Welcome to this week’s episode of the series Let’s Know Islam. The First Infallible Imam of the Prophet of Islam’s Household, Imam Ali (Peace be upon him), was dedicated toward the divine and righteous path. If he was kind and forgiving toward someone or if he opposed someone was for the sake of God.

This truthful and righteous behavioral pattern and conduct disheartened the greedy individuals. Nonetheless, Imam Ali continued to put emphasis on his divine path.

Today, we continue to study Imam Ali’s tradition throughout his rule. As we previously pointed out, justice was considered as a main principle in all personal and social aspects by Imam Ali. He considered the ruling system as a means for administration of justice. Thus, Imam Ali reprimanded injustice and violation of people’s rights and believed that nothing provokes God’s wrath more than the injustice of rulers toward people.

Imam Ali, throughout his four years and nine months rule made utmost efforts to revitalize Prophet of Islam’s teachings and to rebuild the considered community of the Prophet of God in order to materialize a prime example of an ideal society. Thus, he started to carry out fundamental reforms in different scenes, while mainly focusing on the internal topics of importance of the Islamic Ummah. Rule of law, equal access to public assets, punishment of outlaws, construction and development of cities, campaign against discrimination; and administration of justice were part of reformations considered by Imam Ali throughout his rule.

Imam Ali strongly supported the oppressed and never sacrificed public interests for the sake of fulfillment of interests of a few power-thirsty individuals. Imam Ali always administered justice, considering everyone equal before the law, and dividing public assets equally between the members of the community.

Imam Ali knew that his reforms and especially his emphasis on administration of justice displeased those who maintained excessive demands. However, he continued to emphasize his righteous and truthful path. Imam Ali focused on fulfillment of people’s rights such that the majority of his letters to his subordinates revolve round maintenance of people’s rights and administration of justice.

In the view of Imam Ali, rulers should be trustworthy. In a letter to governor of Azerbaijan, Imam Ali notes:  “Your governance is a trust which has been delegated to you. Your superior wants you to fulfill the rights of people, and not to be unjust toward them.”

One of the plagues of power is that rulers become ambitious. An ambitious ruler is usually greedy and intent on boosting his power. Thus, he gradually takes steps toward selfishness. Given this issue of concern, Imam Ali always advised his officials against ambition and greediness. Imam Ali was never self-centered or ambitious. He noted that if he knew someone else was more qualified for caliphate, he would have never accepted to rule Muslims.

One of the negative impacts of ambitious regimes is that the ruler gradually drifts apart from people. Meanwhile, Imam Ali warns his officials against drifting apart from people, underscoring that whatever divine blessings which have been bestowed on governors, should lead them to establish a closer bond with the servitudes of God and to be kinder toward their brethren.

Imam Ali cultivated the kindness and amity of his officials toward masses of people, and trained his officials to uproot violence and injustice.

In a letter to governor of Egypt, Malek-e Ashtar, Imam Ali noted: “Be kind and gentle toward people; because people are either your religious brethren and/or are equal to you in creation. They may wittingly or unwittingly make mistakes. Forgive their sins, as you like God to forgive and pardon you.”

Empowerment, access to wide-scale facilities, and a sense of superiority toward others can set the stage for abuse of power. This is a phenomenon that the majority of ruling systems are grappling with. Attainment of high-ranking posts can lead some to consider especial personal concessions, which in turn causes corruption. However, Imam Ali never took advantage of his status in the community, while also preventing his subordinates from doing so.

One of the cases of abuse of power occurs when individuals in positions of authority accumulate wealth. Such individuals gradually forget the hardships and woes of the poor and needy. Imam Ali (AS) via his monitoring system never allowed his officials and/or influential figures to take advantage of their status for accumulation of wealth and pillage of the treasury.

A threat posed against any given community is the instatement of unqualified individuals to sensitive posts; which in turn allows such unqualified individuals to define everything based on their own personal interests. In such political systems, the trustworthy and righteous individuals are marginalized.

Therefore, Imam Ali planned to reform the administrative system in any possible way. Imam Ali was always concerned about the instatement of unqualified individuals to important portfolios. Thus, Imam Ali dismissed the wrongdoing officials; replacing them with qualified, capable, and trustworthy managers.

Imam Ali calls mankind toward freedom, while describing the philosophy behind this freedom. He noted: “Do not be enslaved by others, because God has created you a free individual.” Imam Ali displayed one of the prime examples of social and political freedom in the course of history. Throughout his rule, he never violated the principles of social freedom, and never neglected the social rights of the members of community. In Imam Ali’s ruling system, people and even opponents were completely free, such that even Khawarej, who were the sworn enemies of Imam Ali, were free in making speeches and even insulting Imam Ali, while also at times heckling Imam Ali’s speeches and remarks. However, Imam Ali (AS) never reacted harshly toward them. Imam Ali granted freedom of expression to his opponents. He even did not cut their share of the treasury.

MR/MG