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The Ruler and Society 4 - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief The Ruler and Society 4 2021-06-21 384 Views The Ruler , Islam and Society , Leadership , Leader and Society In continuation of the article titled “The Ruler and society”, we shall discuss the criteria for the selection of people for administrative affairs and the leader’s responsibilities thereafter. Then look into the affairs of your administrators.

Employ them (only after) having tested (them) and appoint them not with favouritism or arbitrariness, for these two (attributes) embrace different kinds of oppression and treachery (1). Among them look for people of experience and modesty (2) from righteous families foremost in Islam (3), for they are nobler in moral qualities, more genuine in dignity and less concerned with ambitious designs, and they perceive more penetratingly the consequences of affairs.

Then bestow provisions upon them liberally, for that will empower them to set themselves aright and to dispense with consuming what is under their authority; and it is an argument against them if they should disobey your command or sully your trust. Then investigate their actions. Dispatch truthful and loyal observers (to watch) over them, for your investigation of their affairs in secret, will incite them to carry out their trust faithfully and to act kindly toward the subjects.

Be heedful of aides. If one of them should extend his hand in a treacherous act, concerning which the intelligence received against him from your observers concurs, and if you are satisfied with that as a witness, subject him to corporeal punishment and seize him for what befell from his action. Then install him in a position of degradation, brand him with treachery and gird him with the shame of accusation.

(3) Investigate the situation of the land tax in a manner that will rectify the state of those who pay it, for in the correctness of the land tax and the welfare of the taxpayers is the welfare of others. The welfare of others will not be achieved except through them, for the people, all of them, are dependent upon the land tax and those who pay it.

Let your care for the prosperity of the earth be deeper than your care for the collecting of land tax, for it will not be gathered except in prosperity. Whoever exacts land tax without prosperity has desolated the land and destroyed the servants (of God). His affairs will remain in order but briefly.