Meet the oppressed and the lowly periodically in an open conference and conscious of the divine presence there, have a heart-to-heart talk with them, and let none from your guard or civil officers or members of the police or the Intelligence Department be by your side, so that the representative of the poor might state their grievances fearlessly and without reserve, for I have heard the Prophet of God saying that “no nation or society will occupy a high position in which the strong do not discharge their duty to the weak.”
Bear with composure any strong language which they may use, and do not get annoyed if they cannot state their case lucidly, even so, God will open for you his door of blessings and rewards. Whatever you can give to them, give it ungrudgingly, and whatever you cannot afford to give, make that clear to them, in utmost sincerity.
There are certain things which call for prompt action. Accept the recommendations made by your officers for the redress of the grievances of the clerical staff. See to it that petitions or applications submitted for your consideration are brought to your notice the very day they are submitted, however much your officers might try to intercede for them. Dispose off the day’s work that very day, for the coming day will bring with it its own tasks. 1
- The Epistle Imam Ali’s Famous Epistle To Malik Ashtar, Mairaj Khalid[↩]
