People’s Rights that Rulers Should Observe
In a series of sessions, sociologist and religious researcher Emad Afroogh tries to introduce the thoughts of Imam Ali (AS). In the 13th session, he talks about people’s rights mentioned Imam Ali’s letter to Malik Ashtar. Here is a summary of his remarks:
On the issue of mutual rights of ruler and people, especially the rights of people that rulers should observe, today I discuss Imam Ali’s (AS) letter to Malik Ashtar. In order for research on citizenship rights, I studied this letter, which is a comprehensive document for governance. I have extracted eight rights from people from this letter.
These are rights for people, both Muslim and non-Muslims, that the ruler should observe. They are very progressive even if Imam Ali (AS) has mentioned them as recommendations not as rights.
One of these rights is kindness, that is to say, the ruler should act kindly with people. Imam (AS) tells Malik “Develop in your heart the feeling of love for your people and let it be the source of kindliness and blessing to them.”
The second right is having a spirit of mercy and forgiveness on the part of the rulers. “Some indeed do commit mistakes. But forgive them even as you would like God to forgive you. Bear in mind that you are placed over them, even as I am placed over you. And then there is God even above him who has given you the position of a Governor in order that you may look after those under you and to be sufficient unto them. And you will be judged by what you do for them.”
Imam Ali (AS) says forgive mistakes of people but he does not ignore the mistakes of managers and officers. Letter 45 of Nahj al-Balagha signifies this.
The third right is avoiding despotism. Imam (AS) says: “Do not say: ‘I am your overlord and dictator, and that you should, therefore, bow to my commands.’” Rulers of Muslim society should recognize the conditions of the people and realize what is going on in their life and what difficulties and hardships they are facing. If rulers are to collect taxes from people, they should bear in mind their income and conditions of life.
The fourth right is seeking the truth and acting upon the truth. The ruler of Muslim society must be one who acts in accordance with the truth. Imam (AS) says: “The virtuous and the vicious should not be in equal position before you because this means dissuasion of the virtuous from virtue and persuasion of the vicious to vice. Keep everyone in the position which is his.”
The fifth right is seeking justice. Imam (AS) says in this regard: “Do justice for Allah and do justice towards the people, as against yourself, your near ones and those of your subjects for whom you have a liking because if you do not do so you will be oppressive, and when a person oppresses the creatures of Allah then, instead of His creatures.”
The sixth right is about counseling and supervising. Rulers should seek counseling and have cooperation with the elite. Imam (AS) says: “Thereafter, look into the affairs of your executives. Give them appointment after tests and do not appoint them without counselling others.”
The seventh right is fulfilling promises. “If you conclude an agreement between yourself and your enemy or enter into a pledge with him then fulfil your agreement and discharge your pledge faithfully. … Muslims, even unbelievers have abided by agreements because they realized the dangers which would come in the wake of violation (thereof).”
Avoiding monopoly is the eighth right. That is to say. Rulers should not make their own what is in the interest of people.
These eight rights are very progressive and people can study them in every era and every political system to see if they have been upheld or not.
