Welcome to this week’s episode of the series Let’s Know Islam. The secret behind eternity of the First Infallible Imam of the Prophet of Islam’s Household, Imam Ali (Peace be upon him), throughout the course of history is that his governance and ruling system maintained unique features.

Justice in the view of Imam Ali maintained the same definition, prior and after his empowerment. He was never tempted by power. He had specified his political conduct within a framework, prior and after coming to power. His political, social, and personal behavioral framework was shaped by the Word of God and the tradition of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

Today we continue to discuss the topic of Imamate and study the era of rule of Imam Ali (AS). Imam Ali is a global figure. Thousands of articles and books have been authored about Imam Ali. However, no one has ever found any trace of fragility in Imam Ali’s faith, courage, knowledge, justice, and other ethical virtues, given that he is the epitome of all virtues and perfections.
It was pointed out that Imam Ali finally accepted to rule Muslims upon the insistence of people. People freely and fervently swore allegiance with Imam Ali.

In this manner, Imam Ali’s ruling system took shape, whose main feature was administration of justice. Justice is a topic of importance which everyone admires and praises. There are those who describe justice with beautiful terms and expressions and consider it necessary for human community, but, at in practice do not do anything to fulfill this goal. There are also politicians who pledge a fantastic future, filled with justice, however, upon coming to power, do not fulfill their vows.

The behavior and conduct of Imam Ali, prior and after coming to power, is the same. In the view of Imam Ali, what grants superiority to the ruler is administration of justice; and governance, in itself, has no value, unless it sets the stage for administration of justice and righteousness. Imam Ali never wanted to watch scenes of injustice, in silence. Thus, he accepted to rule Muslims in order to wipe out these unhealthy relationships, and to establish all-encompassing justice.

One of Imam Ali’s measures during his rule was the precise administration of social justice; given that administration of justice is one of the duties of the Islamic ruling system. Imam Ali, in his public speeches and letters to his ruling system officials, described social justice in eloquent phrases. He believed that justice should be present in all of domains of community, to refresh the society. He wanted people to speak based on justice and righteousness so that the ground would be laid for administration of justice.

The interesting point is that these modest and humble remarks are made by a powerful and pious ruler, who governed a large region of the world. In fact, Imam Ali, upon making these remarks, refers to the traits and features of a just ruler. Imam Ali believed that initially the ruler should stand up against his own whims, to enable him to easily listen to righteous remarks, and not to shape his relationship with people, based on deceit.

In view of Imam Ali, justice is tantamount to fulfillment of the rights of people, from all walks of life. His justice maintains no geographical, ethnical, racial, and familial boundaries. Imam Ali always covered the path toward justice, and even resisted the excessive demands of some of his associates.

The prominent Lebanese Christian Author and Researcher, George Jordac, has praised the elevated efforts of Imam Ali in administration of justice, noting that: Imam Ali tried to establish freedom and equality among people. He tried his best to wipe out poverty in the community. He strongly blasted massacres and ruthlessness and called on everyone to maintain security, peace, and fraternity, based on social justice. He even called on everyone to be fair toward livestock, and not to harm birds and ants.

In the view of Imam Ali, meritocracy is a must in attainment of social and political posts. This is because if posts are delegated not based on qualifications, injustice is imposed. Thus, in the initial days of his governance, Imam Ali dismissed a number of Omayyad officials, who were mired in corruption and aristocracy. Instead, Imam Ali elected competent, honorable, prudent, insightful and highly reputable officials. These officials were always under the supervision of Imam Ali. The Imam sent a number of inspectors to different regions to study the situations and to prevent officials from possible commitment of wrongdoings.

Previously, the spoils were not fairly divided. Arabs were prioritized to non-Arabs or aristocrats and influential figures were prioritized to ordinary people. Given that this discriminatory approach violated Quranic teachings, Imam Ali stood up against any discrimination and monopoly; and granted a beacon of hope to people. He equally divided the treasury among the members of the community, which led some of the aristocrats to depart and to join Moavieh’s regime in Shaam.

In the view of Imam Ali, the necessary factor for administration of justice, and governance is not resorting to violence and being hard on masses of people, because in majority of cases, justice is administered via kindness and constructive interaction with people.

MR/MG