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The Ruler and Society 3 - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief The Ruler and Society 3 2021-06-21 439 Views Muslim Ummah , The Ruler , The Society In this part of the article titled “The ruler and society”, we shall continue with other aspects of the topic such as the classes of men. Concerning the Classes of Men Know that subjects are of various classes, none of which can be set aright without the others and none of which is independent of the others.

Among them are: (1.) The soldiers of God, (2.) Secretaries for the common people and the people of distinction, (1) executors of justice (2) and administrators of equity and kindness, (3) (3.) Payers of jizyah (4) and land tax, namely the people of protective covenants (5) and the Muslims, (4.) Merchants and craftsmen and (5.) The lowest class, the needy and wretched.

For each of them, God has designated a portion, and commensurate with each portion He has established obligatory acts (Faridah) in His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet-may God bless him and his household and give them peace-as a covenant from Him maintained by us. (6) Now soldiers, by the leave of God, are the fortresses of the subjects, the adornment of rulers, the might of religion and the means to security.

The subjects have no support but them, and the soldiers in their turn have no support but the land tax that God has extracted for them, (a tax) by which they are given the power to war against their enemy and upon which they depend for that which puts their situation in order and meets their needs.

Then these two classes (soldiers and taxpayers) have no support but the third class, the judges, administrators and secretaries, for they draw up contracts,(7) gather yields and are entrusted with private and public affairs. And all of these have no support but the merchants and craftsmen, through the goods which they bring together and the markets which they set up.

They provide for the needs (of the first three classes) by acquiring with their own hands those (goods) resources others do not attain. Then there is the lowest class, the needy and wretched, those who have the right to aid and assistance. With God, there is plenty for each (of the classes). Each has a claim upon the ruler to the extent that will set it aright.