Characteristics of A Just Leader
In a series of sessions, sociologist and religious researcher Emad Afroogh tries to introduce the thoughts of Imam Ali (AS). In the ninth session, titled “Sensitivity to Bayt al-Mal”, he talks about the characteristics of just leaders and the importance of presence of the elite in different fields in society. Here are excerpts from his remarks at the session:
Following up on the discussions about the issues of attention to social justice, filling the class gap, sensitivity to Bayt al-Mal and attention to justice, I have chosen Sermon 126 of Nahj al-Balagha for today.
Imam Ali (AS) says in this sermon: “Do you command me that I should seek support by oppressing those over whom I have been placed? By Allah, I won't do so as long as the world goes on, and as long as one star leads another in the sky. Even if it were my property, I would have distributed it equally among them, then why not when the property is that of Allah.”
Here I should refer to an important point in Letter 53 of Nahj al-Balagha which shows how much attention Imam Ali (AS) pays to the weakest classes in society. In this letter (known as the letter to Malik Ashtar), Imam Ali (AS) says: “(Fear) Allah and keep Allah in view in respect of the lowest class.”
It should be noted that by ordering to pay attention to the lowest class here, Imam (AS) does not mean giving charity to them but here the main issue is their right. It is inferred from the remarks of Imam Ali (AS) that the rights of the destitute and the poor are the rights of Allah and it is upon the rulers to give them their rights.
This originates from Imam Ali’s (AS) view on social justice because he considered the society to be something more than the gathering of all of the individuals making up the society.
Imam (AS) in Sermon 164 of Nahj al-Balagha highlights points about the importance of the ruler being just, and says: “You should know that among the creatures of Allah, the most distinguished person before Allah is the just Imam who has been guided (by Allah) and guides others. So, he stands by the recognized ways of the Prophet's behavior and destroys unrecognized innovations. The (Prophet's) ways are clear and they have signs, while innovations are also clear and they too have signs. Certainly, the worst man before Allah is the oppressive Imam who has gone astray and through whom others go astray. He destroys the accepted sunnah and revives abandoned innovations.”
That it is said “An-Naas Ala Deen Mulukehem (people follow the path of their rulers)” means that if rulers are guided, people will be guided and follow justice as well and if rulers are unjust, so will be people.
Of course it is never recommended as the right thing. People should follow their rulers if they are just and virtuous, otherwise, people should not follow their behavior and conduct and the society’s elites who recognize this should rise up and encourage others to rise up against injustice.
The issue of social justice and preventing the dominance of oppressive rulers has been mentioned frequently by the Infallible (AS), including Imam Ali (AS) and Imam Hussein (AS).
In a speech at Mina (near Mecca) where many of the society’s elites were present, Imam Hussein (AS) stresses that the dominance of the oppressive rulers on the Muslim society is because of the elites’ silence. If a ruler and leader can act oppressively and move out of the domains of justice, it is because of the elites’ silence.
