Malik Ashtar

Be particularly mindful of the welfare of those in the army who in your opinion, are staunchly faithful to their God and Prophet and loyal to their chief, and who in the hour of passion can restrain themselves and listen coolly to sensible remonstrance, and who can succor the weak and smite the strong, whom violent provocation will not throw into violent temper and who will not falter at any stage.Keep yourself in close contact with families of established reputation and integrity with a glorious past, and draw to yourself men brave and upright in character, generous and benevolent in disposition, for such are theRead More →

Remember that the people are composed of different classes. The progress of one is dependent on the progress of every other; and none can afford to be independent of the other. We have the Army formed of the soldiers of God; we have our civil officers and their establishments, our judiciary, our revenue collectors and our public relation officers. The general public itself consists of Muslims and Zimmis and among them of merchants and craftsmen, the unemployed and the indigent.God has prescribed for them their several rights, duties, and obligations. They are all defined and preserved in the Book of God and in the traditionsRead More →

Turn to God and to His Prophet for guidance whenever you feel uncertain as to what you have to do. There is the commandment of God delivered to those people whom He wishes to guide aright:“O people of the Faith! Obey God and obey His prophet and those from among you who hold authority over you. And refer to God and His prophet whenever there is difference of opinion among you.”To turn to God is in reality to consult the Book of God; and to turn to the prophet is to follow his universally accepted traditions. 1 References:The Epistle Imam Ali’s Famous Epistle To MalikRead More →

Select for your chief judge one from the people who is by far the best among them – one who is not obsessed with domestic worries, one who cannot be intimidated, one who does not err too often, one who does not turn back from a right path once he finds it, one who is not self-centered or veracious, on who will not decide before knowing full facts, one who will weigh with care every attendant doubt and pronounce a clear verdict after taking everything into full consideration, one who will not grow restive over the arguments of advocates and who will examine with patienceRead More →

Beware! The utmost carefulness is to be exercised in this selection for it is this high office, which adventurous self­seekers aspire to secure and exploit in their selfish interests. After the selection of your chief judge, give careful consideration to the selection of other officers. Confirm them in their appointments after approved apprenticeship and probation. Never select men for responsible posts either out of any regard for personal connections or under any influence, for, that might lead to injustice and corruption. Of these, select for higher posts men of experience, men firm in faith and belonging to good families. Such men will not fall anRead More →

Great care is to the exercised in revenue administration, to ensure the prosperity of those who pay the revenue to the state; for it is on their prosperity depends the prosperity of others; particularly the prosperity of the masses. Indeed, the state exists on its revenue. You should regard the proper upkeep of the land in cultivation as of greater importance than the collection of revenue, for revenue cannot be derived except by making the land productive. He, who demands revenue without helping the cultivator to improve his land, inflicts unmerited hardship on the cultivator and ruins the State. The rule of such a personRead More →

Keep an eye on your establishment and your scribes; and select the best among them for your confidential correspondence such among these as posses as high character and deserve your full confidence, men who may not exploit their privileged position to go against you and who in the drafting of treaties may not succumb to external temptation and harm your interests, or fail to render you proper assistance and to save you from trouble, and who in carrying out their duties can realize their serious responsibilities, for he who does not realize his own responsibilities can hardly appraise the responsibilities of others. Do not selectRead More →

Adopt useful schemes placed before for those engaged in trade and industry and help them with wise counsels. Some of them live in towns and some move from place to place with their ware and tools and earn their living by manual labor. Trade and Industry are sources of profit to the State.While the general public is not inclined to bear the strain, those engaged in these professions take the trouble to collect commodities from far and near, from land and from across the sea, and from mountains and forests and naturally derive benefits. It is this class of peace­loving people from whom no disturbanceRead More →