The most important duty and responsibility of Vali Faqih is to strongly support the community in the face of incidents and to mobilize the community toward the righteous path with a coordinated and purposeful move.

Today, we continue to discuss the obligations of Vali Faqih based on Islamic teachings. The most important sources for interpretation of the responsibilities of the leader of the Islamic community are the ayahs of Holy Quran and the traditions of the Prophet of Islam and his Infallible Household (Peace be upon them), especially the traditions of the First Infallible Successor to Prophet Mohammad, Imam Ali (AS). Imam Ali, throughout his rule, upon interpretation of ayahs of Holy Quran and the tradition of the Prophet of Islam, has introduced the duties of a leader of Islamic community, in details.

One of the main duties of Vali Faqih is to coordinate people and establish sympathy among them. If there is a lack of coordination and sympathy among people, Vali Faqih will not succeed in carrying out his other duties.

Vali Faqih should be kind-hearted and should maintain empathy toward people. He should stand alongside people throughout their hardships and woes. Holy Quran has referred to this important characteristic trait of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny) in the 159^th ayah of Surat Ale Imran, pointing that if the Prophet Mohammad was not kind, people would have not gathered round him.

Consultation in affairs manifests the empathy of the leader of an Islamic community toward people. This, in turn, highly contributes to establishment of psychological security in the community, and reinforces a sense of mutual trust between people and Vali Faqih. The other important point in the duties of Vali Faqih, which has been pointed out in one of the sermons of Imam Ali (AS) is the just distribution of treasury and provision of public welfare. As a reminder, it was pointed out that administration of justice is one of the features of Vali Faqih. In fact, serving justice is one of the most important tasks of the leader of an Islamic community. The importance of establishment of justice in the community is such that Imam Ali (AS), in a letter to the then governor of Egypt, Malek-e Ashtar, names administration of justice as the most significant duty of the rulers. Imam Ali also calls on his other subordinates to treat people equally. The Infallible Imam strongly believes that serving justice paves the ground for removal of injustice, while underscoring that if people are not treated equally, bullying powers would be encouraged to impose prejudices, and the poor and needy would fall into despair.

In the Islamic community, all Muslims maintain equal rights. The equality of people in regard to their social rights means that people, in the same situations, maintain equal rights. One of the pivotal aspects of ruler's justice is within the domain of economic affairs. Discrimination and injustice in the domain of economy brings about injustice in other domains of social rights. Imam Ali (AS) has put emphasis on administration of justice in the domain of economy and has rendered important approaches to rulers and their employees for serving justice.

Meanwhile, in serving justice, Vali Faqih should pay attention to the interests of the community. Hence, Imam Ali (AS), in a letter to Malek-e Ashtar, calls on latter to consider the contentment of masses of people in the tasks which he carries out.

In relation of materialization of social justice in the realm of economy, Imam Ali (AS) points out that the leader of an Islamic community should focus on meeting the demands of the poor and needy, while negligence of the demands of the vulnerable strata would render ineffective other major achievements.

One of the other duties of the leader of an Islamic community is to enlighten people in different domains. The leader of an Islamic community is duty-bound to enlighten and guide people and to put an end to their bafflement. Imam Ali (AS) oftentimes adopted this approach. A leader, who intends to guide his people, should grant knowledge and insight to them. The leader of an Islamic community should educate his society, and should set the stage for the spiritual growth of his people. Faith in God, piety, diligence, honesty, generosity, and selflessness are some of the parameters, which Vali Faqih should prudently promote in the community.

With a glance at the obligations of Vali Faqih in the Islamic community we realize that policy in Islam is not comparable to general policies which are set in non-Islamic communities. In fact, policy in Islam does not just revolve round regulation of the economy and materialistic relations of individuals. Islamic policies also urge the spiritual growth and development of people.

With due regard to Islamic teachings, and the tradition of Prophet of Islam, and Infallible Imams, it is concluded that the leader of an Islamic community should maintain a resolute stand toward the fate of the Islamic community and Islamic principles, and should not allow the negligence of Islamic rules and regulations. The leader of an Islamic community should serve justice and treat everyone equally, in addition to guiding his people. The leader of an Islamic community should also be modest toward the poor and needy and should firmly stand up against those who impose injustice.

MR/EA