ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib Accountability of the Functionaries The functionaries of the state can be both constructive and destructive in their action and attitude. With their constructive actions, the state develops and prospers. If they adopt a contrary attitude, it would certainly be harmful for the state. The head of a state needs to monitor the activities of the functionaries and should not relax after assigning them to their tasks.

However honest and trustworthy the functionaries, they are fallible human beings. They might get attracted to the luster and lucre of wealth and stray from the right path if left to their own scruples for long. They might indulge in bribery, misappropriation and other such destructive activities. Instead of serving the people, they might turn self-serving. Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) knew the futility of the human nature very well. He did not believe in closing the eyes and ears in trusting people.

Besides, some of the functionaries of the previous administration had convinced him of their reliability and were continuing in service, for example: Abū-Mūsa al-Ash`ari, al-Ash`ath ibn Qays and Masqalah ibn Hubayrah. It was necessary that all their activities were monitored and the cash inflows and outflows audited. Therefore, Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) used to keep an eye on every minute thing like the lifestyle of these persons.

He praised them for good performance and reprimanded them if he found any oversights, defects or dereliction of duty in their activities. He used to check the account of bayt al-mal regularly. If he received reports of misappropriation by any functionary, he used to lift his eyes towards the sky and say: “O Allah!

You know that I have placed them over Your creatures not to harm them and defy Your Rights.”[1] He then used to conduct an audit and punish the person according to the seriousness of his misdemeanor. From some he used to recover the misappropriated funds and some he incarcerated as a punishment for their crime. Some of such events are mentioned her in brief. [1] Al-Istī`āb, Vol 3, Page 48 The governor of al-Basrah, `Uthman ibn Hunayf attended a party.

`Ali (a.s) came to know about it and wrote to `Uthman, “I did not expect that you would accept their invitation from whose doors the beggars and the needy are chased away and the affluent entertained! The morsels that you chew, you must first look at carefully!