Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha 1501

Give them an abundant livelihood (by way of salary) because this gives them the strength to maintain themselves in order…

Nahj al-Balagha 1502

You should also check their activities and have people who report on them who should be truthful and faithful, because y…

Nahj al-Balagha 1503

Be careful of assistants. If any one of them extends his hands towards misappropriation and the reports of your reporter…

Nahj al-Balagha 1504

(4. The Administration of Revenues) Look after the revenue (kharāj or land tax) affairs in such a way that those engaged…

Nahj al-Balagha 1505

You should also keep an eye on the cultivation of the land more than on the collection of revenue because revenue cannot…

Nahj al-Balagha 1506

If they complain of the heaviness (of the revenue) or of diseases, or dearth of water, or excess of water or of a change…

Nahj al-Balagha 1507

(5. The Clerical Establishment) Then you should take care of your secretarial workers. Put the best of them in charge of…

Nahj al-Balagha 1508

Your selection of these people should not be on the basis of your understanding (of them), confidence and your good impr…

Nahj al-Balagha 1509

Establish one chief for every department of work. He should not be incapable of big matters, and a rush of work should n…

Nahj al-Balagha 1510

(6. Traders and Industrialists) Now take some advice about traders and industrialists. Give them good counsel whether th…

Nahj al-Balagha 1511

Know, along with this, that most of them are very narrow-minded, and awfully avaricious. They hoard goods for profiteeri…

Nahj al-Balagha 1512

The sale should be smooth, with correct weights and prices, not harmful to either party, the seller or the purchaser; wh…

Nahj al-Balagha 1513

(7. The Lowest Class) (Fear) Allāh and keep Allāh in view in respect of the lowest class, consisting of those who have f…

Nahj al-Balagha 1514

Take care of the affairs of those of them who do not approach you among those who are looked at with contempt and whom p…

Nahj al-Balagha 1515

Take care of the orphans and the aged who have no means (for livelihood) nor are they ready for begging. This is heavy o…

Nahj al-Balagha 1516

And fix a time for complainants wherein you make yourself free for them, and sit for them in common audience and feel hu…

Nahj al-Balagha 1517

Tolerate their awkwardness and inability to speak. Keep away from you narrowness and haughtiness; Allāh would, on this a…

Nahj al-Balagha 1518

Then there are certain matters which you cannot avoid performing yourself. For example, replying to your officers when y…

Nahj al-Balagha 1519

(Communion with Allāh:) The particular thing by which you should purify your religion for Allāh should be the fulfilment…

Nahj al-Balagha 1520

When you lead the prayers for the people it should be neither (too long as to be) boring nor (too short as to be) wastef…