Principles for good governance

By Muhammad Al-Ghazali

Hadhrat Shaqiq al-Balkhi (Rahmatullah alaihe) came into the presence of Haroon Al-Rashid, fifth Abbasid Caliph, who said: "You are Shaqiq, the ascetic.."

"I am Shaqiq," he replied, but not an ascetic."

Haroon asked him for a word of advice.

"Allah on High", Shaqiq replied, has seated you in the place where the Truthful (Abu Bakr) sat, and demands from you the same truthfulness as from Him."

"He has set you in the place of the Discerning (Umar), and demands from you the same discernment between right and wrong as from him."

"He has put you in the position of (Osman) of the Two Lights, and demands of you the same modesty and generosity as from him."

"He has placed you in the station of Ali ibn Talib, and demands from you knowledge and justice such as were his." (Radhi Allaho anhum).

Haroon told him to continue. "Yes" willingly, he replied;" Allah on High owns a house called Hell, and He has made you the janitor of that house.

(At the same time) He has given you three things; the Public Treasury, the sword and the whip. He has told you to keep people out of Hell with these three things.

When an indigent person comes to you, do not deny him access to the Public Funds; when a person disobeys Allah's commands, chastise him with the whip; and when one person wrongfully kills another, put him to death with the sword, if so requested by the murdered person's executor.

Unless you do these three things, you will be foremost among the denizens of Hell, and other (rulers) will replace you."

Haroon told him to continue (further).

"You are a fountain," he replied, "and the other officials (who help you to govern) the world are the steams (which flow from it).

If the fountain is clear, there can be no damage from silt in the channels; if the fountain is turbid, there will be no hope (of maintaining) the channels."
 

Allah Knows Best