Imam Ali’s letter to Malik al-Ashtar (2)
Malik al-Ashtar was one of the especial companions of Imam Ali a.s and one of the powerful leaders of Iraq. He was one of the commanders of the army of Imam Ali a.s who was forethoughtful in politics and strong in battle. He participated in the Battle of Jamal and the Battle of Siffin and eventually he was appointed by Imam Ali as governor-general in Egypt. However, he was martyred before arriving to Egypt.
The famous treaty of Malik al-Ashtar is a letter that Imam Ali wrote to him while he was in Egypt.
READ ALSO: Imam Ali’s letter to Malik Al Ashtar (1)
Part 2
Do not set yourself against God, for neither do you possess the strength to shield yourself against His displeasure, nor can you place yourself outside the pale of His mercy and forgiveness.
Do not feel sorry over any act of forgiveness, nor rejoice over any punishment that you may mete out to any one.
READ ALSO: Tawakkul in Islam: Faith, action, and divine trust
Do not rouse yourself to anger, for no good will come out of it.
Do not say: “I am your overlord and dictator, and that you should, therefore, bow to my commands”, as that will corrupt your heart, weaken your faith in religion and create disorder in the state. Should you be elated by power, ever feel in your mind the slightest symptoms of pride and arrogance, then look at the power and majesty of the Divine governance of the Universe over which you have absolutely no control.
It will restore the sense of balance to your wayward intelligence and give you the sense of calmness and affability.
Beware! Never put yourself against the majesty and grandeur of God and never imitate His omnipotence; for God has brought low every rebel of God and every tyrant of man.
READ ALSO: Imam Ali bin Musa (as): An examplary life of the pious, by Yusuf Magaji
Let your mind respect through your actions the rights of God and the rights of man, and likewise, persuade your companions and relations to do likewise. For, otherwise, you will be doing injustice to yourself and injustice to humanity. Thus both man and God will turn unto your enemies. There is no hearing anywhere for one who makes an enemy of God himself. He will be regarded as one at war with God until he feels contrition and seeks forgiveness. Nothing deprives man of divine blessings or excites divine wrath against him more easily than cruelty. Hence, it is that God listens to the voice of the oppressed and waylays the oppressor.
To be continued.
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