ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى الأسود بن قطيبة صاحب جند حلوان

To al-Aswad ibn Quṭbah, the Governor of Ḥulwān

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فإِنَّ الْوَالِيَ إِذَا اخْتَلَفَ هَوَاهُ مَنَعَهُ ذلِكَ كَثِيراً مِنَ الْعَدْلِ، فَلْيَكُنْ أَمْرُ النَّاسِ عِنْدَكَ فِي الْحَقِّ سَوَاءً، فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِي الْجَوْرِ عِوَضٌ مِنَ الْعَدْلِ، فَاجْتَنِبْ مَا تُنْكِرُ أَمْثَالَهُ، وَابْتَذِلْ نَفْسَكَ فِيمَا افْتَرَضَ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ، رَاجِياً ثوَابَهُ، وَمُتَخَوِّفاً عِقَابَهُ.

Now, if the actions of a governor follow the passions he will be greatly hampered in justice. All the people should be equal in right before you, because injustice cannot be a substitute for justice. Avoid that thing the like of which you would not like for yourself. Exert yourself in what Allāh has made obligatory on you, hoping for His reward and fearing His chastisement.

وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا دَارُ بَلِيَّةٍ لَمْ يَفْرُغْ صَاحِبُهَا فِيهَا قَطُّ سَاعَةً إِلَّا كَانَتْ فَرْغَتُهُ عَلَيْهِ حَسْرَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَأَنَّهُ لَنْ يُغْنِيَكَ عَنِ الْحَقِّ شَيْءٌ أَبَداً، وَمِنَ الْحَقِّ عَلَيْكَ حِفْظُ نَفْسِكَ، وَالِاحْتِسَابُ عَلَى الرَّعِيَّةِ بِجُهْدِكَ، فَإِنَّ الَّذِي يَصِلُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ ذلِكَ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الَّذِي يَصِلُ بِكَ، وَالسَّلَامُ.

Know that this world is the place of trial. Whoever here wastes any hour of his time will repent it on the Day of Judgement, and nothing can ever make you free of need of what is right. One of the rights on you is that you should protect yourself (from sins) and look after the subjects to your best. The benefit that will come to you from this will be greater than that which will accrue (to people) through you; and that is an end to the matter.

Extrait d’une lettre adressée à Al Àsswad bin Qoutbat chef des troupes de Halwan (Perse)

Lorsque le gouverneur poursuit ses penchants personnels il sera fort empêché d’établir la justice. Que les affaires des hommes soient réglées par toi dans un esprit d’égalité, car l’iniquité n’est pas un substitut de la justice. Evite tout acte repréhensible, conduis-toi d’après les obligations de Dieu, espérant en Sa récompense et craignant Son châtiment.

Sache que la vie terrestre est une demeure d’épreuve où chaque heure non passée à faire le bien public entraîne un soupir le Jour de la Résurrection. Sache que rien ne peut tenir lieu de la vérité et que tu dois préserver ton âme en gérant convenablement les administrés ... Salut.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #59