I have been the chief over the people from the times of Hajjaj till now.

I have been the chief over the people from the times of Hajjaj till now. Will my repentence be accepted by Allah?” The Imam (as) kept quiet and did not reply. The man repeated his question.

Now the Imam (as) replied, “Your penitence will not be acceptable till you restore the right of every person you have wronged!” It is narrated from the Prophet of Islam (S) that one had been unjust to someone and wishes to make amends, but the person is not traceable.In this event the repentent person should pray for the Deliverance of the wronged person and this way his sin might be pardoned.” The Prophet (S) then added, “The first to enter the Hell will be the chief who was unjust.

The second person will be the rich man who did not distribute Allah’s Right from his wealth. The third person will be the beggar who was proud of his penury.” Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) told to one chieftain, “Abstain from tyranny and injkustice!

The suppreed overcomes the pangs of tyranny, but the tyrant faces Retribution for the tyranny for ever.” The Imam (as) further added: On the Day of Judgement three persons will be the dearest to Allah: One who is not unjust to a persaon even in a state of acute anger. One who is an arbiter in some matter and doesn’t take sides unjustly. One who tells the truth even at the risk of harm to his own person.

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) said, “One must be scared of doing an injustice to a person who has no helper in the world except Allah.” The Imam (as) further added, “The cruel person doesn’t usurp as much value by usurping anything from the weakling than what the weak person takes away from the tyrants faith!” “And when a person does wrong to anyone, he infact wrongs himself because, as you sow, so shall you reap!” The Rights Of The Rulers And The Ruled Over Each Other Imam Zain-ul-’Abidin (as) says that since Allah has given authority to the kings and the emirs, it is imperative for them to be just and sagacious with their subjects.

They should show affection for the subjects like the parents do for their children. They should be thankful to Allah for the position bestowed on them. In this regard the long epistles written to Malik al-Ashtar, Sahl bin Haneef and Muhammad bin Abi Bakr are worth perusal. It is authentically reported that Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) said, “A fair person in authority over the affairs of Muslims deals with them justly.

He keeps his doors always open for them, erects no curtain or obstruction between them and himself.