Rulers of Muslim Society Need to Live at Level of Ordinary People
In a series of sessions, sociologist and religious researcher Emad Afroogh tries to introduce the thoughts of Imam Ali (AS). In the tenth session, he talks about Imam Ali’s views on lifestyle of rulers of Muslim societies. Here is a summary of his remarks:
Sermon 209 of Nahj al-Balagha is short but full of teachings. It reads: “Certainly, Allah, the Sublime, has made it obligatory on true leaders that they should maintain themselves at the level of low people so that the poor do not cry over their poverty.”
This means that the rulers’ level of life should be close to the poor which can prevent rebellions.
Increased economic divides in a society lead to rebellion. Imam Ali (AS) had reasons to live a simple life.
One of the sermons that signal Imam Ali’s sensitivity towards “Bayt al-mal” is Sermon 224 which narrates the famous story of how Imam Ali treated his brother, Aqil. Aqil comes to Imam and explains his economic hardships, putting forward an illegitimate demand. There are lots of lessons in the answer that Imam Ali (AS) gives.
The Imam brought a piece of hot iron near his brother's hand. “You are screaming from the flame of a toy fire which is in the hands of human beings whereas you take your brother to a fire which is extremely frightening and which is lit by the anger of the Creator?”
As long as Bayt al-mal is being ignored and there is no justice, no government can claim to be a follower of Imam Ali’s style. We should pay attention to economic divides and fill these gaps.
