This is the second part of the historic letter on good governance written by Hazrat Ali (KW) to Malik Al-Ashtar, governor-designate to Egypt.
“Do not give up those practices and do not break those rules which good Muslims have evolved or introduced before you, which have created unity and amity among the various sections of society and which have benefitted the masses.
“The people over whom you rule are divided into classes and grades and the prosperity and welfare of each class, individually and collectively, are interdependent upon the wellbeing of the other classes. One class cannot exist peacefully, cannot live happily and cannot work without the support and good wishes of the other. Among them are the soldiers of the army of Allah, the secretaries of the state, the judges and magistrates who administer justice and the officers who maintain law and order and guard the peace and prosperity of the country.
“The Merciful Allah has fixed rights and duties of each one of them. They have been either mentioned in His Book or explained through the instruction of the Holy Prophet.
“As far as the soldiers are concerned, they are a fortress and stronghold to guard and defend the subjects, the state and the country. In fact, they are the real guardians of peace and through them good internal administration can be maintained.
“It is absolutely necessary that the poor and disabled should be looked after, helped and well provided for. Almighty Allah will not absolve any ruler from his obligations unless he sincerely tries his best todischarge his duties and invokes Allah to help him in his performance.
“As far as the army is concerned, its chief and commander should be a person who is most sincere and faithful to Allah, to the Holy Prophet and to your Imam, one who is most pious, who is famous for his forbearance, clemency and gentleness, who is neither short-tempered nor gets angry quickly, who sympathetically treats sincere excuses and accepts apologies, who is kind and compassionate to the weak but severe against the strong and the powerful, who has no vindictiveness.
“When you have found and selected such persons, treat them kindly and sympathetically. This kind of treatment will create reciprocal tendencies in them and they will trust you and will be faithful to you. Under the impression that you have paid enough attention to their major necessities and wants, do not close your eyes to their minor requirements and needs because small favours often bear better fruits, though careful attention to major necessities is very important.
“Among the military officers those should receive your highest respect and consideration who pay most attention to the needs of the soldiers under their command. Your constant attention towards the officers and soldiers will make them love you more and more.
“The thing which should most gladden the heart of a ruler is the fact that his state is being ruled on the principles of equity and justice and that his subjects love him. Your subjects will love you only when they have no grievance against you. Speak well of those who deserve your praise. You must know and realise the good deeds done by every single individual so that the credit of noble deeds done by one may not be given to another.
“Do not underestimate and underpay the good work done. Similarly, do not overpay a work simply because it has been done by a very important person. Let equity, justice and fair play be your motto.
“When you are faced with problems which you cannot solve, or with a difficult situation from which you cannot escape, or when uncertain and doubtful circumstances confuse and perplex you, then turn to Allah and the Holy Prophet because Allah has thus ordered those whom He wants to guide.
“As far as dispensing of justice is concerned, you must select people of excellent character and high calibre and with a meritorious record. They must possess abundant experience. They should not consider it below their dignity to correct the mistake made or to undo the wrong done by them. They should not be corrupt, covetous or greedy. They must attach greatest importance to reasoning, arguments and proofs. They should not develop vanity and conceit when compliments and praises are showered upon the.
“They should not be misled by flattery and cajolery. Give them such prestige and position in your state that none of your courtiers or officers can overlord them or bring harm to them. Let the judiciary be above every kind of executive pressure or influence, above fear or favour, intrigue or corruption.
“You must supervise the work of the officers of your state. They must be appointed after careful scrutiny of their capabilities and character. Take care to select experienced and honourable persons, members of respectable families who have served Islam during its early days because these are usually of noble character and good repute.
“You must also appoint trustworthy and honest men to keep watch over the activities of these officers. The knowledge that they are being watched secretly will keep them away from dishonesty, misrule, malpractices and from tyrannising the subjects. Protect your government from dishonest officers. If you find any of them dishonest and your confidential intelligence service submits acceptable proof of his dishonesty, then you must punish him.
“As far as the collection of land revenues and taxes are concerned, you must always keep in view the welfare of the taxpayers, which is of more importance than the taxes themselves because these taxes and the tax payers are the original source on which the welfare of your state and its subjects depends. The ruler who does not pay attention to the prosperity of his subjects and the fertility of the land, but concentrates only on the collection of revenues, lays waste the land and consequently ruins the state and brings destruction to the creatures of Allah. His rule cannot last long.
“If taxpayers complain of heavy taxation, of accidental calamity, of the vagaries of the monsoons, of scarcity and recession of the means of irrigation, of floods or destruction of their crops, and if their complaints are true, then reduce their taxes. This reduction should be such that it provides them opportunities to improve their conditions and eases their troubles.
“Taxpayers are the real wealth of a country and any investment on them, even in the form of reduction of taxes, will be returned to the state in the shape of the prosperity of its cities and improvement of the country at large. At the same time you will be in a position to command and secure their love, respect and praises along with the revenues. Your benign rule and humane treatment will so affect them that they will come to your help at the time of your difficulties. Later, if you find yourself in need of their support, help, confidence, wealth and manpower, then they will have no grudge against you”.
To be continued
Email: dr.a.quadeer.khan@gmail.com
Source: www.thenews.com.pk
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