬
ِ ‫ع‬ ‫ج‬ ‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫م‬ ‫ب‬ ً
َ َ َ ُ ِ ُّ َ ْ ُ َ ِ َ ِ ْ َ‫َوآ َخذ‬
‫ا‬ ‫م‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ب‬ َ ‫ت‬ ‫م‬ ‫ه‬ َّ ‫ل‬َ ‫ق‬ َ ‫أ‬ ‫و‬ ، ‫ج‬ ‫ج‬ ‫ح‬
ُ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫ب‬ ‫م‬ ُ
‫ه‬
.ٌ‫أُولئِكَ قَ ِليل‬،‫ َوالَ يَ ْست َِميلُهُ إِ ْغ َرا ٌء‬،‫إط َرا ٌء‬ ْ
Then, very often check his decisions and allow him so much money (as remuneration) that he has
no excuse worth hearing (for not being honest) and there remains no occasion for him to go to
others for his needs. Give him that rank in your audience for which no one else among your chiefs
aspires, so that he remains safe from the harm of those around you. You should have a piercing
eye in this matter because this religion has formerly been a prisoner in the hands of vicious persons
when action was taken according to passion, and worldly wealth was sought.
‫ط َم ُع‬ ْ َ‫ْط ِه ِمنَ ْال َم ْن ِزلَ ِة لَدَيْكَ َما الَ ي‬ ِ ‫ َوأَع‬،‫اس‬ ِ َّ‫ َوت َ ِق ُّل َمعَهُ َحا َجتُهُ إِلَى الن‬،ُ‫سحْ لَهُ فِي ْالبَ ْذ ِل َما يُزيِ ُل ِعلَّتَه‬ َ ‫ وا ْف‬،‫ضائِ ِه‬ َ َ‫ث ُ َّم أ َ ْكثِ ْر تَعَا ُهدَ ق‬
‫ فَإِ َّن هذَا الدِّينَ قَ ْد َكانَ أَ ِسيرا ً فِي أَ ْيدِي‬،ً‫ظرا ً ِب ِليغا‬ َ َ‫ظ ْر فِي ذلِكَ ن‬ ُ ‫ فَا ْن‬. َ‫الر َجا ِل لَهُ ِع ْندَك‬ ّ ِ ‫ ِل َيأ َمنَ ِبذلَكَ ا ْغتِ َيا َل‬، َ‫صتِك‬ ْ َّ ‫غي ُْرهُ ِم ْن خَا‬ َ ‫فِي ِه‬
.‫ب بِ ِه الدُّ ْنيَا‬ َ ْ ْ
ُ ‫ َوتُطل‬،‫ يُ ْع َم ُل فِي ِه بِال َه َوى‬،‫ال ْش َر ِار‬ ْ ‫ا‬
3. Executive Officers
Thereafter, look into the affairs of your executives. Give them appointment after tests and do not
appoint them according to partiality or favoritism, because these two things constitute sources of
injustice and unfairness. Select from among them those who are people of experience and modesty,
hailing from virtuous houses, having been previously in Islam, because such persons possess high
manners and untarnished honour. They are the least inclined towards greed and always have their
eyes on the ends of matters.
‫تو َّخ ِم ْن ُه ْم‬ َ ‫ َو‬.‫ب ْال َج ْو ِر َو ْال ِخ َيانَ ِة‬ ِ ‫ش َع‬ ُ ‫ع ِم ْن‬ ٌ ‫ فَإِنَّ ُه َما ِج َما‬،ً‫ َوالَ ت ُ َو ِلّ ِه ْم ُم َحا َباة ً وأَثَ َرة‬،ً‫اخ ِت َبارا‬ ْ ‫ فَا ْست َ ْع ِم ْل ُه ُم‬، َ‫ع َّمالِك‬ ُ ‫ور‬ ِ ‫ظ ْر ِفي أ ُ ُم‬ ُ ‫ث ُ َّم ا ْن‬
َ ً
‫ َوأقَ ُّل فِي‬،‫ص ُّح أع َْراضا‬ َ َ ً َ ْ َ ْ ْ
َ ‫ َوأ‬،‫ فَإِنَّ ُه ْم أك َر ُم أ ْخالَقا‬،‫ َوالقَدَ ِم فِي اال ْسالَ ِم ال ُمتَقَ ِدّ َم ِة‬،‫صا ِل َح ِة‬ ْ َّ ‫ت ال‬ ْ
ِ ‫ ِم ْن أ ْه ِل البُيُوت َا‬،‫اء‬ َ ْ
ِ َ‫أ َ ْه َل التَّجْ ِربَ ِة َوال َحي‬
.ً‫ظرا‬ َ َ‫ور ن‬ ِ ‫ال ُم‬ ْ ‫با‬ ِ ِ‫ع َواق‬ َ ‫ َوأ َ ْبلَ ُغ فِي‬،ً‫ام ِع ِإ ْش َرافا‬ ِ ‫ط‬ َ ‫ْال َم‬
Give them an abundant livelihood (by way of salary) because this gives them the strength to
maintain themselves in order and not to have an eye upon the funds in their custody, and it would
be an argument against them if they disobeyed your orders or misappropriated your trust. You
should also check their activities and have people who report on them who should be truthful and
faithful, because your watching their actions secretly will urge them to preserve trust with and to
be kind to the people. Be careful of assistants. If any one of them extends his hands towards
misappropriation and the reports of your reporters reaching you confirm it, that should be regarded
enough evidence. You should then inflict corporal punishment on him and recover what he has
misappropriated. You should put him in a place of disgrace, blacklist him with (the charge of)
misappropriation and make him wear the necklace of shame for his offence.
‫علَ ْي ِه ْم إِ ْن خَالَفُوا‬ َ ٌ‫ َو ُح َّجة‬،‫َاو ِل َما تَحْ تَ أَ ْيدِي ِه ْم‬ ُ ‫ع ْن تَن‬ َ ‫نى لَ ُه ْم‬ ً ‫ َو ِغ‬،‫صالَحِ أ َ ْنفُ ِس ِه ْم‬ ْ ِ‫علَى ا ْست‬ َ ‫ فَإِ َّن ذلِكَ قُ َّوة ٌ لَ ُه ْم‬، َ‫ال ْرزَ اق‬ َ ‫ث ُ َّم أ َ ْسبِ ْغ‬
ْ ‫علَ ْي ِه ُم ا‬
ٌ ‫ور ِه ْم َحد َْوة‬ ّ ‫ فَإِ َّن تَعَا ُهدَكَ فِي ال‬،‫علَ ْي ِه ْم‬
ِ ‫س ِ ِّر ِال ُم‬ َ ‫اء‬ ِ َ‫الوف‬ َ ‫ق َو‬ ِ ‫ص ْد‬ َ
ّ ِ ‫ث العُيُونَ ِم ْن أ ْه ِل ال‬ ْ ِ َ‫ َوا ْبع‬،‫ ث َّم تَفَقَّ ْد أ ْع َمالَ ُه ْم‬. َ‫أَ ْم َركَ أ َ ْو ثَلَ ُموا أ َمانَتَك‬
َ ُ َ
َ‫علَ ْي ِه ِع ْندَك‬
َ ‫ت ِب َها‬ ْ ‫ط َيدَهُ ِإلَى ِخ َيانَة اجْ ت َ َم َع‬ َ ‫س‬ َ ‫ فَإِ ْن أ َ َحدٌ ِم ْن ُه ْم َب‬،‫ان‬ ِ ‫الع َْو‬ ْ ‫ظ ِمنَ ا‬ ْ َّ‫ َوت َ َحف‬.‫الر ِعيَّ ِة‬ َّ ‫ق ِب‬ ِ ‫الر ْف‬ّ ِ ‫ َو‬،‫ال َمانَ ِة‬ ْ ‫علَى ا ْس ِت ْع َما ِل ا‬ َ ‫لَ ُه ْم‬
َّ ْ
‫ َو‬،‫ص ْبتَهُ بِ َمقَ ِام ال َمذَل ِة‬ ُ
َ َ‫ ث َّم ن‬،‫ع َم ِل ِه‬ َ ‫اب ِم ْن‬ َ ‫ص‬ َ ْ َ
َ ‫ َوأ َخذتَهُ بِ َما أ‬،‫علَ ْي ِه العُقُوبَةَ فِي بَدَنِ ِه‬ ْ َ َ‫سطت‬ ْ َ َ‫ فَب‬،ً‫ ا ْكتَفَيْتَ بِذلِكَ شَاهِدا‬، َ‫عيُونِك‬ ُ ‫ار‬ ُ َ‫أ َ ْخب‬
.‫ار الت ُّ َه َم ِة‬ َ ُ‫ َوقَلَّ ْدتَه‬،‫س ْمتَهُ ِب ْال ِخيانَ ِة‬
َ ‫ع‬ َ ‫َو‬
4. The Administration of Revenues
Look after the revenue (kharaj or land tax) affairs in such a way that those engaged in it remain
prosperous because in their prosperity lies the prosperity of all others. The others cannot prosper
without them, because all people are dependent on revenue and its payers. You should also keep
an eye on the cultivation of the land more than on the collection of revenue because revenue cannot
be had without cultivation and whoever asks for revenue without cultivation, ruins the area and
brings death to the people. His rule will not last only a moment.
‫اس‬ َ َّ‫ الَ َّن الن‬،‫صالَ َح ِل َم ْن ِس َوا ُه ْم إِالَّ بِ ِه ْم‬ َ َ‫ َوال‬،‫صالَحا ً ِل َم ْن ِس َوا ُه ْم‬ َ ‫ فَإِ َّن فِي صالَ ِح ِه َوصالَ ِح ِه ْم‬،ُ‫ص ِل ُح أَ ْهلَه‬ ْ ُ‫اج بِ َما ي‬ ِ ‫َوتفَقَّ ْد أ َ ْم َر ْالخ ََر‬
َّ‫ ِال َّن ذلِكَ الَ يُد َْركُ ِإال‬،‫اج‬ ِ ‫ب ْالخ ََر‬ ِ َ‫ظ ِركَ ِفي ا ْستِجْ ال‬ َ َ‫ض أَ ْبلَ َغ ِم ْن ن‬ ِ ‫ال ْر‬ْ ‫ار ِة ا‬َ ‫ظ ُركَ ِفي ِع َم‬ َ َ‫ َو ْل َي ُك ْن ن‬.‫اج َوأ َ ْه ِل ِه‬ ِ ‫علَى ْالخ ََر‬ َ ‫ُكلَّ ُه ْم ِع َيا ٌل‬
ً.‫ َولَ ْم يَ ْست َ ِق ْم أ َ ْم ُرهُ إِالَّ قَ ِليال‬،َ‫ َوأَ ْهلَكَ ْال ِعبَاد‬،َ‫ب ْالبِالَد‬ َ ‫ارة أ ْخ َر‬ َ َ ‫ب الخ ََرا َج بِغَي ِْر ِع َم‬ ْ َ َ
َ ‫ َو َم ْن طل‬،ِ‫ارة‬ َ ‫بَ ْال ِع َم‬
If they complain of the heaviness (of the revenue) or of diseases, or dearth of water, or excess of
water or of a change in the condition of the land either due to flood or to drought, you should remit
the revenue to the extent that you hope will improve their position. The remission granted by you
for the removal of distress from them should not be grudged by you, because it is an investment
which they will return to you in the shape of the prosperity of your country and the progress of
your domain in addition to earning their praise and happiness for meeting out justice to them.
You can depend upon their strength because of the investment made by you in them through
catering to their convenience, and can have confidence in them because of the justice cxtended to
them by being kind to them. After that, circumstances may so turn that you may have to ask for
their assistance, when they will bear it happily, for prosperity is capable of hearing whatever you
load on it. The ruin of the land is caused hy the poverty of the cultivators, while the cultivators
become poor when the officers concentrate on the collection (of money), having little hope for
continuance (in their posts) and deriving no benefit from objects of warning.
‫ع ْن ُه ْم ِبما ت َْر ُجو‬ َ َ‫ َخفَّ ْفت‬،‫ش‬ ٌ ‫ط‬ َ ‫ع‬
َ ‫ف ِب َها‬ َ ‫ أ َ ْو أَجْ َح‬،‫ أَ ْو ِإ َحالَةَ أ َ ْرض ا ْغت َ َم َرهَا غ ََر ٌق‬،‫ع ِش ْرب أ َ ْو بَالَّة‬ َ ‫طا‬ َ ‫ أ َ ِو ا ْن ِق‬،ً‫شك َْوا ثِقَالً أ َ ْو ِعلَّة‬ َ ‫فَإِ ْن‬
‫ين‬ ْ
ِ ِ‫ َوتَزي‬، َ‫ارةِ بِالدِك‬ َ ‫عليْكَ فِي ِع َم‬ َ ْ ُ
َ ‫ فإِنهُ ذخ ٌر يَعُودُونَ بِ ِه‬،‫عن ُه ْم‬ َّ َ ْ َ ْ
َ ‫ش ْي ٌء َخففتَ بِ ِه ال َمؤُونَة‬ ْ َّ َ َ‫عليْك‬ َ َّ َ ُ ْ َ
َ ‫ َوال يَثقلن‬،‫صل َح بِ ِه أ ْم ُره ْم‬ُ َ ُ ْ ‫أ َ ْن ي‬
،‫امكَ لَ ُه ْم‬ ِ ‫ ِب َما ذَخ َْرتَ ِع ْندَ ُه ْم ِم ْن ِإجْ َم‬،‫ض َل قُ َّوتِ ِه ْم‬ ْ َ‫ ُم ْعت َِمدا ً ف‬،‫ض ِة ال َع ْد ِل فِي ِه ْم‬ ْ َ ‫ َوتَبَج ُِّحكَ ِبا ْستِفَا‬،‫ َم َع ا ْستِجْ الَ ِبكَ ُحسْنَ ثَنَائِ ِه ْم‬، َ‫ِوالَيَتِك‬
ً‫ط ِيّبَة‬
َ ُ‫علَ ْي ِه ْم ِم ْن بَ ْعدُ احْ تَ َملُوه‬ ْ
َ ‫ع َّولتَ فِي ِه‬ َ
َ ‫ور َما إِذا‬ ْ
ِ ‫ ف ُربَّ َما َحدَث ِمنَ اال ُم‬،‫علَ ْي ِه ْم فِي ِر ْفقِكَ بِ ِه ْم‬
َ َ َ َ‫ع ْدلِك‬ َ ‫ع َّو ْدت َ ُه ْم ِم ْن‬ َ ‫َوال ِث ّقَةَ ِم ْن ُه ْم بِ َما‬
ْ
ِ‫اف أ ْنفُ ِس ال ُوالَة‬َ ُ َ َ
ِ ‫إِنَّ َما يُ ْع ِو ُز أ ْهل َها ِال ْش َر‬،‫ض ِم ْن إِع َْو ِاز أ ْه ِل َها‬ ْ
ِ ‫اب اال ْر‬ ُ ‫ َوإِنَّ َما يُؤْ تَى خ ََر‬،ُ‫ فَإِ َّن ْالعُ ْم َرانَ ُمحْ ت َِم ٌل َما َح َّملتَه‬،‫س ُه ْم بِ ِه‬
ْ ُ ُ‫أ َ ْنف‬
.‫ َو ِقلَّ ِة ا ْن ِتفَا ِع ِه ْم ِب ْال ِع َب ِر‬،‫اء‬ ِ َ‫ظ ِنّ ِه ْم ِب ْال َبق‬ َ ‫وء‬ ِ ‫س‬ ُ ‫ َو‬،‫علَى ْال َج ْم ِع‬ َ
5. The Clerical Establishment
Then you should take care of your secretarial workers. Put the best of them in charge of your
affairs. Entrust those of your letters which contain your policies and secrets to him who possesses
the best character, who is not elated by honours, lest he dares speak against you in common
audiences. He should also not be negligent in presenting the communications of your officers
before you and issuing correct replies to them on your behalf and in matters of your receipts and
payments. He should not make any damaging argreement on your behalf and should not fail in
repudiating an agreement against you. He should not be ignorant of the extent of his own position
in matters because he who is ignorant of his own position is (even) more ignorant of the position
of others.
‫اركَ بِأَجْ َم ِع ِه ْم ِل ُو ُجو ِد‬ َ ‫سائِلَكَ الَّتِي تُد ِْخ ُل فِي َها َمكَائِدَكَ وأَس َْر‬ َ ‫ص َر‬ ْ ‫ص‬ ُ ‫اخ‬ْ ‫ َو‬،‫وركَ َخي َْر ُه ْم‬ ِ ‫علَى أ ُ ُم‬ َ ‫ فَ َو ِّل‬، َ‫ظ ْر فِي َحا ِل ُكتَّابِك‬ ُ ‫ث ُ َّم ا ْن‬
‫ت‬ ِ ‫يرا ِد ُمكَاتَبَا‬ َ ‫ع ْن ِإ‬ ْ
َ ُ‫ص ُر ِب ِه الغَ ْفلَة‬ ّ ِ َ‫علَيْكَ فِي ِخالَف لَكَ ِب َحض َْرةِ َمالَ َوالَ تُق‬ ْ
َ ‫ فَيَجْ ت َِرى َء ِب َها‬،ُ‫ق ِم َّم ْن الَ تُب ِْط ُرهُ الك ََرا َمة‬ ِ َ‫ال ْخال‬ ْ ‫حا‬ ِ ‫صا ِل‬
َ
ْ‫عن‬ ُ َ َ
َ ‫ َوال يَ ْع ِجز‬، َ‫عقدا ا ْعتقدَهُ لك‬ َ َ ً ْ َ ‫ف‬ َ ْ َ
ُ ‫ َوال يُض ِع‬، َ‫ َوفِيَما يَأخذ لكَ َويُ ْع ِطي ِمنك‬، َ‫عنك‬ ُ ُ ْ ْ َ ‫ب‬ ِ ‫صوا‬ َّ ‫على ال‬ َ َ ‫صدَ ِار َج َوابَاتِ َها‬ ْ ِ‫ َوإ‬، َ‫عليْك‬ َ َ َ‫ع َّمالِك‬ ُ
.َ‫غي ِْر ِه أَجْ َهل‬ َ ‫ فَإِ َّن ْال َجا ِه َل بِقَد ِْر نَ ْف ِس ِه يَ ُكونُ بَقَد ِْر‬،‫ور‬ ْ ‫ َوالَ يَجْ َه ُل َم ْبلَ َغ قَد ِْر نَف ِس ِه فِي ا‬، َ‫علَيْك‬
ِ ‫ال ُم‬ َ َ‫ع ِقد‬ ُ ‫ق َما‬ ِ َ ‫ال‬ ْ
‫ط‬ ‫ِإ‬
Your selection of these people should not be on the basis of your understanding (of them),
confidence and your good impression, because people catch the ideas of the officers through
affectation and personal service and there is nothing in it which is like well-wishing or trustfulness.
You should rather test them by what they did under the virtuous people before you. Take a decision
in favor of one who has a good name among the common people and is the most renowned in
trustworthiness, because this will be a proof of your regard for Allah and for him on whose behalf
you have been appointed to this position (namely your Imam). Establish one chief for every
department of work. He should not be incapable of big matters, and a rush of work should not
perplex him. Whenever there is a defect in your secretaries which you overlook, then you will be
held responsible for it.
‫صنُّ ِع ِه ْم َو ُحس ِْن‬ َ َ ‫ت ْال ُوالَةِ بِت‬ ِ ‫سا‬ َ ‫الر َجا َل يَتَعَ َّرفُونَ ِل ِف َرا‬ ّ ِ ‫ فَإِ َّن‬، َ‫الظ ِّن ِم ْنك‬ َّ ‫ستِك َوا ْستِنَا َمتِكَ َو ُحس ِْن‬ َ ‫علَى فِ َرا‬ َ ‫اركَ إِيَّا ُه ْم‬ ُ َ‫اختِي‬ ْ ‫ث ُ َّم الَ يَ ُك ِن‬
‫س ِن ِه ْم َكانَ ِفي ْال َعا َّم ِة‬ َ ْ‫ فَاع ِْم ْد الِح‬، َ‫صا ِل ِحينَ قَ ْبلَك‬ َّ ‫اخت َ ِب ْر ُه ْم ِب َما َولُوا ِلل‬ ْ ‫ َول ِك ِن‬،‫ش ْي ٌء‬ َ ‫ال َمانَ ِة‬ ْ ‫صي َح ِة َوا‬ ِ َّ‫ْس َو َرا َء ذلِكَ ِمنَ الن‬ َ ‫ لَي‬،‫ِخ ْد َم ِت ِه ْم‬
َ
.ُ‫َصي َحتِكَ هلل َو ِل َم ْن َولِيتَ أ ْم َره‬ ِ ‫ع لى ن‬ َ َ ‫ فَإِ َّن ذلِكَ دَ ِلي ٌل‬،‫ َوأَع َْرفِ ِه ْم بِاال َمانَ ِة َوجْ ها‬،ً‫أَثَرا‬
ً ْ
‫عيْب‬ َ ‫ َو َم ْه َما َكانَ فِي ُكتَّا ِبكَ ِم ْن‬،‫يرهَا‬ ُ ِ‫علَ ْي ِه َكث‬ َ ُ‫شتَّت‬ َ َ ‫ َوالَ َيت‬،‫يرهَا‬ ُ ‫ الَ َي ْق َه ُرهُ َك ِب‬،‫وركَ َرأْسا ً ِم ْن ُه ْم‬ ِ ‫َواجْ َع ْل ِل َرأْ ِس ُك ِّل أ َ ْمر ِم ْن أ ُ ُم‬
.ُ‫ع ْنه أ ُ ْل ِز ْمتَه‬ َ َ‫فَتَغَابَيْت‬
6. Traders and Industrialists
Now take some advice about traders and industrialists. Give them good counsel whether they be
settled (shop-keepers) or traders or physical labourers because they are sources of profit and the
means of the provision of useful articles. They bring them from distant and far-flung areas
throughout the land and sea, plains or mountains, from where people cannot come and to where
they do not dare to go, for they are peaceful and there is no fear of revolt from them, and they are
quite without fear of treason.
،‫ فَإِنَّ ُه ْم َم َوادُّ ْال َمنَافِ ِع‬،‫ق ِب َبدَنِ ِه‬ ِ ّ‫ َو ْال ُمت ََر ِف‬،‫ب ِب َما ِل ِه‬ ِ ‫ط ِر‬ َ ‫ض‬ ْ ‫ َو ْال ُم‬،‫ ْال ُم ِق ِيم ِم ْن ُه ْم‬:ً‫ص ِب ِه ْم َخيْرا‬ ِ ‫ َوأ َ ْو‬،ِ‫عات‬ َ ‫صنَا‬ ّ ِ ‫َّار َوذَ ِوي ال‬ ِ ‫ص ِبالتُّج‬ ِ ‫ث ُ َّم ا ْست َْو‬
َ‫ َوال‬،‫اض ِع َها‬ ِ ‫اس ِل َم َو‬ ْ ُ
ُ َّ‫ َو َحيْث الَ يَلتَئِ ُم الن‬، َ‫س ْهلِكَ َو َجبَلِك‬ َ ‫ َو‬، َ‫ فِي بَ ِ ّركَ َوبَحْ ِرك‬،‫ح‬ ِ ‫ار‬ َ ْ ْ
ِ ‫ َو ُجالبُ َها ِمنَ ال َمبا ِع ِد َوال َمط‬،‫ق‬ َّ ِ ِ‫اب ال َم َراف‬ْ ُ َ‫َوأ َ ْسب‬
،ُ‫ص ْل ٌح الَ ت ُ ْخشَى غَائِلَتُه‬ ُ ‫ َو‬،ُ‫َاف َبائِقَتُه‬ ُ ‫ فَإِنَّ ُه ْم ِس ْل ٌم الَ تُخ‬،‫علَ ْي َها‬ َ َ‫َيجْ ت َِرئُون‬
Look after their affairs before yourself or wherever they may be in your area. Know, along with
this, that most of them are very narrow-minded, and awfully avaricious. They hoard goods for
profiteering and fix high prices for goods. This is a source of harm to the people and a blot on the
officers in charge. Stop people from hoarding, because the Messenger of Allah (S) has prohibited
it. The sale should be smooth, with correct weights and prices, not harmful to either party, the
seller or the purchaser; whoever commits hoarding after you prohibit it, give him exemplary but
not excessive punishment.
،‫ َواحْ تِكَارا ً ِل ْل َمنَافِ ِع‬،ً‫ش ّحا ً قَبِيحا‬ ُ ‫ َو‬،ً‫احشا‬ ِ َ‫ضيقا ً ف‬ ِ ‫ َوا ْعلَ ْم ـ َم َع ذلِكَ ـ أ َ َّن فِي َكثِير ِم ْن ُه ْم‬. َ‫ور ُه ْم بِ َحض َْرتِكَ َوفِي َح َوا ِشي بِالَدِك‬ َ ‫َوتَفَقَّ ْد أ ُ ُم‬
)‫هللا(صلى هللا عليه وآله‬ ِ ‫سو َل‬ ُ ‫ فَإِ َّن َر‬،‫َار‬ ِ ‫الحْ تِك‬ ْ ‫ فَا ْمن َْع ِمنَ ا‬،ِ‫علَى ْال ُوالَة‬ َ ٌ‫عيْب‬ َ ‫ َو‬،‫ض َّرة ِل ْل َعا َّم ِة‬ َ ‫اب َم‬ ُ ‫ َوذلِكَ َب‬،ِ‫عات‬ َ ‫َوت َ َح ُّكما ً فِي ْال ِب َيا‬
ْ
َ‫ف ُحك َرة ً بَ ْعدَ نَ ْهيِك‬ َ ‫ار‬ ْ ْ
َ َ‫ فَ َم ْن ق‬،ِ‫ف بِالف َِريقَي ِْن ِمنَ البَائِ ِع َوال ُم ْبتَاع‬ ْ ُ
ُ ‫ َوأ ْسعَار الَ تجْ ِح‬،‫عدْل‬ َ َ ‫ين‬ ِ ‫ بِ َم َو ِاز‬:‫س ْمحا‬ ً َ ‫ َو ْليَ ُك ِن البَ ْي ُع بَيْعا‬.ُ‫َمنَ َع ِم ْنه‬
ً ْ
.‫غي ِْر ِإس َْراف‬ َ ‫عاقِبْ فِي‬ َ ‫ِإيَّاهُ فَنَ ِ ّك ْل َو‬
7. The Lowest Class
(Fear) Allah and keep Allah in view in respect of the lowest class, consisting of those who have
few means: the poor, the destitute, the penniless and the disabled; because in this class are both
the self- contained needy and those who beg. Take care for the sake of Allah of His obligations
towards them for which He has made you responsible. Fix for them a share from the public funds
and a share from the crops of lands taken over as booty for Islam in every area, because in it the
remote ones have the same shares as the near ones. All these people are those whose rights have
been placed in your charge. Therefore, a luxurious life should not keep you away from them You
cannot be excused for ignoring small matters because you were deciding big problems.
Consequently, do not be unmindful of them, nor turn your face from them out of vanity.
َّ ‫ فإِ َّن ِفي ه ِذ ِه‬،‫الز ْمنَى‬
ً ‫الط َبقَ ِة قَا ِنعا‬ َّ ‫سى َو‬ َ ْ‫َاجينَ َوأَ ْه ِل ْالبُؤ‬ ِ ‫سا ِكين َو ْالـ ُمحْ ت‬ َ ‫س ْفلَى ِمنَ الَّذِينَ الَ ِحيلَةَ لَ ُه ْم َو ْال َم‬ َّ ‫ث ُ َّم هللاَ هللاَ ِفي‬
ُّ ‫الط َبقَ ِة ال‬
ْ
،‫ص َوافِي اال ْسالَ ِم فِي ُك ِّل بَلَد‬ َ ‫ت‬ ِ ‫غال‬ َّ َ ‫ َوقِسما ً ِم ْن‬، َ‫ت َمالِك‬ ِ ‫سما ً ِم ْن بَ ْي‬ ّ
ْ ِ‫ َواجْ عَ ْل لَ ُه ْم ق‬،‫ظكَ ِم ْن َح ِق ِه فِي ِه ْم‬ َ َ‫َظ هلل َما ا ْستَحْ ف‬ ْ ‫ َواحْ ف‬،ً‫َو ُم ْعت َّرا‬
ِ ‫يع التَّافِهَ الِحْ ك‬
َ‫َامك‬ ِ ‫ض ِي‬ ْ َ ‫ فَإِنَّكَ الَ ت ُ ْعذَ ُر ِبت‬،‫ط ٌر‬ َ ‫ع ْن ُه ْم َب‬ َ َ‫ فَالَ َي ْشغَلنَّك‬،ُ‫ َو ُك ٌّل قَ ِد ا ْست ُ ْرعِيتَ َحقَّه‬،‫ال ْدنَى‬ ْ ‫صى ِم ْن ُه ْم ِمثْ َل الَّذِي ِل‬ َ ‫ال ْق‬ ْ ‫فإِ َّن ِل‬
َ
‫ص ِعّ ْر َخدَّكَ ل ُه ْم‬ َ ُ ‫ َوالَ ت‬،‫ع ْن ُه ْم‬ َ َ‫ص َه َّمك‬ ْ ‫ فَالَ ت ُ ْش ِخ‬.‫ير ال ُم ِه َّم‬ ْ َ ِ‫ْال َكث‬
Take care of the affairs of those of them who do not approach you among those who are looked at
with contempt and whom people regard as low. Appoint for them some trusted people who are
God-fearing and humble. They should infrom you of these people's conditions. Then deal with
them with a sense of responsibility to Allah on the day you will meet Him, because of all the
subjects these people are the most deserving of equitable treatment, while for others also you
should fulfil their rights so as to render account to Allah.
‫ فَ ْليَ ْرفَ ْع‬،‫غ ِالولئِكَ ثِقَتَكَ ِم ْن أ َ ْه ِل ْال َخ ْشيَ ِة َوالت َّ َواضُع‬ ْ ‫ فَف ِ َّر‬،ُ‫الر َجال‬ ّ ِ ُ‫ َوتَحْ ِق ُره‬، ُ‫ص ُل إِلَيْكَ ِم ْن ُه ْم ِم َّم ْن ت َ ْقت َِح ُمهُ ْالعُيُون‬ ِ َ‫ور َم ْن الَ ي‬ َ ‫َوتَفَقَّ ْد أ ُ ُم‬
،‫غي ِْر ِه ْم‬ َ ‫اف ِم ْن‬ ِ ‫ص‬ َ ‫الن‬ ْ ‫الر ِعيَّ ِة أَحْ َو ُج ِإلَى ا‬ َّ ‫ فَإِ َّن ه ُؤالَ ِء ِم ْن َبي ِْن‬،ُ‫هللا تَ َعالَى َي ْو َم ت َْلقَاه‬ ِ ‫ال ْعذَ ِار ِإلَى‬ ْ ‫ ث ُ َّم ا ْع َم ْل ِفي ِه ْم َبا‬،‫ور ُه ْم‬ َ ‫ِإلَيْكَ أ ُ ُم‬
َ ْ
.‫َو ُك ٌّل فَأ َ ْعذ ِْر إِلى هللاِ تَعَالى فِي ت َأ ِديَ ِة َح ِق ِه إِلي ِه‬
ّ َ َ
Take care of the orphans and the aged who have no means (for livelihood) nor are they ready for
begging. This is heavy on the officers; in fact, every right is heavy. Allah lightens it for those who
seek the next world and so they endure (hardships) upon themselves and trust on the truthfulness
of Allah's promise to them. And fix a time for complainants wherein you make yourself free for
them, and sit for them in common audience and feel humble therein for the sake of Allah who
created you. (On that occasion) you should keep away your army and your assistants such as the
guards and the police so that anyone who like to speak may speak to you without fear, because I
have heard the Messenger of Allah (S) say in more than one place, "The people among whom the
right of the weak is not secured from the strong without fear will never achieve purity." Tolerate
their awkwardness and inability to speak. Keep away from you narrowness and haughtiness; Allah
would, on this account, spread over you the skirts of His mercy and assign the reward of His
obedience for you. Whatever you give, give it joyfully, but when you refuse, do it handsomely and
with excuses.
،ٌ‫ َو ْال َح ُّق ُكلُّهُ ثَ ِقيل‬،ٌ‫علَى ْال ُوالَةِ ث َ ِقيل‬ َ َ‫ َوذلِك‬،ُ‫سه‬ َ ‫ب ِل ْل َم ْسأَلَ ِة نَ ْف‬ ُ ‫ص‬ ِ ‫ َوالَ يَ ْن‬،ُ‫س ِِّن ِم َّم ْن الَ ِحيلَةَ لَه‬ ّ ‫الرقَّ ِة فِي ال‬ ّ ِ ‫َوتَ َع َّه ْد أ َ ْه َل ْاليُتْ ِم َوذَ ِوي‬
ُ‫ت ِم ْنكَ قِسْما ً تُف ِ َّرغ‬ ْ َ ْ
ِ ‫ َواجْ عل ِلذ ِوي ال َحا َجا‬.‫عو ِد هللاِ ل ُه ْم‬ َ ُ ‫ق َم ْو‬ ِ ‫ص ْد‬ ُ
ِ ِ‫ َو َوثِقوا ب‬،‫س ُه ْم‬ ُ ْ َ
َ ‫صبَ ُروا أنف‬ َ َ ْ
َ ‫علَى أ َ ْق َوام طلبُوا العَاقِبَة ف‬
َ َ َ ُ‫َوقَ ْد يُ َخ ِفّفُهُ هللا‬
، َ‫ش َر ِطك‬ َ َ
ُ ‫ع ْن ُه ْم ُج ْندَكَ َوأع َْوانَكَ ِم ْن أحْ َراسِكَ َو‬ َ ُ‫ َوتُق ِعد‬، َ‫ض ُع فِي ِه هلل الذِي َخلَقَك‬ َّ َ ‫ فَتَت َوا‬،ً‫عا ّما‬ َ ً ‫س لَ ُه ْم َمجْ ِلسا‬ ُ ‫ َوتَجْ ِل‬، َ‫صك‬ َ ‫لَ ُه ْم فِي ِه ش َْخ‬
‫يف‬ِ ‫ض ِع‬ ُ ْ‫ُؤ‬ َ ٌ
َّ ‫َّس أ َّمة ال ي َخذ ِلل‬ ُ َ ُ ْ َ
َ ‫ "لن تقد‬:‫غي ِْر َم ْو ِطن‬ ُ ُ
َ ‫سو َل هللاِ(عليه السالم) يَقول فِي‬ ُ‫ت‬
ُ ‫س ِم ْع َر‬ ّ َ
َ ‫ فإِ ِني‬،‫غي َْر ُمت ْعتِع‬ َ َ ‫َحتَّى يُ َك ِلّ َمكَ ُمتك ِل ُم ُه ْم‬
ّ َ َ
،‫َاف َرحْ َمتِ ِه‬ َ
َ ‫علَيْكَ بَذ ِلكَ أ ْكن‬ َ ُ‫س ِط هللا‬ ُ ‫ يَ ْب‬،‫َف‬ ْ
َ ‫ضيقَ َواالن‬ ّ ِ ‫ع ْنكَ ال‬ َ ‫ح‬ ِ ّ َ‫ َون‬،‫ي‬ ْ ْ ُ
َّ ‫ ث َّم احْ ت َِم ِل ال ُخ ْرقَ ِم ْن ُه ْم َوال ِع‬."‫غي َْر ُمت َ ْعتِع‬ َ ِ‫ي‬ ّ ‫فِي َها َحقُّهُ ِمنَ ْالقَ ِو‬
. ‫ َوا ْمن َْع ِفي ِإجْ َمال َو ِإ ْعذَار‬،ً‫طيْتَ َه ِنيئا‬ َ ‫ْط َما أ َ ْع‬ ِ ‫ َوأَع‬،‫ع ِت ِه‬ َ ‫طا‬ َ ‫اب‬ َ ‫ب لَكَ ث َ َو‬ ُ ‫ُوج‬ِ ‫َوي‬
Then there are certain matters which you cannot avoid performing yourself. For example, replying
to your officers when your secretaries are unable to do so, or disposing of the complaints of the
people when your assistants shirk them. Finish every day the work meant for it, because every day
has its own work. Keep for yourself the better and greater portion of these periods for the worship
of Allah, although all these items are for Allah provided the intention is pure and the subjects
prosper thereby.
 ‫اس ِع ْندَ َو ُرو ِدهَا‬ ِ َّ‫ت الن‬ ِ ‫ار َحا َجا‬ ُ َ‫صد‬ ْ ‫ َو ِم ْن َها ِإ‬، َ‫ع ْنهُ ُكتَّابُك‬ َ ‫ع َّمالِكَ ِب َما َي ْع َيا‬ ُ ُ‫ ِم ْن َها ِإ َجا َبة‬:‫وركَ الَ بُدَّ َلكَ ِم ْن ُم َباش ََرتِ َها‬ ِ ‫ور ِم ْن أ ُ ُم‬ ٌ ‫ث ُ َّم أ ُ ُم‬
‫ض َل‬ ْ َ ْ
َ ‫ َواجْ عَ ْل ِلنَفسِكَ فِيَما بَ ْينَكَ َوبَيْنَ هللاِ تعالى أف‬،‫ فإِ َّن ِلك ِّل يَ ْوم َما فِي ِه‬،ُ‫ع َمله‬ ُ َ َ ‫ض ِلك ِّل يَ ْوم‬ ُ َ
ِ ‫ َوأ ْم‬. َ‫ُور أع َْوانِك‬ َ ُ ‫صد‬ ُ ‫علَيْكَ ِم َّما تَحْ َر ُج بِ ِه‬ َ
.ُ‫الر ِعيَّة‬ َّ ‫ت ِم ْن َها‬ ْ ‫س ِل َم‬ َ َ ‫و‬ ، ُ ‫ة‬ َّ ‫ي‬ ّ ‫ن‬
ِ ‫ال‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬
َ ‫في‬ ‫ت‬ ْ ‫ح‬
َ َ َ ‫ل‬ ‫ص‬ ‫ا‬ َ ‫ذ‬ ‫إ‬
ِ ‫هلل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬
َ ُّ ‫ل‬ ُ
‫ك‬ ‫َت‬ ْ ‫ن‬ ‫َا‬‫ك‬ ْ
‫ن‬ ‫إ‬‫و‬
َِ ِ َ، ‫ام‬ ‫س‬ ْ
‫ق‬ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫ا‬ َ‫ك‬‫ل‬ْ ‫ت‬
ِ ‫ل‬
َ َ‫ز‬ ْ‫ج‬ َ ‫أ‬‫و‬ َ ،ِ ‫ت‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ق‬
ِ ‫ا‬ ‫و‬
ََ ‫م‬ ْ
‫ال‬ َ‫ك‬ ‫تِ ْل‬
Communion with Allah
The particular thing by which you should purify your religion for Allah should be the fulfilment
of those obligations which are especially for Him. Therefore, devote to Allah some of your
physical activity during the night and the day, and whatever (worship) you perform for seeking
nearness to Allah should be complete, without defect or deficiency, whatsoever physical exertion
it may involve. When you lead the prayers for the people, then do not scare them away from it (by
prolonging it) nor waste it (by making it too short), because among the people there are the sick as
well as those who have needs of their own. When the Messenger of Allah (S) sent me to Yemen I
enquired how I should offer prayers with them and he replied, "Say the prayers as the weakest of
them would say, and be compassionate to the believers."
‫ف َما‬ ِ ّ ‫ َو َو‬، َ‫ارك‬ ِ ‫ْط هللاَ ِمن بَدَنِكَ فِي لَ ْيلِكَ َونَ َه‬ ِ ‫ فَأَع‬،ً‫صة‬ َّ ‫ِي لَهُ خَا‬ َ ‫ض ِه الَّتي ه‬ ِ ِ‫ ِإقَا َمةُ فَ َرائ‬: َ‫ص هلل ِب ِه دِينَك‬ ُ ‫ص ِة َما ت ُ ْخ ِل‬ َّ ‫َو ْليَ ُك ْن فِي خَا‬
َ ْ
.َ‫ بَا ِلغا ِمن بَدَنِكَ َما بَلغ‬،‫غي َْر َمثلوم َوال َمنقوص‬ ً ُ ْ َ ُ ْ ً
َ ‫تَقَ َّربْتَ بِ ِه إِلَى هللاِ ِمن ذلِكَ كَامال‬
ْ
‫سو َل هللاِ (صلى‬ ُ ‫سألتُ َر‬ ْ َ ُ ْ ُ
َ ‫ َوقَ ْد‬.‫اس َم ْن ِب ِه ال ِعلة َولَهُ ال َحا َجة‬ َّ ْ ِ َّ‫ فَإِ َّن فِي الن‬،ً‫ض ِيّعا‬ َ ‫ فَالَ ت َ ُكون ََّن ُمنَفّ ِرا ً َوالَ ُم‬،‫اس‬ ِ َّ‫َو ِإذَا قُ ْمتَ فِي صالَتِكَ ِللن‬
ً ْ‫ؤ‬ ْ
."‫ َوكن بِال ُم ِمنِينَ َر ِحيما‬،‫ضعَ ِف ِه ْم‬ ْ ُ ْ ‫صالةِ أ‬َ َ َ
َ ‫ص ِل بِ ِه ْم ك‬ ّ َ " :َ‫ص ِلي بِ ِه ْم؟ فقال‬ َ َ ّ َ ‫ْف أ‬ ُ َ ‫يمن كي‬ َ َ َ
ِ ‫هللا عليه وآله) ِحينَ َو َّج َهنِي إِلى ال‬
On the behavior and action of a Ruler
Then, do not keep yourself secluded from the people for a long time, because the seclusion of those
in authority from the subjects is a kind of narrow-sightedness and causes ignorance about their
affairs. Seclusion from them also prevents them from the knowledge of those things which they
do not know and as a result they begin to regard big matters as small and small matters as big,
good matters as bad and bad matters as good, while the truth becomes confused with falsehood.
After all, a governor is a human being and cannot have knowledge of things which people keep
hidden from him.
‫اب‬ ُ ‫الحْ تِ َج‬ ْ ‫ َوا‬،‫ور‬ ِ ‫ال ُم‬ْ ‫ َوقِلَّةُ ِع ْلم بِا‬،‫ق‬ ِ ‫ضي‬ ّ ِ ‫ش ْعبَةٌ ِمنَ ال‬ ُ ‫الر ِعيَّ ِة‬ َّ ‫ع ِن‬ َ ِ‫اب ْال ُوالَة‬ َ ‫ فَإِ َّن احْ تِ َج‬، َ‫ع ْن َر ِعيَّتِك‬ َ َ‫ط ّ ِولَ َّن احْ تِ َجابَك‬ َ ُ ‫ فَالَ ت‬،‫َوأ َ َّما بَ ْعدَ هذا‬
ْ
‫َاب ال َح ُّق‬ ُ ‫ َويُش‬،‫سنُ القَبِي ُح‬ ْ ُ ْ‫ َويَح‬، ُ‫سن‬ ْ
َ ‫ َويَ ْقبُ ُح ال َح‬،‫ير‬ ُ ‫ص ِغ‬ َّ ‫ظ ُم ال‬ َ ‫ َويَ ْع‬،‫ير‬ ْ
ُ ِ‫صغُ ُر ِعندَ ُه ْم ال َكب‬ ْ َ‫دونَهُ فَي‬ ُ ‫ع ْن ُه ْم ِع ْل َم َما احْ ت َ َجبُوا‬ َ ‫ط ُع‬ َ ‫ِم ْن ُه ْم يَ ْق‬
،‫ور‬ ِ ُ ‫م‬ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫ا‬ َ‫ن‬ ‫م‬ ‫ه‬
ِ ِِ ُ ‫ب‬ ‫اس‬ َّ ‫ن‬ ‫ال‬ ُ ‫ه‬ ‫ن‬ ْ ‫ع‬
َ ‫ى‬ ‫ار‬
َ َ َ ُ ِ ْ َ ٌ َ ِ َ َ ِ َ ،‫اط ِل‬
‫َو‬ ‫ت‬ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ ‫ف‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ي‬ َ ‫ال‬ ‫َر‬ ‫ش‬ ‫ب‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ل‬‫ا‬ ‫و‬ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬َّ ‫ن‬ ‫إ‬‫و‬ ِ ‫ِب ْال َب‬
There are no marks on the face of truth to differentiate its various expressions from falsehood.
Then you can be one of two kinds of men. Either you may be generous in granting rights - and
then why this hiding in spite of (your) discharging the obligations and good acts that you perform?
Or you are a victim of stinginess; in that case people will soon give up asking you since they will
lose hope of generous treatment from you. In spite of that there are many needs of the people
towards you which do not involve any hardship on you, such as the complaint against oppression
or the request for justice in a matter.
‫َت نَ ْفسُكَ ِب ْالبَ ْذ ِل فِي‬ ْ ‫سخ‬ َ ‫ ِإ َّما ا ْم ُر ٌؤ‬: َ‫ َو ِإنَّ َما أ َ ْنتَ أ َ َحدُ َر ُجلَيْن‬،‫ب‬ ِ ‫ق ِمنَ ْال َك ِذ‬ ِ ‫ص ْد‬ ّ ِ ‫وب ال‬ ُ ‫ف ِب َها ض ُُر‬ ُ ‫ق ِس َماتٌ ت ُ ْع َر‬ ِ ّ ‫علَى ْال َح‬ َ ‫ت‬ ْ ‫س‬ َ ‫َولَ ْي‬
‫سوا‬ َ َ
ُ ِ‫عن َم ْسألتِكَ إِذا أي‬ َ َ ْ َ ‫اس‬ َّ
ِ ‫َف الن‬ َّ ‫ع ك‬ َ َ
َ ‫ ف َما أس َْر‬،ِ‫ى بِال َمنع‬ ْ َ َ َ ُ
ً ‫ أ ْو ُم ْبتل‬،‫ أ ْو فِ ْعل ك َِريم ت ْسدِي ِه‬،‫ق ت ْع ِطي ِه‬ َ ُ ّ
ٍّ ‫ب َح‬ ِ ‫اج‬ ْ
ِ ‫يم احْ تِ َجابُكَ ِمن َو‬ َ
َ ‫ ف ِف‬،‫ق‬ ِ ‫ْال َح‬
ّ
.‫ب إِ ْنصاف فِي ُمعَا َملَة‬ ِ َ‫طل‬ َ
َ ‫ أ ْو‬،‫شكَاةِ َمظ ِل َمة‬ ْ َ ‫ ِم ْن‬، َ‫علَيْك‬ َ ‫اس إِلَيْكَ [مـ] ما الَ َمؤُونَةَ فِي ِه‬ ِ َّ‫ت الن‬ َ َ
ِ ‫ِم ْن بَذلِكَ ! َم َع أ َّن أ ْكث َ َر َحا َجا‬ ْ
Further, a governor has favorites and people of easy access to him. They misappropriate things,
are high-handed and do not observe justice in matters. You should destroy the root of evil in the
people by cutting away the causes of these defects. Do not make any land grants to your hangers
on or supporters. They should not expect from you the possession of land which may cause harm
to adjoining people over the question of irrigation or common services whose burden the grantees
place on others. In this way, the benefit will be rather theirs than yours, and the blame will lie on
you in this world and the next.
 ،‫الحْ َوا ِل‬ ْ ‫ب تِ ْلكَ ا‬ ِ ‫ط ِع أ َ ْس َبا‬ ْ ‫ فَاحْ ِس ْم َمادَّة َ أُولئِكَ ِب َق‬،‫صاف فِي ُم َعا َم َلة‬ َ ‫ َوقِلَّةُ ِإ ْن‬،ٌ‫اول‬ ُ ‫ط‬ َ َ ‫ار َوت‬ ٌ َ ‫ فِي ِه ُم ا ْستِئْث‬،ً‫طانَة‬ َ ‫صةً و ِب‬ َّ ‫ث ُ َّم ِإ َّن ِل ْل َوا ِلي خَا‬
‫ع َمل‬ َ
َ ‫ فِي ِش ْرب أ ْو‬،‫اس‬ ِ َّ‫ تَض ُُّر بِ َم ْن يَ ِلي َها ِمنَ الن‬،‫عقدَة‬ ْ ْ ً
ُ ‫ َوالَ يَط َمعَ َّن ِم ْنكَ فِي ا ْعتِقَا ِد‬،‫َوالَ ت ُ ْق ِطعَ َّن ِال َحد ِم ْن َحا ِشيتِكَ َو َحا َّمتِكَ قَ ِطيعة‬
.ِ‫ال ِخ َرة‬ ْ ‫علَيْكَ فِي الدُّ ْنيَا َوا‬ َ ُ‫ع ْيبُه‬ َ ‫ َو‬، َ‫ فَيَ ُكونَ َم ْهنَأ ُ ذلِكَ لَ ُه ْم دُونَك‬،‫غي ِْر ِه ْم‬ َ ‫علَى‬ َ ُ‫ يَحْ ِملُونَ َمؤُونَتَه‬،‫ُم ْشت ََرك‬
Allow rights to whomsoever it is due, whether near you or far from you. In this matter, you should
be enduring and watchful even though it may involve your relations and favorites, and keep in
view the reward of that which appears burdensome on you because its reward is handsome.
‫ َوا ْبت َِغ‬،‫ْث َوقَ َع‬ ُ ‫صتِكَ َحي‬ َّ ‫ َواقِعا ً ذلِكَ ِم ْن قَ َرابَتِكَ خَا‬،ً‫صابِرا ً ُمحْ تَسِبا‬ َ َ‫ َو ُك ْن فِي ذلِك‬،ِ‫ب َو ْالبَ ِعيد‬ ِ ‫َوأ َ ْل ِز ِم ْال َح َّق َم ْن لَ ِز َمهُ ِمنَ ْالقَ ِري‬
.ٌ‫ فَإِ َّن َمغَبَّةَ ذلِكَ َمحْ ُمودَة‬،ُ‫علَيْكَ ِم ْنه‬ َ ‫عا ِق َبتَهُ ِب َما َيثْقُ ُل‬ َ
If the subjects suspect you of high-handedness, explain to them your position openly and remove
their suspicion with your explanation, because this would mean exercise for your soul and
consideration to the subjects while this explanation will secure your aim of keeping them firm in
truth.
ً ‫ َو ِر ْفقا‬، َ‫ضةً ِم ْنكَ ِلنَ ْفسِك‬ َ ‫ فَإِ َّن فِي ذلِكَ ِريَا‬، َ‫ارك‬ ِ ‫ص َح‬ ْ ِ‫ظنُونَ ُه ْم بِإ‬ ُ َ‫عنك‬ َ ‫ َوا ْعد ِْل‬، َ‫ص ِح ْر لَ ُه ْم بِعُ ْذ ِرك‬ ْ َ ‫ فَأ‬،ً‫الر ِعيَّةُ بِكَ َحيْفا‬ َّ ‫ت‬ ِ َّ‫ظن‬َ ‫َوإِ ْن‬
ِ ّ ‫علَى ْال َح‬
.‫ق‬ َ ‫يم ِه ْم‬ ِ ‫ َو ِإ ْعذَارا ً ت َ ْبلُ ُغ فِيه َحا َجتَكَ ِم ْن ت َ ْق ِو‬، َ‫ِب َر ِعيَّتِك‬
Do not reject peace to which your enemy may call you and wherein there is the pleasure of Allah,
because peace brings rest to your army and relief from your worries and safety for your country.
But after peace there is great apprehension from the enemy because often the enemy offers peace
to benefit by your negligence. Therefore, be cautious and do not act by wishfulness in this matter.
‫ َولَ ِك ِن‬، َ‫ وأ َ ْمنا ً ِل ِبالَدِك‬، َ‫ومك‬ ِ ‫ َو َرا َحةً ِم ْن ُه ُم‬، َ‫عةً ِل ُجنُودِك‬ َ َ‫ح د‬ِ ‫ص ْل‬ ُّ ‫ فإِ َّن ِفي ال‬،‫ضى‬ ً ‫عد ُُّو كَ هلل ِفي ِه ِر‬ َ ‫عاكَ ِإلَ ْي ِه‬ َ َ‫ص ْلحا ً د‬ ُ ‫َوالَ ت َ ْدفَ َع َّن‬
َّ ْ
.‫ َوات َّ ِه ْم فِي ذلِكَ ُحسْنَ الظ ِّن‬،‫ فَ ُخذ بِال َح ْز ِم‬،َ‫ب ِليَتَغَفَّل‬ ْ َ ‫ار‬ ْ
َ َ‫ فَإِ َّن العَد َُّو ُربَّ َما ق‬،‫صل ِح ِه‬ ْ ُ َ‫عد ّ ُِو ِك بَ ْعد‬ َ ‫ْال َحذَ َر ُك َّل ْال َحذَ ِر ِم ْن‬
If you conclude an agreement between yourself and your enemy or enter into a pledge with him
then fulfil your agreement and discharge your pledge faithfully. Place yourself as a shield against
whatever you have pledged because among the obligations of Allah there is nothing on which
people are more strongly united despite the difference of their ideas and variation of their views
than respect for fulfilling pledges.
Besides Muslims, even unbelievers have abided by agreements because they realized the dangers
which would come in the wake of violation (thereof). Therefore, do not deceive your enemy,
because no one can offend Allah save the ignorant and the wicked. Allah made His agreement and
pledged the sign of security which He has spread over His creatures through His mercy and an
asylum in which they stay in His protection and seek the benefit of nearness to Him. Therefore,
there should be no deceit, cunning or duplicity in it.
َ‫سكَ ُجنَّةً دُون‬ َ ‫ َواجْ َع ْل نَ ْف‬،‫ال َمانَ ِة‬ ْ ‫ع ِذ َّمتَكَ ِبا‬ َ ‫ار‬ ْ ‫ َو‬،‫اء‬ ِ َ‫ع ْهدَكَ ِب ْال َوف‬ َ ‫ط‬ ْ ‫ فَ ُح‬،ً‫ أ َ ْو أ َ ْل َب ْستَهُ ِم ْنكَ ِذ َّمة‬،ً‫ع ْقدَة‬ ُ َ‫عد ُّو لَك‬ َ َ‫عقَ ْدتَ َب ْينَكَ َو َبيْن‬ َ ‫َو ِإ ْن‬
‫ظيم‬ِ ‫ ِمنَ تَ ْع‬،‫آرائِ ِه ْم‬ َ ‫ت‬ ْ
ِ ‫ َوتَشتِي‬،‫ق أ ْه َوائِ ِه ْم‬ َ ْ ً
ِ ‫ َم َع تَف ِري‬،‫عل ْي ِه اجْ تِماعا‬ َ َ ُّ‫اس أشد‬ َ َّ
ُ ‫ش ْي ٌء الن‬ َ ‫ض هللاِ عزوج ّل‬ ِ ِ‫ْس ِم ْن فَ َرائ‬ َ َّ
َ ‫ فَإِنهُ لي‬، َ‫َما ْعطيْت‬ َ
َ‫ َوال‬، َ‫ فَالَ ت َ ْغد َِر َّن ِب ِذ َّمتِك‬،‫ب ْالغَد ِْر‬ ِ ِ‫ع َواق‬َ ‫ َوقَ ْد لَ ِز َم ذلِكَ ْال ُم ْش ِر ُكونَ فِيَما بَ ْينَ ُه ْم دُونَ ْال ُم ْس ِل ِمينَ ِل َما ا ْست َْوبَلُوا ِم ْن‬،ِ‫اء ِب ْالعُ ُهود‬ ِ َ‫ْال َوف‬
ْ
‫ضاهُ بَيْنَ ال ِعبَا ِد‬ ْ َ ً َ
َ ‫ع ْهدَهُ َو ِذ َّمتَهُ أ ْمنا أف‬ َ ُ‫ َوق ْد َجعَ َل هللا‬.‫ي‬ َ ٌّ ‫ش ِق‬ ٌ َّ
َ ‫على هللاِ إِال َجا ِهل‬ َ َ َّ
َ ‫ فإِنهُ ال يَجْ ت َِرى ُء‬، َ‫عد َُّوك‬ َ َّ َ ْ َ
َ ‫ َوال ت َختِلن‬، َ‫سن بَعَ ْهدِك‬ َّ َ ‫ت َِخي‬
،‫ع فِي ِه‬ َ ‫ َوالَ ِخدَا‬،َ‫سة‬ َ َ‫ فَالَ ِإ ْدغَا َل َوالَ ُمدَال‬،ِ‫يَ ْست َ ِفيضُونَ ِإلَى ِج َو ِاره‬،‫ َو َح ِريما ً يَ ْس ُكنُونَ ِإلَى َمنَ َعتِ ِه‬،‫ِب َرحْ َمتِ ِه‬
Do not enter into an agreement which may admit of different interpretations and do not change the
interpretation of vague words after the conclusion and confirmation (of the agreement). If an
agreement of Allah involves you in hardship do not seek its repudiation without justification,
because the bearing of hardships through which you expect relief and a handsome result is better
than a violation whose consequence you fear, and that you fear that you will be called upon by
Allah to account for it and you will not be able to seek forgiveness for it in this world or the next.
،ِ‫ع ْهدُ هللا‬ َ ‫يق أَ ْمر لَ ِز َمكَ فِي ِه‬ ُ ‫ض‬ ِ َ‫ع َونَّك‬ ُ ‫ َوالَ يَ ْد‬،‫علَى لَحْ ِن القَ ْول بَ ْعدَ التَّأ ْ ِكي ِد َوالت َّ ْوثِقَ ِة‬ َ ‫ َوالَ ت ُ َع ّ ِولَ َّن‬،ُ‫وز فِي ِه ْال ِعلَل‬ ُ ‫ع ْقدا ً ت َ ُج‬ َ ‫َوالَ ت َ ْع ِق ْد‬
َ‫ َوأَ ْن ت ُ ِحيط‬،ُ‫َاف تَبِعَتَه‬ ُ ‫غدْر تَخ‬ ْ
َ ‫ َخي ٌْر ِمن‬،‫عاقِبَتِ ِه‬ َ ‫ض َل‬ َ ْ
ْ ‫ضيق ت َْر ُجو ان ِف َرا َجهُ َوف‬ ِ ‫على‬ َ َ َ‫صب َْرك‬ َ ‫ فإن‬،‫ق‬ َّ َ ّ ْ
ِ ‫اخ ِه بِغَي ِْر ال َح‬ ِ ‫س‬ ْ
َ ‫ب ان ِف‬ ِ َ‫طل‬ َ ‫إِلَى‬
. َ‫آخ َرتَك‬ ِ َ‫ الَت َ ْست َ ِقي ُل فِي َها دُ ْنيَاكَ َوال‬،ٌ‫ط ِلبَة‬ َ ‫ِبكَ ِمنَ هللاِ فِي ِه‬
You should avoid shedding blood without justification, because nothing is more inviting of Divine
retribution, greater in (evil) consequence, and more effective in the decline of prosperity and
cutting short of life than the shedding of blood without justification. On the Day of Judgement
Allah the Glorified, would commence giving His judgement among the people with the cases of
bloodshed committed by them.
Therefore, do not strengthen your authority by shedding prohibited blood because this will weaken
and lower the authority, moreover, destroy it and shift it. You cannot offer any excuse before Allah
or before me for willful killing because there must be the question or revenge in it. If you are
involved in it by error and you exceed in the use of your whip or sword or hand in inflicting
punishment, as sometimes even a blow by the fist or a smaller stroke causes death, then the
haughtiness of your authority should not prevent you from paying the blood price to the successors
of the killed person.
‫ ِم ْن‬،‫طاعِ ُمدَّة‬ َ ‫ َوا ْن ِق‬،‫ َوالَ أَحْ َرى بِزَ َوا ِل نِ ْع َمة‬،‫ظ َم ِلتَبِعَة‬ َ ‫ َوالَ أَ ْع‬،‫عى ِلنِ ْق َمة‬ َ ‫ش ْي ٌء أَ ْد‬ َ ‫ْس‬ َ ‫ فَإِنَّهُ لَي‬،‫س ْف َك َها بِغَي ِْر ِح ِلّ َها‬ َ ‫إِيَّاكَ َوالدَّ َما َء َو‬
‫س ْف ِك‬َ ِ ‫ب‬ َ‫َك‬ ‫ن‬ ‫ا‬ َ
‫ط‬ ْ
‫ل‬ ‫س‬
ُ ‫ن‬َّ ‫ي‬
َ ‫و‬
ِ ّ َ ‫ق‬ُ ‫ت‬ َ ‫ال‬ َ ‫ف‬ ، ‫ة‬
ِ ‫ام‬ ‫ي‬
َ ‫ق‬
ِ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫م‬
َ ‫و‬ ْ ‫ي‬
َ ‫اء‬
ِ ‫م‬
َ ّ ‫د‬
ِ ‫ل‬‫ا‬ َ‫ن‬ ‫م‬
ِ ‫وا‬‫ك‬ُ َ ‫ف‬ ‫ا‬ ‫س‬
َ َ ‫ت‬ ‫ما‬‫ي‬
َ ‫ف‬
ِ ،ِ‫د‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬
َ ‫ع‬
ِ ْ
‫ال‬ َ‫ْن‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ب‬
َ ‫م‬ِ ْ
‫ك‬ ‫ح‬
ُ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫ب‬
ِ ‫ء‬ٌ ‫ِى‬ ‫د‬َ ‫ت‬ ‫ب‬ْ ‫م‬
ُ ُ ‫ه‬ ‫ن‬
َ ‫ا‬‫ح‬َ ‫ب‬
ْ ‫س‬
ُ ُ ‫هللا‬ ‫و‬ ّ
َ َ َ ِ ‫اء ِبغَي‬
،‫ا‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ق‬
ِ ‫ح‬ ‫ْر‬ ِ ‫س ْف ِك ال ِدّ َم‬
َ
ْ َ َّ
،‫ ِالن فِي ِه ق َودَ البَدَ ِن‬،ِ‫عذ َر لكَ ِعندَ هللاِ َوال ِعندِي فِي قت ِل العَمد‬ْ ْ َ ْ َ ْ َ ْ َ ُ ُ ْ ُ
ُ ‫ َوال‬،ُ‫ بَل يُزيِلهُ َويَنقله‬،ُ‫ض ِعفهُ َويُو ِهنه‬ ْ ُ ُ ْ ُ‫ فإِن ذلِكَ ِم َّما ي‬،‫دَم َح َرام‬ َّ َ
َ‫طانِك‬ َ ‫س ْل‬ ُ ُ ‫ فَالَ ت َْط َم َح َّن ِبكَ ن َْخ َوة‬،ً‫ فَإِ َّن فِي ْال َو ْكزَ ةِ فَ َما فَ ْوقَ َها َم ْقتَلَة‬،‫س ْيفُكَ أ َ ْو يَدُكَ ِبعُقُوبَة‬ َ ‫طكَ أ َ ْو‬ ُ ‫س ْو‬ َ َ‫علَيْك‬ َ ‫ط‬ َ ‫طإ َوأ َ ْف َر‬ َ ‫َو ِإ ِن ا ْبتُلِيتَ ِب َخ‬
َّ
.‫اء ال َمقتول َحق ُه ْم‬ ُ ْ ْ َ
ِ َ‫ِي إِلَى أ ْو ِلي‬ َ ّ‫ع ْن أ َ ْن ت ُ َؤد‬ َ
You should avoid self-admiration, having reliance in what appears good in yourself and love of
exaggerated praise because this is one of the most reliable opportunities for Satan to obliterate the
good deeds of the virtuous.
‫ ِلـ َي ْم َحقَ َما‬،‫ان فِي نَ ْف ِس ِه‬ ِ ‫ط‬ َ ‫ش ْي‬ َّ ‫ص ال‬ ِ ‫ق فُ َر‬ ِ َ‫ فَإِ َّن ذلِكَ ِم ْن أ َ ْوث‬،‫اء‬ ِ ‫ط َر‬ ْ ‫ال‬ ْ ‫ َوحُبَّ ا‬،‫ َوال ِث ّقَةَ ِب َما يُ ْع ِجبُكَ ِم ْن َها‬، َ‫اب ِبنَ ْفسِك‬ َ ‫ال ْع َج‬ ْ ‫َو ِإيَّاكَ َوا‬
. َ‫ان الـ ُمحْ ِسنِين‬ ْ ِ ‫س‬ َ ْ‫يَ ُكونُ ِم ْن إِح‬
Avoid showing (the existence of) obligation on your subjects for having done good to them or
praising your own actions or making promises and then breaking them, because showing (the
existence of) obligation destroys good, self-praise takes away the light of truth, and breaking
promises earns the hatred of Allah and of the people. Allah, the Glorified, says:
Most hateful is it unto Allah that you say what you (yourselves) do (it) not. (Qur'an, 61:3)
، َ‫سان‬ َ ْ‫ال َِح‬ ْ ‫ فَإِ َّن ْال َم َّن يُب ِْط ُل ا‬، َ‫ أ َ ْو أَ ْن ت َ ِعدَ ُه ْم فَت ُتْ ِب َع َم ْو ِعدَكَ ِب ُخ ْلفِك‬، َ‫ أ َ ِو التَّزَ يُّدَ ِف َيما َكانَ ِم ْن ِف ْعلِك‬، َ‫سانِك‬ َ ْ‫علَى َر ِعيَّتِكَ ِبإِح‬ َ ‫َو ِإيَّاكَ َو ْال َم َّن‬
ُ ُ َ
.) َ‫ ( َكب َُر َمقتا ً ِع ْندَ هللاِ أ ْن تَقُولوا َما الَ تَ ْفعَلون‬:‫ قَا َل هللاُ سبحانه‬،‫اس‬ ْ ِ َّ‫ب ال َمقتَ ِع ْندَهللاِ َوالن‬ ْ ْ ُ ‫ُوج‬ ِ ‫في‬ ْ
َ ‫ َوال ُخل‬،‫ق‬ ْ
ِ ّ ‫ور ال َح‬ ِ ُ‫َب بِن‬ ُ ‫َوالتَّزَ يُّدَ يَ ْذه‬
Avoid haste in matters before their time, slowness at their proper time, insistence on them when
the propriety of action is not known or weakens when it becomes clear. Assign every matter its
proper place and do every job at the appropriate time.
،‫ت‬ ْ ‫ض َح‬ َ ‫ع ْن َها إذَا ا ْست َْو‬ َ َ‫ أ َ ِو ْال َو ْهن‬،‫ت‬ ْ ‫ أ َ ِو الَّل َجا َجةَ فِي َها إِذا تَنَ َّك َر‬،‫ط فِي َها ِع ْندَ إِ ْمكَانِ َها‬ َ ُ ‫سا ق‬ َ َّ ‫ أ َ ِو الت‬،‫ور قَ ْب َل أ َ َوانِ َها‬ ِ ‫ال ُم‬ ْ ‫و إيَّاكَ َو ْالعَ َجلَةَ بِا‬
.ُ‫ع َمل َم ْوقِ َعه‬ َ ‫ َوأَ ْوقِ ْع ُك َّل‬،ُ‫ض َعه‬ ِ ‫ض ْع ُك َّل أ َ ْمر َم ْو‬ َ َ‫ف‬
Do not appropriate to yourself that in which the people have an equal share, nor be regardless of
matters which have come to light with the excuse that you are accountable for others. Shortly, the
curtains of all matters will be raised from your view and you will be required to render redress to
the oppressed. Have control over (your) sense of prestige, any outburst of anger, the might of your
arm and the sharpness of your tongue. Guard against all this by avoiding haste and by delaying
severe action till your anger subsides and you regain your self-control. You cannot withhold
yourself from this unless you bear in mind that you have to return to Allah.
‫ِف‬ُ ‫ع َّما قَلَيل تَ ْن َكش‬ َ ‫ َو‬، َ‫ فَإِنَّهُ َمأ ْ ُخوذٌ ِم ْنكَ ِلغَي ِْرك‬،‫ُون‬ ِ ‫ض َح ِل ْلعُي‬ َ ‫ع َّما ت ُ ْعنَى بِ ِه ِم َّما قَ ْد َو‬ َ ‫ي‬ َ ِ‫ َوالتَّغَاب‬،ٌ‫اس فِي ِه أس َْوة‬
ُ ُ َّ‫ار بِ َما الن‬ َ َ ‫ال ْستِئْث‬ ْ ‫َوإيَّاكَ َوا‬
‫س ِم ْن‬ ْ ‫ َواحْ ت َِر‬، َ‫سانِك‬ َ ‫ب ِل‬ َ ‫ َوغ َْر‬، َ‫ط َوة َ يَدِك‬ ْ ‫س‬ َ ‫ َو‬، َ‫س ْو َرة َ َحدِّك‬ َ ‫ َو‬، َ‫ام ِل ْك َح ِميَّةَ أ َ ْنفِك‬ ْ ،‫وم‬ ِ ُ ‫ظل‬ ْ ‫ف ِم ْنكَ ِل ْل َم‬ ُ ‫ص‬ َ َ‫ َويُ ْنت‬،‫ور‬ ِ ‫الَُ ُم‬ ْ ‫ع ْنكَ أ َ ْغ ِطيَةُ ا‬ َ
ْ ْ ُ َّ
‫ َولن تَحْ ك ْم ذلِكَ ِمن نَفسِكَ َحتى تكثِ َر ُه ُمو َمكَ بِ ِذك ِر‬،‫ار‬ ْ ْ ُ ْ َ ْ ْ
َ َ‫ضبُكَ فت َْملِكَ االختِي‬ َ َ ‫غ‬ ُ
َ َ‫ َحتى يَ ْسكن‬،ِ‫ير السَّط َوة‬ َّ ْ ْ
ِ ‫ َوت َأ ِخ‬،ِ‫َف ْالبَاد َِرة‬ ِ ّ ‫ُك ِّل ذلِكَ بِك‬
. َ‫ْال َم َعا ِد ِإلَى َر ِبّك‬
It is necessary for you to recall how matters went with those who preceded you, be it a government
or a great tradition or a precedent of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and his descendants) or the
obligatory commands contained in the Book of Allah. Then you should follow them as you have
seen us acting upon them and should exert yourself in following that I have enjoined upon you in
this document in which I have exhausted my pleas on you, so that if your heart advances towards
its passions you may have no plea in its support.
None will protect from evil or grant success for good but Allah, the Exalted. Among the matters
that Messenger of Allah, peace be on him, enjoined on me in his testament were the exhortation to
prayer and zakat and (taking care of) the slaves. With that I end my document to you, and there is
no strength or power but with Allah, the All-mighty.
)‫ع ْن نَبِ ِيّنَا(صلى هللا عليه وآله‬ َ ‫ أ َ ْو أَثَر‬،‫اضلَة‬ ِ َ‫سنَّة ف‬ ُ ‫ أ َ ْو‬،‫عا ِدلَة‬
َ ‫ ِم ْن ُح ُكو َمة‬: َ‫ضى ِل َم ْن تَقَدَّ َمك‬ َ ‫علَيْكَ أ َ ْن تَتَذَ َّك َر َما َم‬ َ ‫ب‬ ُ ‫اج‬ ِ ‫َو ْال َو‬
،‫ع ِهدْتُ ِإلَيْكَ فِي ع ْهدِي هذَا‬ َ ‫ َوتَجْ ت َ ِهدَ ِلنَ ْفسِكَ فِي ا ِت ّ َباعِ َما‬،‫ع ِم ْلنَا ِب ِه فِي َها‬ َ ‫ِي ِب َما شَا َه ْدتَ ِم َّما‬ َ ‫ فَت َ ْقتَد‬،‫هللا‬
ِ ‫ب‬ ِ ‫ضة فِي ِكت َا‬ َ ‫أ َ ْوفَ ِري‬
ْ ّ َ
‫ُّوء َوال ي َُوفِقَ ِلل َخي ِْر‬ ِ ‫ص َم ِمنَ الس‬ َ َ
ِ ‫ فَل ْن يَ ْع‬،‫س ُّرعِ نَفسِكَ إِلى ه ََواهَا‬ْ ْ ٌ َّ َ ُ َ
َ َ ‫ ِل َك ْيال تَكونَ لكَ ِعلة ِعندَ ت‬، َ‫عليْك‬ َ ْ ْ
َ ‫َوا ْست َْوث َ ْقتُ بِ ِه ِمنَ ال ُح َّج ِة ِلنَفسِي‬
،‫َت أَ ْي َمانُ ُك ْم‬ ْ ‫الزكَاةِ َو َما َملَك‬
َّ ‫صالةِ َو‬ َّ ‫علَى ال‬ َ ً ‫صايَاهُ ت َحضيضا‬ َ ‫سولُهُ (عليه السالم) فِي َو‬ ُ ‫ي َر‬ َّ ‫عهدَ إل‬ َ ‫ َوقَ ْد َكانَ فِيَما‬.‫إالَّ هللاُ ت َ َعالى‬
َّ
.‫ َوالَ قُ َّوةَ إال بِاهللِ العَ ِظ ِيم‬،َ‫ع ِهد‬ َ ‫فَبِذَلِكَ أ َ ْختِ ُم لَكَ َما‬
I ask Allah through the vastness of His mercy and the greatness of His power of giving a good
inclination that He may prompt me and you to advance a clear plea before Him and His creatures
in a manner that may attract His pleasure along with handsome praise among the people, good
effect in the country, an increase in prosperity and a hightening of honour; and that He may allow
me and you to die a death of virtue and martyrdom. Surely, we have to return to Him. Peace be on
the Messenger of Allah - may Allah shower His blessings and plentiful salutations on him and his
pure and chaste descendants; and that is an end to the matter.
‫علَى ْالعُ ْذ ِر‬ ْ ‫ضاهُ ِمنَ ا‬
َ ‫القَا َم ِة‬ َ ‫ أَ ْن ي َُو ِفّقَنِي َو ِإيَّاكَ ِل َما في ِه ِر‬،‫اء ُك ِّل َر ْغبَة‬ َ ‫علَى ِإ ْع‬
ِ ‫ط‬ َ ‫ع ِظ ِيم قُد َْرتِ ِه‬ َ ‫ َو‬،‫س َع ِة َرحْ َمتِ ِه‬ َ ‫َوأَنَا أ َ ْسأ َ ُل هللاَ ِب‬
ْ ْ َ
‫ َوأن يَختِ َم ِلي‬،‫يف الك ََرا َم ِة‬ ْ ّ َ ْ َ ْ ْ
ْ َ ‫ َوت‬،‫ َوت َ َم ِام ال ِن ْع َم ِة‬،ِ‫ َو َج ِمي ِل االث ِر فِي البَالد‬،ِ‫َاء فِي ال ِعبَاد‬
ِ ‫ض ِع‬ َّ ْ
ِ ‫ َم َع ُحس ِْن الثن‬،‫ح إِلَ ْي ِه َوإِلَى خَل ِق ِه‬ ِ ‫اض‬ ِ ‫ْال َو‬
ً ‫سلَّ َم تَسْليما‬ َ ‫الطاهِرينَ َو‬ ّ َ‫الط ِيّبين‬َّ ‫علَ ْي ِه َو آ ِل ِه‬
َ ُ‫ّللا‬ ّ ‫صلَّى‬ َ .ً ِ‫سو ِل هللا‬ ُ ‫علَى َر‬ َ ‫سالَ ُم‬َّ ‫ َوال‬، َ‫ ِإنَّا ِإلَ ْي ِه َرا ِغبُون‬،ِ‫ش َهادَة‬ َّ ‫َولَكَ بال‬
َّ ‫س َعادَةِ َوال‬
5
.‫ َوالسَّال ُم‬.ً‫كَثيرا‬
6
Letter 23: Instructions to his family

Made shortly before his martyrdom when he had been fatally wounded by a blow from the sword
of the Kharijite Ibn Muljam
)‫ومن كالم له (عليه السالم‬
‫قاله قُ َب ْي َل موته ل ّما ضربه ابن ملجم على سبيل الوصية‬
I enjoin upon you as my dying wish not to regard anything by way of partner with Allah, not to
disregard the sunnah of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and his descendants), establish these
two pillars and light these two lamps. You will then be free from evil.
ِ َ‫ أَقِي ُموا هذَي ِْن ْال َع ُمود‬،ُ‫سنَّتَه‬
.‫ َو َخالَ ُك ْم ذَ ٌّم‬،‫ين‬ ُ ‫ض ِيّعُوا‬ َ ِ‫ أ َ ْن الَ ت ُ ْش ِر ُكوا ِباهلل‬:‫صيَّتِي لَ ُك ْم‬
َ ُ ‫ َو ُم َح َّمدٌ (صلى هللا عليه وآله) فَالَ ت‬،ً‫شيْئا‬ ِ ‫َو‬

Yesterday I was your companion and today I am (just) a lesson for you, while tomorrow I shall be
leaving you. If I survive I shall be the master of my blood (to avenge or not to avenge it), and if I
die then death is a promised event. If I forgive, it is for me a means of nearness (to Allah) and for
you a good act. Therefore, do forgive.

What! Love you not that Allah should forgive you? (Qur'an, 24:22)

5
https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-2-letters-and-sayings/letter-53-order-malik-al-ashtar
6
https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-2-letters-and-sayings/letter-23-instructions-his-family-little-his-
martyrdom
By Allah, this sudden death is not an event that I dislike, nor is it an accident that I hate. I am just
like a night traveler who reaches the spring (in the morning) or like or seeker who secures (his
aim):
And whatever is with Allah is the best for the righteous ones. (Qur'an, 3:198)

،ٌ‫ْف فَ ْالعَ ْف ُو ِلي قُ ْربَة‬

ُ ‫ َوإِ ْن أَع‬،‫ َوإِ ْن أ َ ْفنَ فَ ْالفَنَا ُء ِميعَادِي‬،‫ي دَ ِمي‬ ِ ‫ َوغَدا ً ُمف‬،‫ َو ْاليَ ْو َم ِعب َْرة ٌ لَ ُك ْم‬،‫احبُ ُك ْم‬
ُّ ‫ إِ ْن أَبْقَ فَأَنَا َو ِل‬،‫َارقُ ُك ْم‬ ِ ‫ص‬َ ‫ال ْم ِس‬ ْ ‫أَنَا با‬
َ
َّ‫ َو َما ُك ْنتُ ِإال‬،ُ‫طا ِل ٌع أ ْنك َْرتُه‬
َ َ‫ َوال‬،ُ‫ت َو ِاردٌ َك ِر ْهتُه‬ ْ َ َ َ
ِ ‫ َوهللاِ َما فَ َجأنِي ِمنَ ال َم ْو‬.) ‫ فَا ْعفُوا (أالَ ت ُ ِحبُّونَ أ ْن يَ ْغ ِف َر هللاُ لَ ُك ْم‬،‫سنَة‬ ٌ َ ‫َوه َُو لَ ُك ْم َح‬
ْ ‫هللا َخي ٌْر ِل‬
)‫الب َْر ِار‬ ْ
ِ َ ِ َ َ َ َ َ ِ َ َ‫ارب َو َرد‬
‫د‬ ‫ن‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ ‫(و‬ ، ‫د‬ ‫ج‬ ‫و‬ ‫ب‬ ‫ل‬‫ا‬ َ
‫ط‬ ‫و‬ ، ِ َ‫َكق‬

The Dulla Speech (Ḵuṭba al-Shiqshiqiya)

The third speech included in the Nahj al-balāgha, entitled “The Dulla Speech” (Ḵuṭba al-
Shishiqiyya) touches on a sensitive nerve. First, a word about the title. Dulla refers to an inflatable
pinkish pouch on the soft palate in male mature camels. Occasionally, it hangs out of the mouth of
the camel, being enlarged with filling air, resembling a pink balloon. Copious saliva turns to foam
covering the mouth as the male gurgles and makes metallic sounds Then it pops and goes back
inside the camel’s mouth. At the end of the Dulla Speech, Ali is quoted as saying, “this was all but
a Dulla, inflated and then retracted!”

Here is a shortened translation from Al-Islam.org7

‫ش ْق ِش ِقيَّة‬
ّ ِ ‫ومن خطبة له (عليه السالم) المعروفة بال‬
‫وتشتمل على الشكوى من أمر الخالفة ثم ترجيح صبره عنها ثم مبايعة الناس له‬
… I began to think whether I should assault or endure calmly the blinding darkness of tribulations
wherein the grown up are made feeble and the young grow old and the true believer acts under
strain till he meets Allah (on his death).
‫ َويَ ْكدَ ُح فِي َها‬،‫ير‬
ُ ‫ص ِغ‬
َّ ‫ِيب فِي َها ال‬
ُ ‫ َويَش‬،‫َبير‬ َ ‫علَى‬
َ ‫ط ْخيَة‬
ُ ‫ يَ ْه َر ُم في َها الك‬،‫ع ْميَا َء‬ َ ‫صبِ َر‬ ْ َ ‫ أ َ ْو أ‬،‫صو َل بِيَد َجذَّا َء‬ ُ َ ‫ط ِف ْقتُ أ َ ْرتَئِي بَيْنَ أ َ ْن أ‬
َ ‫ َو‬...
ْ
.ُ‫ُمؤْ ِم ٌن َحتَّى يَلقَى َربَّه‬
Proposes Patience in Absence of Supporters
‫ترجيح الصبرعلى فقد االعوان‬
I found that endurance thereon was wiser. So, I adopted patience although there was pricking in
the eye and suffocation (of mortification) in the throat. I watched the plundering of my inheritance
… (Then he quoted al-A’sha’s verse):
My days are now passed on the camel’s back (in difficulty) while there were days (of ease) when
I enjoyed the company of Jabir’s brother Hayyan.
:)‫ ( ثم تمثل بقول االعشى‬... ،ً‫ أرى ت ُ َراثي نَ ْهبا‬،ً‫ق شَجا‬ ِ ‫ َوفي ال َح ْل‬،‫ى‬ ً ‫صبَرتُ َوفي ْالعَي ِْن قَذ‬ َ َ‫ ف‬،‫علَى هَات َا أَحْ َجى‬ َّ ‫فَ َرأَيْتُ أ َ َّن ال‬
َ ‫صب َْر‬
‫و يَ ْو ُم َحيَّانَ أخي جا ِب ِر‬ ‫عاى ُك ْو ِرها‬ َ ‫شتّانَ ما يَومي‬ َ
…
Nevertheless, I remained patient despite length of period and stiffness of trial …
... ،‫ َو ِشدَّ ِة ْالمحْ نَ ِة‬،‫طو ِل ْال ُمدَّ ِة‬ ُ ‫علَى‬ َ ُ‫ص َب ْرت‬ َ َ‫ف‬
At that moment, nothing took me by surprise, but the crowd of people rushing to me. It advanced
towards me from every side like the mane of the hyena so much so that Ḥasan and Ḥusayn were
getting crushed, and both the ends of my shoulder garment were torn. They collected around me
like a herd of sheep and goats. When I took up the reins of government one party broke away and
another turned disobedient while the rest began acting wrongfully as if they had not heard the word
of Allah saying:
7
https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons/sermon-3-allah-son-abu-quhafah
That abode in the hereafter, We assign it for those who intend not to exult themselves in the
earth, nor (to make) mischief (therein); and the end is (best) for the pious ones. (Qur’an, 28:83)
َ‫ ُمجْ ت َِمعِين‬،‫َاي‬ َ ‫طف‬ ْ ‫ش َّق ِع‬ ُ ‫ َو‬،‫َان‬ ِ ‫سن‬ َ ‫ َحتَّى لَقَ ْد ُو ِطى َء ال َح‬،‫ي ِم ْن ُك ِّل َجانِب‬ َّ َ‫عل‬َ َ‫ يَ ْنثَالُون‬،‫ضب ُِع‬ ِ ‫ي َكعُ ْر‬
َّ ‫ف ال‬ َّ ‫اس إل‬ ُ َّ‫عنِي إالَّ َوالن‬ َ ‫فَ َما َرا‬
ُ‫س ْب َحانَه‬ َ َّ َ
ُ َ‫سقَ [وقسط] آخ َُرونَ َكأن ُه ْم ل ْم يَ ْس َمعُوا هللا‬ َ
َ ‫ َوف‬،‫ت أخ َرى‬ ْ ُ َ ٌ
ْ ‫ َو َم َرق‬،‫ت طائِفَة‬َ َ
ْ ‫مر نَ َكث‬ ْ َ َ
ِ ‫ فل َّما نَ َهضْتُ بِاال‬.‫ض ِة الغَن َِم‬ َ ‫َح ْولي ك ََربِي‬
) َ‫سادا ً َوال َعاقِبَةُ ِل ْل ُمتَّقِين‬ َ َ‫ض َوالَ ف‬ ِ ‫علُ ّوا ً في االَ ْر‬ ُ َ‫االخ َرة ُ نَجْ َعلُ َها للَّذِينَ الَ يُريدُون‬ ِ ‫َّار‬ ُ ‫ (تِ ْلكَ الد‬:ُ‫يَقُول‬
Yes, by Allah, they had heard it and understood it but the world appeared glittering in their eyes
and its embellishments seduced them. Behold, by Him who split the grain (to grow) and created
living beings, if people had not come to me and supporters had not exhausted the argument and if
there had been no pledge of Allah with the learned to the effect that they should not acquiesce in
the gluttony of the oppressor and the hunger of the oppressed I would have cast the rope of
Caliphate on its own shoulders, and would have given the last one the same treatment as to the
first one. Then you would have seen that in my view this world of yours is no better than the
sneezing of a goat.
َ‫ لَ ْوال‬،َ‫س َمة‬َ َّ‫ َوبَ َرأَ الن‬،َ‫ َو َراقَ ُه ْم ِزب ِْر ُج َها! أَ َما َوالَّذِي فَلَقَ ْال َحبَّة‬،‫ َول ِكنَّ ُه ْم َح ِليَتَ الدُّ ْنيَا في أ َ ْعيُنِه ْم‬،‫ع ْوهَا‬ َ ‫س ِمعُوهَا َو َو‬ َ ‫بَلَى! َوهللاِ لَقَ ْد‬
َ َ
ُ‫ اللقيْت‬،‫ب َمظلوم‬ ُ ْ ِ َ‫سغ‬ َ
َ ‫ َوال‬،‫على ِكظ ِة ظا ِلم‬ َّ َ َ ‫اروا‬ َ َّ
ُّ ‫اء أال يُق‬ َ َ
ِ ‫على العُل َم‬ َ َ َ
َ ُ‫ َو َما أ َخذ هللا‬،‫اص ِر‬ َّ ْ
ِ ‫ َوقِيَا ُم ال ُح َّج ِة بِ ُو ُجو ِد الن‬،‫اض ِر‬ ِ ‫ُور ْال َح‬ ُ ‫ُحض‬
!‫ع ْنز‬َ ‫ط ِة‬َ ‫ع ْف‬ َ َ ْ
َ ‫ َوالَلفَ ْيت ُ ْم دُ ْنيَا ُك ْم ه ِذ ِه أ ْز َهدَ ِع ْندِي ِم ْن‬،‫آخ َرهَا ِبكَأ ِس أ َّو ِلها‬ ِ ُ‫سقَيْت‬ َ َ‫ َول‬،‫َار ِب َها‬
ِ ‫غ‬ ‫ى‬ َ ‫ل‬ ‫ع‬
َ ‫َح ْبلَ َها‬
(It is said that when Amir al-mu’minin reached here in his sermon a man of Iraq stood up and
handed him over a writing. Amir al-mu’minin began looking at it, when Ibn ‘Abbas said, “O’ Amir
al-mu’minin, I wish you resumed your Sermon from where you broke it.” Thereupon he replied,
“O Ibn ‘Abbas it was like the foam of a Camel which gushed out but subsided.” Ibn ‘Abbas says
that he never grieved over any utterance as he did over this one because Amir al-mu’minin could
not finish it as he wished to.)
‫ فل ّما فرغ من قراءته‬،‫ فأقبل ينظر فيه‬،ً‫ فناوله كتابا‬،‫ وقام ِإليه رجل من أهل السوادعند بلوغه إلى هذا الموضع من خطبته‬:‫قالوا‬
ٌ‫عبَّاس! تِ ْلكَ ِش ْق ِشقَة‬ َ َ‫ َه ْي َهاتَ يَابْن‬:)‫اط َردت َمقالتكَ من حيث أَفضيتَ ! فَقَالَ(عليه السالم‬ َّ ‫ لو‬،‫ يا أميرالمؤمنين‬:‫قال له ابن عباس‬
)‫قط كأَسفي على ذلك الكالم أَالَّ يكون أميرالمؤمنين (عليه السالم‬ ّ ‫ فوهللا ما أَسفت على كالم‬:‫ت! قال ابن عباس‬ ْ ‫ت ث ُ َّم قَ َّر‬ ْ ‫َهدَ َر‬
.‫بلغ منه حيث أراد‬