Dear Agha sahib
I am fowarding an extremely interesting & spiritually enlightening thing
to you. If you agree, we can even out it in the magazine..
I am fowarding an extremely interesting & spiritually enlightening thing
to you. If you agree, we can even out it in the magazine..
Blazing Gun
Subject: Good Governance Early Muslim Style
This is such fantastic advice, if only people would heed it...
By Patricia Lee Sharpe
This piece, which I posted to counter anti-Muslim hysteria during the Bush
administration, is probably even more relevant today, when political
convenience and ignorance are combining to create a toxic environment for
Muslims in America.
Ali bin Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph and son-in-law of the Prophet
Mohammed, wrote a long letter of guidance after appointing Maalik al-Ashtar
to be Governor of Egypt. He advises the new governor that his
administration will succeed only if he governs with concern for justice,
equity, probity and the prosperity of all.
The passages excerpted below illustrate the timeless applicability of
Hazrat Ali's admonitions. The letter itself is contained in the Nahjal
Balaagha, which is a collection of the letters and speeches of the fourth
Caliph.
Manifest religious tolerance: Amongst your subjects there are two kinds of
people: those who have the same religion as you [and] are brothers to you,
and those who have religions other than yours, [who] are human beings like
you. Men of either category suffer from the same weaknesses and
disabilities that human beings are inclined to; they commit sins, indulge
in vices either intentionally or foolishly and unintentionally without
realizing the enormity of their deeds. Let your mercy and compassion come
to their rescue and help in the same way and to the same extent that you
expect Allah to show mercy and forgiveness to you.
Equity is best: A policy which is based on equity will be largely
appreciated. Remember that the displeasure of common men, the have-nots and
the depressed persons overbalances the approval of important persons, while
the displeasure of a few big people will be excused...if the general public
and the masses of your subjects are happy with you.
The rich always want more: They are the people who will be the worst drag
upon you during your moments of peace and happiness, and the least useful
to you during your hours of need and adversity. They hate justice the most.
They will keep demanding more and more out of State resources and will
seldom be satisfied with what they receive and will never be obliged for
the favor shown to them if their demands are justifiably refused.
A healthy society is interdependent: The army and the common men who pay
taxes are two important classes, but in a well faring state their
well-being cannot be guaranteed without proper functioning and preservation
of the other classes, the judges and magistrates, the secretaries of the
State and the officers of various departments who collect various revenues,
maintain law and order as well as preserve peace and amity among the
diverse classes of the society. They also guard the rights and privileges
of the citizens and look to the performance of various duties by
individuals and classes. And the prosperity of this whole set-up depends
upon the traders and industrialists. They act as a medium between the
consumers and suppliers. They collect the requirements of society. They
exert to provide goods....Then comes the class of the poor and the disabled
persons. It is absolutely necessary that they should be looked after,
helped and provided....at least the minimum necessities for well-being and
contented living....
Ensure an honest judiciary: You must select people of excellent character
and high caliber with meritorious records. When they realize that they have
committed a mistake in judgement, they should not insist on it by trying to
justify it. They should not be corrupt, covetous or greedy. They should not
be satisfied with ordinary enquiry or scrutiny of a case but must attach
the greatest importance to reasoning, arguments and proofs. They should not
get tired of lengthy discussions and arguments. They must exhibit patience
and perseverance and when truth is revealed to them they must pass their
judgements. These appointments must be made without any kind of favoritism
being shown or influence being accepted; otherwise tyranny, corruption and
misrule will reign. Let the judiciary be above every kind of executive
pressure or influence, above fear or favour, intrigue or corruption.
Poverty leads to ruination: If a country is prosperous and if its people
are well-to-do, then it will happily and willingly bear any burden. The
poverty of the people is the actual cause of the devastation and ruination
of a country and the main cause of the poverty of the people is the desire
of its ruler and officers to amass wealth and possessions whether by fair
or foul means.
Corruption undermines national well-being: I want to advise you about your
businessmen and industrialists. Treat them well they are the sources of
wealth to the country One more thing you must keep an eye over their
activities as well. You know that they are usually stingy misers, intensely
self-centered and selfish, suffering from the obsession of grasping and
accumulating wealth. They often hoard their goods to get more profit out of
them by creating scarcity and by indulging in black-marketing.
Stay in touch with the people: You must take care not to cut yourself off
from the public. Do not place a curtain of false prestige between you and
those over whom you rule. Such pretension and shows of pomp and pride are
in reality manifestations of inferiority complex and vanity. The result of
such an attitude is that you remain ignorant of the conditions of your
subjects and of the actual cases of the events occurring in the State.
Peace brings prosperity: If your enemy invites you to a peace treaty never
refuse to accept such an offer, because peace will bring rest and comfort
to your armies, will relieve you of anxieties and worries, and will bring
prosperity and affluence to your people. But even after such treaties be
very careful of the enemies and do not place too much confidence in their
promises be vigilant because they often resort to peace treaties to deceive
and delude you and take advantage of your negligence, carelessness and
trust. At the same time, be very careful never to break your promise with
your enemy; never forsake the protection or support that you have offered
to him, never go back upon your word and never violate the terms of the
treaty.
History reveals all: Do not reserve for yourself anything which is a common
property of all and in which others have equal rights. Do not close your
eyes from glaring malpractice of officers, miscarriage of justice and
misuse of rights, because you will be held responsible for the wrong thus
done to others. In the near future your wrong practices and
maladministration will be exposed and you will be held responsible and
punished for the wrong done to the helpless and oppressed people.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not an intended recipient, as indicated above, please notify us immediately and delete it from your system . Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
Subject: Good Governance Early Muslim Style
This is such fantastic advice, if only people would heed it...
By Patricia Lee Sharpe
This piece, which I posted to counter anti-Muslim hysteria during the Bush
administration, is probably even more relevant today, when political
convenience and ignorance are combining to create a toxic environment for
Muslims in America.
Ali bin Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph and son-in-law of the Prophet
Mohammed, wrote a long letter of guidance after appointing Maalik al-Ashtar
to be Governor of Egypt. He advises the new governor that his
administration will succeed only if he governs with concern for justice,
equity, probity and the prosperity of all.
The passages excerpted below illustrate the timeless applicability of
Hazrat Ali's admonitions. The letter itself is contained in the Nahjal
Balaagha, which is a collection of the letters and speeches of the fourth
Caliph.
Manifest religious tolerance: Amongst your subjects there are two kinds of
people: those who have the same religion as you [and] are brothers to you,
and those who have religions other than yours, [who] are human beings like
you. Men of either category suffer from the same weaknesses and
disabilities that human beings are inclined to; they commit sins, indulge
in vices either intentionally or foolishly and unintentionally without
realizing the enormity of their deeds. Let your mercy and compassion come
to their rescue and help in the same way and to the same extent that you
expect Allah to show mercy and forgiveness to you.
Equity is best: A policy which is based on equity will be largely
appreciated. Remember that the displeasure of common men, the have-nots and
the depressed persons overbalances the approval of important persons, while
the displeasure of a few big people will be excused...if the general public
and the masses of your subjects are happy with you.
The rich always want more: They are the people who will be the worst drag
upon you during your moments of peace and happiness, and the least useful
to you during your hours of need and adversity. They hate justice the most.
They will keep demanding more and more out of State resources and will
seldom be satisfied with what they receive and will never be obliged for
the favor shown to them if their demands are justifiably refused.
A healthy society is interdependent: The army and the common men who pay
taxes are two important classes, but in a well faring state their
well-being cannot be guaranteed without proper functioning and preservation
of the other classes, the judges and magistrates, the secretaries of the
State and the officers of various departments who collect various revenues,
maintain law and order as well as preserve peace and amity among the
diverse classes of the society. They also guard the rights and privileges
of the citizens and look to the performance of various duties by
individuals and classes. And the prosperity of this whole set-up depends
upon the traders and industrialists. They act as a medium between the
consumers and suppliers. They collect the requirements of society. They
exert to provide goods....Then comes the class of the poor and the disabled
persons. It is absolutely necessary that they should be looked after,
helped and provided....at least the minimum necessities for well-being and
contented living....
Ensure an honest judiciary: You must select people of excellent character
and high caliber with meritorious records. When they realize that they have
committed a mistake in judgement, they should not insist on it by trying to
justify it. They should not be corrupt, covetous or greedy. They should not
be satisfied with ordinary enquiry or scrutiny of a case but must attach
the greatest importance to reasoning, arguments and proofs. They should not
get tired of lengthy discussions and arguments. They must exhibit patience
and perseverance and when truth is revealed to them they must pass their
judgements. These appointments must be made without any kind of favoritism
being shown or influence being accepted; otherwise tyranny, corruption and
misrule will reign. Let the judiciary be above every kind of executive
pressure or influence, above fear or favour, intrigue or corruption.
Poverty leads to ruination: If a country is prosperous and if its people
are well-to-do, then it will happily and willingly bear any burden. The
poverty of the people is the actual cause of the devastation and ruination
of a country and the main cause of the poverty of the people is the desire
of its ruler and officers to amass wealth and possessions whether by fair
or foul means.
Corruption undermines national well-being: I want to advise you about your
businessmen and industrialists. Treat them well they are the sources of
wealth to the country One more thing you must keep an eye over their
activities as well. You know that they are usually stingy misers, intensely
self-centered and selfish, suffering from the obsession of grasping and
accumulating wealth. They often hoard their goods to get more profit out of
them by creating scarcity and by indulging in black-marketing.
Stay in touch with the people: You must take care not to cut yourself off
from the public. Do not place a curtain of false prestige between you and
those over whom you rule. Such pretension and shows of pomp and pride are
in reality manifestations of inferiority complex and vanity. The result of
such an attitude is that you remain ignorant of the conditions of your
subjects and of the actual cases of the events occurring in the State.
Peace brings prosperity: If your enemy invites you to a peace treaty never
refuse to accept such an offer, because peace will bring rest and comfort
to your armies, will relieve you of anxieties and worries, and will bring
prosperity and affluence to your people. But even after such treaties be
very careful of the enemies and do not place too much confidence in their
promises be vigilant because they often resort to peace treaties to deceive
and delude you and take advantage of your negligence, carelessness and
trust. At the same time, be very careful never to break your promise with
your enemy; never forsake the protection or support that you have offered
to him, never go back upon your word and never violate the terms of the
treaty.
History reveals all: Do not reserve for yourself anything which is a common
property of all and in which others have equal rights. Do not close your
eyes from glaring malpractice of officers, miscarriage of justice and
misuse of rights, because you will be held responsible for the wrong thus
done to others. In the near future your wrong practices and
maladministration will be exposed and you will be held responsible and
punished for the wrong done to the helpless and oppressed people.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not an intended recipient, as indicated above, please notify us immediately and delete it from your system . Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
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