A series of moral, doctrinal, and social statements from the esteemed religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, may his shadow remain (Words of Wisdom, episode number 26)
It is narrated in historical sources from Asbagh ibn Nabatah, a loyal companion of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, that one day after performing the Fajr (dawn) prayer, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, encountered a man who clearly appeared to be a traveler.
The Imam asked him, “Where are you coming from?”
The man replied, “From Sham (Greater Syria).”
The Imam asked, “Why have you come?”
The traveler answered, “I have come for some business.”
The Imam said, “Shall I tell you why you have come, or will you tell me?”
The traveler said, “You tell me, O Commander of the Faithful.”
Asbagh ibn Nabatah narrates that the Imam said to the man from Sham:
“On such-and-such a day of such-and-such a month, in such-and-such a year, Mu'awiyah announced: ‘Who is willing to kill Ali, peace be upon him, and receive ten thousand dinars in return?’ A certain person accepted the offer. But when he went home that night, he reflected and thought, how can I go and kill the cousin of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), the father of his children? So he changed his mind the next day.
Mu'awiyah then again called out: ‘Who is ready to kill Ali, peace be upon him, for twenty thousand dinars?’ Another person accepted the task, but he too abandoned it shortly after.
On the third day, Mu'awiyah’s herald cried out among the people: ‘Who will kill Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon them both) in exchange for thirty thousand dinars?’ That time, you stood up and accepted. So now, what do you want to do? Do you still intend to carry out the decision you made?”
The man, astonished by the Imam’s knowledge, replied, “No, I will return.”
The Imam, peace be upon him, then turned to his servant, Qanbar, and said:
“Prepare a mount for him, provide his travel provisions, and give him expenses for the journey.”
The phrase “prepare a mount” referred to taking care of the animal—such as a horse or camel—by feeding it, watering it, perhaps changing it if necessary, replacing its saddle, or performing other common practices travelers of the time required for their journey.
To put the reward in perspective, a thousand gold dinars equaled about three kilograms of gold, so ten thousand dinars would be thirty kilograms, and thirty thousand dinars would amount to ninety kilograms of gold—an enormous amount. Clearly, Mu'awiyah used large bribes to entice people to serve his wicked aims.
The Unparalleled Conduct of Imam Ali (peace be upon him)
The behavior of the Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, is virtually unmatched among rulers throughout religious history. He was a true follower of the noble Prophet of God, peace be upon him and his family, and in all matters—including governance—he followed the Prophet's example with perfection and completeness.
Therefore, many accounts—just like those from the radiant life of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, in his dealings with enemies, both in battlefields and among the community—are also narrated about Imam Ali, peace be upon him. The story of the man from Sham who intended to commit a great crime is one such story.
From a political standpoint, the man from Sham was a criminal, and under human legal systems, he deserved severe punishment. However, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, not only did not punish him but, on the contrary, treated him with immense kindness and generosity—giving him travel expenses, preparing his mount, and providing him with food for the journey.
Such behavior is unprecedented among the rulers of the world, both past and present. It is a unique trait of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, and the noble Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his family.
The government under Imam Ali, peace be upon him, was considered the most powerful of its time, extending its reach from central Asia to the depths of Africa and into parts of Europe—a territory that would encompass over forty modern-day countries.
The ruler of such a vast and powerful Islamic empire would, by custom, enjoy immense authority and awe, to the point where people would not dare speak freely in his presence. Yet the history of Imam Ali’s governance tells a different story—one of complete social freedom. People could easily voice objections to him, and a man from Sham could enter a mosque with a concealed weapon, believing he might be able to kill the ruler himself.
These events are unrepeatable in any other part of history.
Political Prisoners
Which advanced country in today’s world can truly claim that it has no political prisoners? Imam Ali, peace be upon him, the Commander of the Faithful, turned this great human aspiration into reality. In nearly five years of his rule over a vast geographical region—despite immense and numerous challenges—not a single political prisoner was reported.
It can be confidently said that the heavy toll of the three major and bloody battles Imam Ali faced during his brief governance—the Battles of Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrawan—represents a historically unmatched ordeal. These conflicts resulted in countless deaths, orphaned children, and widowed women, and yet, after each war, when the enemy laid down arms, there was no pursuit of captives, no revenge, no tracking down of grudges. The war ended, and with it, so did the hostilities.
Imam Ali, peace be upon him, treated his former enemies, who continued to live in the Islamic society alongside other Muslims, just like anyone else. He did not punish them for their former enmity or acts of aggression.
This behavior is a rare and unparalleled model of Islamic governance and moral integrity, rooted in devotion to the Qur'an and the pure household (Ahl al-Bayt) of the Prophet (peace be upon them).
The Holy Qur'an emphasizes this lofty moral standard, saying:
"And Allah invites to the abode of peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path." (Surah Yunus 10:25)
"O you who have believed, enter into peace completely." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:208)
Following Islam, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) taught us, means adhering to both the Qur'an and his purified household, two inseparable and weighty sources of guidance.
The Contrast Between Two Cultures
In contrast to this elevated Islamic culture—deeply rooted in human dignity and moral values, as perfectly embodied by the Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali (peace be upon them)—there exists another kind of culture that has frequently appeared in Islamic history. This opposing trend, despite its claims of being Islamic, bears no genuine connection to the essence of Islam. It is characterized by hypocrisy, deception, and a false appearance of peace and righteousness.
Figures like Mu'awiyah and the rulers of the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties, though they bore Islamic names and titles, were in reality oppressive rulers who merely wore the garb of Islam to legitimize their rule.
Much has been narrated about the tyranny and bloodshed committed by Mu'awiyah. In a letter addressed to him, Imam Hussain, peace be upon him, explicitly stated that Mu'awiyah tormented and punished those who merely supported or loved Imam Ali, subjecting them to cruel torture solely because of their political stance or differing beliefs.
If anyone was found to deny Mu'awiyah’s claim to the caliphate, he would be thrown into prison and subjected to severe physical torture. These punishments included amputations, or even blinding the victims by gouging out their eyes with knives while they were alive—a horrific fate that many endured until death slowly took them.
Imam Hussain, peace be upon him, referred to these brutalities in his letter and stressed that these individuals were tortured simply for their political disagreement and differing religious beliefs.
Unfortunately, such oppression did not end with Mu'awiyah or the Umayyads. One oppressive ruler followed another, many falsely claiming to rule by Islamic law, yet their legacies are marred by injustice, corruption, and cruelty. Even beyond the Muslim world, oppression in various forms and disguises has persisted throughout history—and continues to this day.
Across the globe, people still suffer from tyranny, and their social, political, and economic rights are trampled by authoritarian regimes. In today's world, the need for a government like that of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, is felt more urgently than ever.
A Model of Governance Beyond Comparison
Among the hundreds of countries in the world today, even if a small nation were to govern according to the principles of Imam Ali (peace be upon him)—providing freedom and dignity across all spheres of life: social, political, economic—then that country would stand out with remarkable progress in fulfilling human rights and aspirations.
Imam Ali’s excellence in leadership is so unique that humanity struggles to replicate it.
In the earlier-mentioned story, a man traveled from Syria to Kufa for nearly a month with the intent to assassinate the Imam—incited and bribed by Mu'awiyah. After the plot was revealed, no punishment was imposed. Instead, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, allowed him to return peacefully, even providing him with travel provisions and a mount for his journey home.
Such conduct reflects a moral greatness of the highest order. Emulating it and striving toward it is undoubtedly a worthwhile and fruitful endeavor, especially for those in leadership or governance.
Comparing Imam Ali’s governance to the deceptive and tyrannical rule of Mu'awiyah exposes profound truths that help one discern right from wrong—and better understand the consequences of each system.
The World's Urgent Need for the Governance Standards of Imam Ali Peace be Upon Him
What has been discussed in this writing about the magnanimity and broad-mindedness of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, in his noble conduct and his avoidance of retaliatory and politically motivated punishments, is not merely a portion of the history of his governance. Though his rule lasted only four to five years, it is filled with beautiful stories—each of which, beyond showcasing a facet of his greatness, contains deep wisdom and timeless lessons.
According to narrations from the infallible Imams (peace be upon them), the victorious rule of Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) will follow the path of his forefather, Imam Ali (peace be upon him). He, too, will spread justice and peace throughout the world. He will guide many of the ignorant—those who were led astray due to their own shortcomings or distance from the truth—with mercy and compassion toward the right path.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), despite facing many forms of torment and harm from the polytheists throughout over twenty years of his prophetic mission, when finally supported by divine help and victorious over the idolaters of Mecca, did not draw the sword of punishment or seek vengeance for the years of oppression. Instead, he extended the mercy that encompassed the world and declared, "Today is the day of mercy," and forgave them all.
Likewise, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), after the Battle of Jamal, showed compassion and grace even toward those who had ignited that bloody conflict, and he did not punish any of them for their grave transgressions. Today, more than ever before, the world is in need of a government like that of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), which spreads peace and calm across the globe through grace and restraint. May Allah hasten His promise, and may the Awaited Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance), as foretold by the infallibles, fill the world with justice and peace in the same manner as his noble ancestor.
The manner of governance has always been one of the most critical issues and challenges facing humanity throughout history. That which has brought happiness to people—or conversely, has plunged them into misery and ruin—has always had a deep connection with how societies were governed by their rulers.
The character and approach of a ruler, his view of the needs and rights of the people—whether economic, social, political, or otherwise—are matters that, unless addressed with successful and sound strategies, will prevent any society from progressing toward prosperity and success. This is a truth that becomes self-evident through the study of human history.
By analyzing the influential factors and key characteristics of Imam Ali’s, peace be upon him, governance, we clearly understand which elements can open the path of growth and vitality for a society. Similarly, by studying regimes such as that of Muawiyah—who followed an entirely different path, based on oppression, deceit, misinformation, and the manipulation of people—we can easily identify the negative patterns and destructive outcomes of flawed governance.
The Path to Human Prosperity
In any case, following the model of governance established by Imam Ali, peace be upon him, is a formula for success, efficiency, and the prosperity of humankind. What was discussed in this writing about his gracious treatment of one who sought his life, offers valuable principles for leaders who truly prioritize the well-being, peace, and comfort of their nations.
As mentioned earlier, how fortunate it would be if even one of the hundreds of governments in today’s world would volunteer to implement the governance model of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). There is no doubt that the Imam is infallible, and a non-infallible cannot fully attain his rank. However, establishing a government exactly like his may be beyond human capacity, but emulating and following his example is indeed possible and within reach.
Such efforts can bring about significant improvements in many aspects of governance and will certainly benefit the people. Therefore, when rulers look to Imam Ali, peace be upon him, for guidance in how to manage their societies, the results will undoubtedly be fruitful—both for the leaders and their nations.
Today, due to the unfortunate performance of many governments and also the inappropriate reactions of some nations to that performance, peace and comfort have reached extremely low levels. Rarely does a person live free of worldly anxieties. This reality is even more apparent when it comes to rulers themselves. Because of their misguided approaches, today’s rulers seldom experience true peace of mind.
Imam Ali, peace be upon him, was fully aware of this issue. That is why he could rest with a clear conscience—because under his rule, no one had ever experienced oppression at his hands. This kind of governance is a unique distinction, and only the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, and Imam Ali, peace be upon him, were able to fully and accurately express its signs and foundations through both word and deed, leaving a lasting model for future generations.
With persistent effort—even if it may take time—great successes can ultimately be achieved in this area. May Almighty God grant the rulers of Islamic countries, and the leaders of non-Islamic lands as well, the success to realize this vital goal. Perhaps then, through this path, greater peace and goodness will be brought to the people of the world.
And may God’s peace and blessings be upon our master, our prophet Muhammad, and his pure household.
