Imam Ali...

Imam Ali, the Commander of the faithful, has talked about the qualities of one who undertakes the leadership of government and manages the affairs of the country.

He has said: “You certainly know that he, who is in charge of honor, life, booty, (enforcement of) legal commandments and the leadership of the Muslims, should not be miser, for his greed would make him wish for people’s wealth, nor should he be ignorant, as he would then mislead them with his ignorance, nor should he be of rude behavior lest he would estrange them with his rudeness, nor should he deal unjustly with them by preferring one group to another, nor should he accept a bribe while taking decisions, as he would forfeit (others’) rights and hold them up without finality, nor should he ignore the Sunna as he would ruin the people.”[^1] Imam Ali (a.s) views that whoever undertakes the Muslims’ affairs should be generous, free from miserliness, knowledgeable of what the community needs, should not deal unjustly with wealth, not take a bribe for his deeds, not cancel Allah’s laws, and not leave the Sunna of His Prophet (a.s).

If he is void of these qualities, the community faces during his reign many problems and the country is liable to crises and disasters. In the story of Ibrahim (Abraham) (a.s) the Holy Qur’an has mentioned one of his children who was worthy of the Imamate. Allah, the Exalted, has said: “Surely I will make you an Imam of men. Ibrahim said: And of my offspring?

My covenant does not include the unjust, said He.”[^2] The commentators of the Qur’an have mentioned that the meaning of the covenant is the Imamate; and (the meaning of) the Imamate is the caliphate. Therefore it (the covenant) does not include one who gets involved in oppression during any stage of his lifetime, whether he has wronged himself or others. Accordingly, this favor is not given to him. Certainly Islam has taken great care of him who undertakes the Muslims’ affairs.

It has required him to be an example of justice, manifestation of the truth, and a source of all the psychological merits, that he may take care of the community’s interests and to achieve all what it needs such as might and dignity. Certainly none had the high qualities Islam stipulated for the wise leadership except the Prophet’s Household (), peace be on them. That is because Allah had taken away uncleanness from them and purified them thoroughly.