Political Field: Imam Ali (a.

Political Field: Imam Ali (a.s.) defined the attributes of governors and government officials whom Islam recommends to manage the affairs of the Islamic nation. These definitions were clearly set out in his communiqué which he issued: "....O people!

you must understand and realize that so far as the protection of properties, rights and honor of the Muslim world, the propagation and preservation of Muslim laws and guardianship of Muslim finances are concerned, an ignorant person, a miser, a tyrant, a man who accepts bribes or one who has forsaken the principles of equity and justice should not be entrusted with the ruling of a Muslim state.

"A miserly person will covet the wealth of those he rules; an ignorant one will misguide them; a tyrant will oppress and tyrranize them; one who is not afraid of rapidly changing times and policies will, to the detriment of the cause of Islam, keep on forming unholy alliances with one nation after the other; a corrupt ruler, who is open to bribery, will violate rights, and will not dispense justice, and the one who has given up the traditions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) will be responsible for the destruction of Islamic ideals and doctrine."(102) Under this clear and objective determination of the attributes of the officials acceptable to Islam, Amir Al-Mu'minin Imam Ali (a.s.) began to dismiss some of the governors from their posts in different parts of the Islamic state.

Had he compromised, as some wanted him to do, subsequent Muslim generations would not have recognized the true picture of the Islamic religion for which Allah had sent His great Messenger (s.a.w.). 2. Economic Field: Simultaneously with reforming the political system, Imam Ali (a.s.) started to revolutionize the economy of the state. No sooner had he begun his rule, than he cancelled the method of distributing wealth which had formerly been followed.

He replaced the discriminate way of distributing money by a system based on equity as practiced by the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.). So, all forms of discrimination in dividing the money among the people, was cancelled by the Imam (a.s.) stressing that fearing Allah, priority in embracing Islam, fighting for the sake of Islam, or companionship with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), were not matters which gave their owners any sort of distinction in this world.

Reward from Allah would be theirs in the Hereafter. Whoever had priority in these attributes, would receive his reward from Allah.