MajelisNoteDalilدليل
العربية

Tarikh (al-Tabari) 3191

The Year 206 AH

ثُمَّ دَخَلَتْ سَنَةُ سِتٍّ وَمِائَتَيْنِ ذِكْرُ وِلَايَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ طَاهِرٍ الرَّقَّةَ  وَفِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ وَلَّى الْمَأْمُونُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ طَاهِرٍ مِنَ الرَّقَّةِ إِلَى مِصْرَ، وَأَمَرَهُ بِحَرْبِ نَصْرِ بْنِ شَبَثٍ. وَكَانَ سَبَبَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ يَحْيَى بْنَ مُعَاذٍ الَّذِي كَانَ الْمَأْمُونُ وَلَّاهُ الْجَزِيرَةَ مَاتَ فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ، وَاسْتَخْلَفَ ابْنَهُ أَحْمَدَ، فَاسْتَعْمَلَ الْمَأْمُونُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ مَكَانَهُ، فَلَمَّا أَرَادَ تَوْلِيَتَهُ أَحْضَرَهُ وَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ، أَسْتَخِيرُ اللَّهَ - تَعَالَى - مُنْذُ شَهْرٍ وَأَكْثَرَ، وَأَرْجُو أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ خَارَ لِي، وَرَأَيْتُ الرَّجُلَ يَصِفُ ابْنَهُ [ لِيُطْرِيَهُ ] لِرَأْيِهِ فِيهِ، وَرَأَيْتُكَ فَوْقَ مَا قَالَ أَبُوكَ فِيكَ، وَقَدْ مَاتَ يَحْيَى، وَاسْتَخْلَفَ ابْنَهُ، وَلَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ، وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ تَوْلِيَتَكَ مِصْرَ، وَمُحَارَبَةَ نَصْرِ بْنِ شَبَثٍ. فَقَالَ: السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ، وَأَرْجُو أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْخَيْرَةَ وَلِلْمُسْلِمِينَ. فَعَقَدَ لَهُ. وَقِيلَ: كَانَتْ وِلَايَتُهُ سَنَةَ خَمْسٍ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، ( وَقِيلَ: سَبْعٍ وَمِائَتَيْنِ ). وَلَمَّا سَارَ اسْتَخْلَفَ عَلَى الشُّرْطَةِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ مُصْعَبٍ، وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّهِ. وَلَمَّا اسْتَعْمَلَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُوهُ طَاهِرٌ كِتَابًا جَمَعَ فِيهِ كُلَّ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ الْأُمَرَاءُ مِنَ الْآدَابِ وَالسِّيَاسَةِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ، وَقَدْ أَثْبَتُّ مِنْهُ أَحْسَنَهُ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْآدَابِ وَالْحَثِّ عَلَى مَكَارِمِ الْأَخْلَاقِ وَمَحَاسِنِ الشِّيَمِ، لِأَنَّهُ لَا يَسْتَغْنِي عَنْهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ مَلِكٍ وَسُوقَةٍ، وَهُوَ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَعَلَيْكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَخَشْيَتِهِ، وَمُرَاقَبَتِهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَمُزَايَلَةِ سُخْطِهِ، وَحِفْظِ رَعِيَّتِكَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ، وَالْزَمْ مَا أَلْبَسَكَ مِنَ الْعَافِيَةِ بِالذِّكْرِ لِمَعَادِكَ، وَمَا أَنْتَ صَائِرٌ إِلَيْهِ، وَمَوْقُوفٌ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْهُ، وَالْعَمَلِ فِي ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ بِمَا يَعْصِمُكَ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَيُنَجِّيكَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ عِقَابِهِ، وَأَلِيمِ عَذَابِهِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ - سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى - قَدْ أَحْسَنَ إِلَيْكَ، وَأَوْجَبَ عَلَيْكَ الرَّأْفَةَ بِمَنِ اسْتَرْعَاكَ أَمْرَهُمْ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ، وَأَلْزَمَكَ الْعَدْلَ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَالْقِيَامَ بِحَقِّهِ وَحُدُودِهِ فِيهِمْ، وَالذَّبَّ عَنْهُمْ، وَالدَّفْعَ عَنْ حَرِيمِهِمْ وَبَيْضَتِهِمْ، وَالْحَقْنَ لِدِمَائِهِمْ، وَالْأَمْنَ لِسَبِيلِهِمْ، وَإِدْخَالَ الرَّاحَةِ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَمُؤَاخِذُكَ بِمَا فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ، وَمُوقِفُكَ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَسَائِلُكَ عَنْهُ، وَمُثِيبُكَ عَلَيْهِ بِمَا قَدَّمْتَ وَأَخَّرْتَ، فَفَرِّغْ لِذَلِكَ فَهْمَكَ، وَعَقْلَكَ، وَنَظَرَكَ، وَلَا يَشْغَلْكَ عَنْهُ شَاغِلٌ، وَإِنَّهُ رَأْسُ أَمْرِكَ، وَمِلَاكُ شَأْنِكَ، وَأَوَّلُ مَا يُوَفِّقُكَ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - بِهِ لَرُشْدُكَ. وَلْيَكُنْ أَوَّلَ مَا تُلْزِمُ نَفْسَكَ، وَتَنْسِبُ إِلَيْهِ أَفْعَالَكَ - الْمُوَاظَبَةُ عَلَى مَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ، وَالْجَمَاعَةُ عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّاسِ، فَأْتِ بِهَا فِي مَوَاقِيتِهَا عَلَى سُنَنِهَا، وَفِي إِسْبَاغِ الْوُضُوءِ لَهَا، وَافْتِتَاحِ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - [ فِيهَا ]، وَتَرَتَّلْ فِي قِرَاءَتِكَ، وَتَمَكَّنْ فِي رُكُوعِكَ وَسُجُودِكَ وَتَشَهُّدِكَ، وَلْيَصْدُقْ فِيهِ رَأْيُكَ وَنِيَّتُكَ، وَاحْضُضْ عَلَيْهَا جَمَاعَةَ مَنْ مَعَكَ، وَتَحْتَ يَدِكَ، وَادْأَبْ عَلَيْهَا فَإِنَّهَا كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ -: إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ. ثُمَّ أَتْبِعْ ذَلِكَ بِالْأَخْذِ بِسُنَنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْمُثَابَرَةِ عَلَى خِلَافَتِهِ، وَاقْتِفَاءِ آثَارِ السَّلَفِ الصَّالِحِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، وَإِذَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْكَ أَمْرٌ فَاسْتَعِنْ عَلَيْهِ بِاسْتِخَارَةِ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَتَقْوَاهُ، وَلُزُومِ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - فِي كِتَابِهِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَنَهْيِهِ، وَحَلَالِهِ وَحَرَامِهِ، وَإِتْمَامِ مَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ الْآثَارُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ قُمْ فِيهِ بِمَا يَحِقُّ لِلَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - عَلَيْكَ، وَلَا تَمَلَّ مِنَ الْعَدْلِ فِيمَا أَحْبَبْتَ أَوْ كَرِهْتَ لِقَرِيبٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ، أَوْ بِعِيدٍ. وَآثِرِ الْفِقْهَ وَأَهْلَهُ وَالدِّينَ وَحَمَلَتَهُ، وَكِتَابَ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَالْعَامِلِينَ بِهِ، فَإِنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَا تَزَيَّنَ بِهِ الْمَرْءُ الْفِقْهُ فِي الدِّينِ، وَالطَّلَبُ لَهُ، وَالْحَثُّ عَلَيْهِ، وَالْمَعْرِفَةُ بِمَا يُتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - فَإِنَّهُ الدَّلِيلُ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ، وَالْقَائِدُ لَهُ، وَالْآمِرُ بِهِ، وَالنَّاهِي عَنِ الْمَعَاصِي وَالْمُوبِقَاتِ كُلِّهَا، وَمَعَ تَوْفِيقِ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - يَزْدَادُ الْعَبْدُ مَعْرِفَةً لِلَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَإِجْلَالًا لَهُ، ذِكْرًا لِلدَّرَجَاتِ الْعُلَى فِي الْمَعَادِ مَعَ مَا فِي ظُهُورِهِ لِلنَّاسِ مِنَ التَّوْقِيرِ لِأَمْرِكَ، وَالْهَيْبَةِ لِسُلْطَانِكَ، وَالْأَنَسَةِ بِكَ، وَالثِّقَةِ بِعَدْلِكَ. وَعَلَيْكَ بِالِاقْتِصَادِ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا، فَلَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَبْيَنَ نَفْعًا، وَلَا أَخَصَّ أَمْنًا، وَلَا أَجْمَعَ فَضْلًا مِنْهُ، وَالْقَصْدُ دَاعِيَةٌ إِلَى الرُّشْدِ، وَالرُّشْدُ دَلِيلٌ عَلَى التَّوْفِيقِ، وَالتَّوْفِيقُ قَائِدٌ إِلَى السَّعَادَةِ، وَقِوَامُ الدِّينِ وَالسُّنَنِ الْهَادِيَةُ بِالِاقْتِصَادِ، وَآثِرْهُ فِي دُنْيَاكَ كُلِّهَا، وَلَا تُقَصِّرْ فِي طَلَبِ الْآخِرَةِ، وَالْأَجْرِ، وَالْأَعْمَالِ الصَّالِحَةِ، وَالسُّنَنِ الْمَعْرُوفَةِ، وَمَعَالِمِ الرُّشْدِ، وَلَا غَايَةَ لِلِاسْتِكْثَارِ فِي الْبِرِّ وَالسَّعْيِ لَهُ إِذَا كَانَ يُطْلَبُ بِهِ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ - تَعَالَى - وَمَرْضَاتُهُ وَمُرَافَقَةُ أَوْلِيَائِهِ فِي دَارِ كَرَامَتِهِ. وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْقَصْدَ فِي شَأْنِ الدُّنْيَا يُورِثُ الْعِزَّ، وَيُحَصِّنُ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ، وَأَنَّهُ لَنْ تَحُوطَ لِنَفْسِكَ وَمَنْ يَلِيكَ وَلَا تَسْتَصْلِحُ أُمُورَكَ بِأَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ، فَأْتِهِ وَاهْتَدِ بِهِ تَتِمَّ أُمُورُكَ، وَتَزِدْ مَقْدِرَتُكَ، وَتَصْلُحْ خَاصَّتُكَ وَعَامَّتُكَ. وَأَحْسِنِ الظَّنَّ بِاللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - تَسْتَقِمْ لَكَ رَعِيَّتُكَ، وَالْتَمِسِ الْوَسِيلَةَ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا تَسْتَدِمْ بِهِ النِّعْمَةَ عَلَيْكَ. وَلَا تَتَّهِمَنَّ أَحَدًا مِنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا تُوَلِّيهِ مِنْ عَمَلِكَ، قَبْلَ أَنْ تَكْشِفَ أَمْرَهُ، فَإِنَّ إِيقَاعَ التُّهَمِ بِالْبِرَاءِ وَالظُّنُونَ السَّيِّئَةَ بِهِمْ مَأْثَمٌ، فَاجْعَلْ مِنْ شَأْنِكَ حُسْنَ الظَّنِّ بِأَصْحَابِكَ، وَاطْرُدْ عَنْكَ سُوءَ الظَّنِّ بِهِمْ، وَارْفُضْهُ فِيهِمْ يُعِنْكَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اصْطِنَاعِهِمْ وَرِيَاضَتِهِمْ، وَلَا يَجِدَنَّ عَدُوُّ اللَّهِ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أَمْرِكَ مَغْمَزًا، فَإِنَّهُ إِنَّمَا يَكْتَفِي بِالْقَلِيلِ مِنْ وَهَنِكَ، وَيُدْخِلُ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الْغَمِّ فِي سُوءِ الظَّنِّ مَا يُنَغِّصُكَ لَذَاذَةَ عَيْشِكَ. وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ تَجِدُ بِحُسْنِ الظَّنِّ قُوَّةً وَرَاحَةً، وَتَكْتَفِي بِهِ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ كِفَايَتَهُ مِنْ أُمُورِكَ، وَتَدْعُو بِهِ النَّاسَ إِلَى مَحَبَّتِكَ وَالِاسْتِقَامَةِ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا لَكَ، وَلَايَمْنَعَنَّكَ حُسْنُ الظَّنِّ بِأَصْحَابِكَ، وَالرَّأْفَةُ بِرَعِيَّتِكَ، أَنْ تَسْتَعْمِلَ الْمَسْأَلَةَ وَالْبَحْثَ عَنْ أُمُورِكَ، وَلْتَكُنِ الْمُبَاشَرَةُ لِأُمُورِ الْأَوْلِيَاءِ، وَالْحِيَاطَةُ لِلرَّعِيَّةِ، وَالنَّظَرُ فِيمَا يُقِيمُهَا وَيُصْلِحُهَا، وَالنَّظَرُ فِي حَوَائِجِهِمْ، وَحَمْلُ مَئُونَاتِهِمْ - آثَرُ عِنْدَكَ مِمَّا سِوَى ذَلِكَ، فَإِنَّهُ أَقْوَمُ لِلدِّينِ، وَأَحْيَا لِلسُّنَّةِ. وَأَخْلِصْ نِيَّتَكَ فِي جَمِيعِ هَذَا، وَتَفَرَّدْ بِتَقْوِيمِ نَفْسِكَ تَفَرُّدَ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ مَسْئُولٌ عَمَّا صَنَعَ، وَمَجْزِيٌّ بِمَا أَحْسَنَ، وَمَأْخُوذٌ بِمَا أَسَاءَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - جَعَلَ الدِّينَ حِرْزًا وَعِزًّا، وَرَفَعَ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ وَعَزَّزَهُ، فَاسْلُكْ بِمَنْ تَسُوسُهُ وَتَرْعَاهُ نَهْجَ الدِّينِ، وَطَرِيقَةَ الْهُدَى. وَأَقِمْ حُدُودَ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - فِي أَصْحَابِ الْجَرَائِمِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَنَازِلِهِمْ، وَمَا اسْتَحَقُّوهُ، وَلَا تُعَطِّلْ ذَلِكَ، وَلَا تَهَاوَنْ بِهِ، وَلَا تُؤَخِّرْ عُقُوبَةَ أَهْلِ الْعُقُوبَةِ، فَإِنَّ فِي تَفْرِيطِكَ فِي ذَلِكَ مَا يُفْسِدُ عَلَيْكَ حُسْنَ ظَنِّكِ، وَاعْتَزِمْ عَلَى أَمْرِكَ فِي ذَلِكَ بِالسُّنَنِ الْمَعْرُوفَةِ، وَجَانِبِ الْبِدَعَ وَالشُّبَهَاتِ يَسْلَمْ لَكَ دِينُكَ، وَتَقُمْ لَكَ مُرُوءَتُكَ. وَإِذَا عَاهَدْتَ عَهْدًا فَفِ بِهِ، وَإِذَا وَعَدْتَ خَيْرًا فَأَنْجِزْهُ، وَاقْبَلِ الْحَسَنَةَ وَادْفَعْ بِهَا، وَأَغْمِضْ عَنْ عَيْبِ كُلِّ ذِي عَيْبٍ مِنْ رَعِيَّتِكَ، وَاشْدُدْ لِسَانَكَ عَنْ قَوْلِ الْكَذِبِ وَالزُّورِ، وَأَبْغِضْ أَهْلَهُ، وَأَقْصِ أَهْلَ النَّمِيمَةِ، فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ فَسَادِ أُمُورِكَ، فِي عَاجِلِهَا وَآجِلِهَا - تَقْرِيبُ الْكَذُوبِ، وَالْجُرْأَةُ عَلَى الْكَذِبِ ; لِأَنَّ الْكَذِبَ رَأْسُ الْمَآثِمِ، وَالزُّورَ وَالنَّمِيمَةَ خَاتِمَتُهَا ; لِأَنَّ النَّمِيمَةَ لَا يَسْلَمُ صَاحِبُهَا وَقَائِلُهَا، وَلَا يَسْلَمُ لَهُ صَاحِبٌ، وَلَا يَسْتَتِمُّ لِمُعْطِيهَا أَمْرٌ. وَأَحِبَّ أَهْلَ الصَّلَاحِ وَالصِّدْقِ، وَأَعِنِ الْأَشْرَافَ بِالْحَقِّ، وَآسِ الضُّعَفَاءَ، وَصِلِ الرَّحِمَ، وَابْتَغِ بِذَلِكَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ - تَعَالَى - وَإِعْزَازِ أَمْرِهِ، وَالْتَمِسْ فِيهِ ثَوَابَهُ وَالدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ، وَاجْتَنِبْ سُوءَ الْأَهْوَاءِ وَالْجَوْرَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنْهُمَا رَأْيَكَ، وَأَظْهِرْ بَرَاءَتَكَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ لِرَعِيَّتِكَ، وَأَنْعِمْ بِالْعَدْلِ سِيَاسَتَهُمْ، وَقُمْ بِالْحَقِّ فِيهِمْ وَبِالْمَعْرِفَةِ الَّتِي تَنْتَهِي بِكَ إِلَى سَبِيلِ الْهُدَى. وَامْلِكْ نَفْسَكَ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ، وَآثِرِ الْوَقَارَ وَالْحِلْمَ، وَإِيَّاكَ وَالْحِدَّةَ وَالطِّيَرَةَ وَالْغُرُورَ فِيمَا أَنْتَ بِسَبِيلِهِ، وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَقُولَ: أَنَا مُسَلَّطٌ أَفْعَلُ مَا أَشَاءُ، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ سَرِيعٌ [ فِيكَ ] إِلَى نَقْصِ الرَّأْيِ وَقِلَّةِ الْيَقِينِ بِاللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ -. وَأَخْلِصْ لِلَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ - النِّيَّةَ فِيهِ، وَالْيَقِينَ بِهِ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْمُلْكَ لِلَّهِ - سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى - يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ، وَيَنْزِعُهُ مِمَّنْ يَشَاءُ، وَلَنْ تَجِدَ تَغَيُّرَ النِّعْمَةِ وَحُلُولَ النِّقْمَةِ إِلَى أَحَدٍ أَسْرَعَ مِنْهُ إِلَى حَمَلَةِ النِّعْمَةِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السُّلْطَانِ وَالْمَبْسُوطِ لَهُمْ فِي الدَّوْلَةِ، إِذَا كَفَرُوا نِعَمَ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَإِحْسَانَهُ، وَاسْتَطَالُوا بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - مِنْ فَضْلِهِ. وَدَعْ عَنْكَ نَفْسَكَ، وَلْتَكُنْ ذَخَائِرُكَ وَكُنُوزُكَ الَّتِي تُدَّخَرُ وَتُكْنَزُ - الْبِرَّ، وَالتَّقْوَى، وَالْمَعْدَلَةَ، وَاسْتِصْلَاحَ الرَّعِيَّةِ، وَعِمَارَةَ بِلَادِهِمْ، وَالتَّفَقُّدَ لِأُمُورِهِمْ، وَالْحِفْظَ لِدِمَائِهِمْ، وَالْإِغَاثَةَ لِمَلْهُوفِهِمْ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْأَمْوَالَ إِذَا كُنِزَتْ وَذُخِرَتْ فِي الْخَزَائِنِ - لَا تَنْمُو، وَإِذَا كَانَتْ فِي صَلَاحِ الرَّعِيَّةِ، وَإِعْطَاءِ حُقُوقِهِمْ، وَكَفِّ مَئُونَةٍ عَنْهُمْ - سَمَتْ، وَزَكَتْ، وَنَمَتْ، وَصَلُحَتْ بِهِ الْعَامَّةُ، وَتَزَيَّنَتْ بِهِ الْوِلَايَةُ، وَطَابَ بِهِ الزَّمَانُ، وَاعْتُقِدَ فِيهِ الْعِزُّ وَالْمَنَعَةُ، فَلْيَكُنْ كَنْزُ خَزَائِنِكَ تَفْرِيقَ الْأَمْوَالِ فِي عِمَارَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَهْلِهِ، وَوَفِّرْ مِنْهُ عَلَى أَوْلِيَاءِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، فَتِلْكَ حُقُوقُهُمْ، وَأَوْفِ رَعِيَّتَكَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ حِصَصَهُمْ، وَتَعَهَّدْ مَا يُصْلِحُ أُمُورَهُمْ وَمَعَاشَهُمْ، فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ قَرَّتِ النِّعْمَةُ عَلَيْكَ، وَاسْتَوْجَبْتَ الْمَزِيدَ مِنَ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَكُنْتَ بِذَلِكَ عَلَى جِبَايَةِ خَرَاجِكَ، وَجَمْعِ أَمْوَالِ رَعِيَّتِكَ، وَعَمَلِكَ - أَقْدَرَ، وَكَانَ الْجَمِيعُ لِمَا شَمَلَهُمْ مِنْ عَدْلِكَ وَإِحْسَانِكَ أَسْلَسَ لِطَاعَتِكَ، وَأَطْيَبَ نَفْسًا بِكُلِّ مَا أَرَدْتَ، وَاجْهِدْ نَفْسَكَ فِيمَا حَدَّدْتُ لَكَ فِي هَذَا الْبَابِ، وَلْتَعْظُمْ حَسَنَتُكَ فِيهِ، وَإِنَّمَا يَبْقَى مِنَ الْمَالِ مَا أُنْفِقَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، وَاعْرِفْ لِلشَّاكِرِينَ شُكْرَهُمْ، وَأَثِبْهُمْ عَلَيْهِ. وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُنْسِيَكَ الدُّنْيَا وَغُرُورُهَا هَوْلَ الْآخِرَةِ، فَتَتَهَاوَنُ بِمَا يَحِقُّ عَلَيْكَ، فَإِنَّ التَّهَاوُنَ يُورِثُ التَّفْرِيطَ، وَالتَّفْرِيطُ يُورِثُ الْبَوَارَ، وَلْيَكُنْ عَمَلُكَ لِلَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَارْجُ الثَّوَابَ فِيهِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ - سُبْحَانَهُ - قَدْ أَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكَ نِعْمَتَهُ، وَأَسْبَغَ لَدَيْكَ فَضْلَهُ، وَاعْتَصِمْ بِالشُّكْرِ، وَعَلَيْهِ فَاعْتَمِدْ، يَزِدْكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا وَإِحْسَانًا، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - يُثَبِّتُ شُكْرَ الشَّاكِرِينَ وَسِيرَةَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ. وَلَا تَحْقِرَنَّ دَيْنًا، وَلَا تُمَالِئَنَّ حَاسِدًا، وَلَا تَرْحَمَنَّ فَاجِرًا، وَلَا تَصِلَنَّ كَفُورًا، وَلَا تُدَاهِنَنَّ عَدُوًّا، وَلَا تُصَدِّقَنَّ نَمَّامًا، وَلَا تَأْمَنَنَّ غَدَّارًا، وَلَا تُوَالِيَنَّ فَاسِقًا، وَلَا تَتْبَعَنَّ غَاوِيًا، وَلَا تَحْمَدَنَّ مُرَائِيًا، وَلَا تَحْقِرَنَّ إِنْسَانًا، وَلَا تَرُدَّنَّ سَائِلًا فَقِيرًا، وَلَا تُجِيبَنَّ بَاطِلًا، وَلَا تُلَاحِظَنَّ مُضْحِكًا، وَلَا تُخْلِفَنَّ وَعْدًا، وَلَا تَرْهَبَنَّ فَجْرًا، وَلَا تَرْكَبَنَّ سَفَهًا، وَلَا تُظْهِرَنَّ غَضَبًا، وَلَا تَمْشِيَنَّ مَرَحًا، وَلَا تُفَرِّطَنَّ فِي طَلَبِ الْآخِرَةِ، وَلَا تَدْفَعِ الْأَيَّامَ عِتَابًا، وَلَا تُغْمِضَنَّ عَنْ ظَالِمٍ رَهْبَةً مِنْهُ، أَوْ مُحَابَاةً، وَلَا تَطْلُبَنَّ ثَوَابَ الْآخِرَةِ فِي الدُّنْيَا. وَأَكْثِرْ مُشَاوَرَةَ الْفُقَهَاءِ، وَاسْتَعْمِلْ نَفْسَكَ بِالْحِلْمِ، وَخُذْ عَنْ أَهْلِ التَّجَارُبِ وَذَوِي الْعَقْلِ، وَالرَّأْيِ، وَالْحِكْمَةِ، وَلَا تُدْخِلَنَّ فِي مَشُورَتِكَ أَهْلَ الذِّمَّةِ وَالنِّحَلِ، وَلَا تَسْمَعَنَّ لَهُمْ قَوْلًا، فَإِنَّ ضَرَرَهُمْ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ مَنْفَعَتِهِمْ، وَلَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَسْرَعُ فَسَادًا لِمَا اسْتَقْبَلْتَ فِيهِ أَمْرَ رَعِيَّتِكَ مِنَ الشُّحِّ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ إِذَا كُنْتَ حَرِيصًا كُنْتَ كَثِيرَ الْأَخْذِ، قَلِيلَ الْعَطِيَّةِ، وَإِذَا كُنْتَ كَذَلِكَ لَمْ يَسْتَقِمْ لَكَ أَمْرُكَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا، فَإِنَّ رَعِيَّتَكَ إِنَّمَا تَعْقِدُ عَلَى مَحَبَّتِكَ بِالْكَفِّ عَنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ، وَتَرْكِ الْجَوْرِ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَيَدُومُ صَفَاءُ أَوْلِيَائِكَ بِالْإِفْضَالِ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَحُسْنِ الْعَطِيَّةِ لَهُمْ، وَاجْتَنِبِ الشُّحَّ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ أَوَّلُ مَا عَصَى الْإِنْسَانُ بِهِ رَبَّهُ، وَأَنَّ الْعَاصِيَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ خِزْيٍ، وَهُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ -: وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ. وَاجْعَلْ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ كُلِّهُمْ مِنْ نِيَّتِكَ حَظًّا وَنِصِيبًا، وَأَيْقِنْ أَنَّ الْجُودَ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ أَعْمَالِ الْعِبَادِ، فَاعْدُدْ لِنَفْسِكَ خُلُقًا، وَسَهِّلْ طَرِيقَ الْجُودِ بِالْحَقِّ، وَارْضَ بِهِ عَمَلًا وَمَذْهَبًا، وَتَفَقَّدْ أُمُورَ الْجُنْدِ فِي دَوَاوِينِهِمْ، وَمَكَاتِبِهِمْ، وَادْرُرْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَرْزَاقَهُمْ، وَوَسِّعْ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي مَعَايِشِهِمْ - يُذْهِبِ اللَّهُ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - بِذَلِكَ فَاقَتَهُمْ، فَيَقْوَى لَكَ أَمْرُهُمْ، وَتَزِيدُ بِهِ قُلُوبُهُمْ فِي طَاعَتِكَ فِي أَمْرِكَ خُلُوصًا وَانْشِرَاحًا. وَحَسْبُ ذِي السُّلْطَانِ مِنَ السَّعَادَةِ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى جُنْدِهِ وَرَعِيَّتِهِ رَحْمَةً فِي عَدْلِهِ، وَحِيطَتِهِ وَإِنْصَافِهِ، وَعِنَايَتِهِ وَشَفَقَتِهِ، وَبِرِّهِ وَتَوْسِيعِهِ، فَزَايِلْ مَكْرُوهَ إِحْدَى الْبَلِيَّتَيْنِ بِاسْتِشْعَارِ فَضِيلَةِ الْبَابِ الْآخَرِ، وَلُزُومِ الْعَمَلِ بِهِ - تَلْقَ - إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى - نَجَاحًا وَصَلَاحًا وَفَلَاحًا. وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْقَضَاءَ [ بِالْعَدْلِ ] مِنَ اللَّهِ - تَعَالَى - بِالْمَكَانِ الَّذِي لَيْسَ [ يُعْدَلُ ] بِهِ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ ; لِأَنَّهُ مِيزَانُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي يُعْدَلُ عَلَيْهِ أَحْوَالُ النَّاسِ فِي الْأَرْضِ، وَبِإِقَامَةِ الْعَدْلِ فِي الْقَضَاءِ، وَالْعَمَلِ - تَصْلُحُ أَحْوَالُ الرَّعِيَّةِ، وَتَأْمَنُ السُّبُلُ، وَيَنْتَصِفُ الْمَظْلُومُ، وَيَأْخُذُ النَّاسُ حُقُوقَهُمْ، وَتَحْسُنُ الْمَعِيشَةُ، وَيُؤَدَّى حَقُّ الطَّاعَةِ، وَيَرْزُقُ اللَّهُ الْعَافِيَةَ وَالسَّلَامَةَ، وَيَقُومُ الدِّينُ، وَتَجْرِي السُّنَنُ وَالشَّرَائِعُ عَلَى مَجَارِيهَا. وَاشْتَدَّ فِي أَمْرِ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَتَوَرَّعْ عَنِ النُّطَفِ، وَامْضِ لِإِقَامَةِ الْحُدُودِ، وَأَقْلِلِ الْعَجَلَةَ، وَابْعُدْ عَنِ الضَّجَرِ وَالْقَلَقِ، وَاقْنَعْ بِالْقَسْمِ، وَانْتَفِعْ بِتَجْرِبَتِكَ، وَانْتَبِهْ فِي صَمْتِكَ، وَاسْدُدْ فِي مَنْطِقِكَ، وَأَنْصِفِ الْخَصْمَ، وَقِفْ عِنْدَ الشُّبْهَةِ، وَأَبْلِغْ فِي الْحُجَّةِ، وَلَا يَأْخُذْكَ فِي أَحَدٍ مِنْ رَعِيَّتِكَ مُحَابَاةٌ وَلَا مُحَامَاةٌ، وَلَا لَوْمُ لَائِمٍ، وَتَثَبَّتْ، وَتَأَنَّ، وَرَاقِبْ، وَانْظُرِ ( الْحَقَّ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ )، فَتَدَبَّرْ، وَتَفَكَّرْ، وَاعْتَبِرْ، وَتَوَاضَعْ لِرَبِّكَ، وَارْؤُفْ بِجَمِيعِ الرَّعِيَّةِ، وَسَلِّطِ الْحَقَّ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ. وَلَا تُسْرِعَنَّ إِلَى سَفْكِ دَمٍ، فَإِنَّ الدِّمَاءَ مِنَ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - بِمَكَانٍ عَظِيمٍ، انْتِهَاكًا لَهَا بِغَيْرِ حَقِّهَا، وَانْظُرْ هَذَا الْخَرَاجَ الَّذِي اسْتَقَامَتْ عَلَيْهِ الرَّعِيَّةُ، وَجَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ لِلْإِسْلَامِ عِزًّا وَرِفْعَةً، وَلِأَهْلِهِ تَوْسِعَةً وَمَنْعَةً، وَلِعَدُوِّهِ وَعَدُوِّهِمْ كَبْتًا وَغَيْظًا، وَلِأَهْلِ الْكُفْرِ مِنْ مُعَانِدِيهِمْ ذُلًّا وَصَغَارًا - فَوَزِّعْهُ بَيْنَ أَصْحَابِكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَالْعَدْلِ، وَالتَّسْوِيَةِ وَالْعُمُومِ فِيهِ، وَلَا تَرْفَعَنَّ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا عَنْ شَرِيفٍ لِشَرَفِهِ، وَلَا عَنْ غَنِيٍّ لِغِنَاهُ، وَلَا عَنْ كَاتِبٍ، وَلَا عَنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ خَاصَّتِكَ وَحَاشِيَتِكَ، وَلَا تَأْخُذَنَّ مِنْهُ فَوْقَ الِاحْتِمَالِ لَهُ، وَلَا تُكَلِّفْ أَمْرًا فِيهِ شَطَطٌ، وَاحْمِلِ النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمْ عَلَى مُرِّ الْحَقِّ، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَجْمَعُ لِأُلْفَتِهِمْ، وَأَلْزَمُ لِرِضَاءِ الْعَامَّةِ. وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ جُعِلْتَ بِوِلَايَتِكَ خَازِنًا، وَحَافِظًا، وَرَاعِيًا، وَإِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ أَهْلُ عَمَلِكَ رَعِيَّتَكَ لِأَنَّكَ رَاعِيهِمْ وَقَيِّمُهُمْ، تَأْخُذُ مِنْهُمْ مَا أَعْطَوْكَ مِنْ عَفْوِهِمْ وَمَقْدِرَتِهِمْ، وَتُنْفِقُهُ فِي قِوَامِ أَمْرِهِمْ وَصَلَاحِهِمْ، وَتَقْوِيمِ أَوَدِهِمْ، فَاسْتَعْمِلْ عَلَيْهِمْ ذَوِي الرَّأْيِ وَالتَّدْبِيرِ، وَالتَّجْرِبَةِ وَالْخِبْرَةِ بِالْعَمَلِ، وَالْعِلْمِ بِالسِّيَاسَةِ وَالْعَفَافِ، وَوَسِّعْ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي الرِّزْقِ، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْحُقُوقِ اللَّازِمَةِ لَكَ فِيمَا تَقَلَّدْتَ وَأُسْنِدَ إِلَيْكَ، وَلَا يَشْغَلْكَ عَنْهُ شَاغِلٌ، وَلَا يَصْرِفْكَ عَنْهُ صَارِفٌ، فَإِنَّكَ مَتَى آثَرْتَهُ وَقُمْتَ فِيهِ بِالْوَاجِبِ، اسْتَدْعَيْتَ بِهِ زِيَادَةَ النِّعْمَةِ مِنْ رَبِّكَ، وَحُسْنَ الْأُحْدُوثَةِ فِي عَمَلِكَ، وَاحْتَرَزْتَ بِهِ الْمَحَبَّةَ مِنْ رَعِيَّتِكَ، وَأَعَنْتَ عَلَى الصَّلَاحِ، وَقُدِّرَتِ الْخَيْرَاتُ فِي بَلَدِكَ، وَفَشَتِ الْعِمَارَةُ بِنَاحِيَتِكَ، وَظَهَرَ الْخِصْبُ فِي كُوَرِكَ، وَكَثُرَ خَرَاجُكَ، وَتَوَفَّرَتْ أَكْوَارُكَ، وَقَوِيتَ بِذَلِكَ عَلَى ارْتِبَاطِ جُنْدِكَ، وَإِرْضَاءِ الْعَامَّةِ، بِإِفَاضَةِ الْعَطَاءِ فِيهِمْ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ، وَكُنْتَ مَحْمُودَ السِّيَاسَةِ، مَرْضِيَّ الْعَدْلِ فِي ذَلِكَ عِنْدَ عَدُوِّكَ، وَكُنْتَ فِي أُمُورِكَ كُلِّهَا ذَا عَدْلٍ، وَآلَةٍ، وَقُوَّةٍ، وَعُدَّةٍ، فَنَافِسْ فِي ذَلِكَ وَلَا تُقَدِّمْ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا تُحْمَدْ مَغَبَّةُ أَمْرِكَ - إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى -. وَاجْعَلْ فِي كُلِّ كُورَةٍ مِنْ عَمَلِكَ أَمِينًا يُخْبِرُكَ أَخْبَارَ عُمَّالِكَ، وَيَكْتُبُ إِلَيْكَ بِسِيرَتِهِمْ وَأَعْمَالِهِمْ، حَتَّى كَأَنَّكَ مَعَ كُلِّ عَامِلٍ فِي عَمَلِهِ مُعَايِنٌ لِأُمُورِهِ كُلِّهَا، فَإِنْ أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَأْمُرَهُمْ بِأَمْرٍ فَانْظُرْ فِي عَوَاقِبِ مَا أَرَدْتَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ السَّلَامَةَ فِيهِ وَالْعَافِيَةَ، وَرَجَوْتَ فِيهِ حُسْنَ الدِّفَاعِ وَالصُّنْعِ - فَأَمْضِهِ، وَإِلَّا فَتَوَقَّفْ عَنْهُ، وَرَاجِعْ أَهْلَ الْبَصَرِ وَالْعِلْمِ بِهِ، ثُمَّ خُذْ فِيهِ عُدَّتَهُ، فَإِنَّهُ رُبَّمَا نَظَرَ الرَّجُلُ فِي أَمْرٍ مِنْ أُمُورِهِ قَدْ وَاتَاهُ عَلَى مَا يَهْوَى، فَأَغْوَاهُ ذَلِكَ وَأَعْجَبَهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَنْظُرْ فِي عَوَاقِبِهِ أَهْلَكَهُ، وَنَقَضَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرَهُ، فَاسْتَعْمِلِ الْحَزْمَ فِي كُلِّ مَا أَرَدْتَ، وَبَاشِرْهُ بَعْدَ عَوْنِ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - بِالْقُوَّةِ، وَأَكْثِرِ اسْتِخَارَةَ رَبِّكَ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِكَ، وَافْرُغْ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَوْمِكَ، وَلَا تُؤَخِّرْهُ لِغَدِكَ، وَأَكْثِرْ مُبَاشَرَتَهُ بِنَفْسِكَ، فَإِنَم لِغَدٍ أُمُورًا وَحَوَادِثَ تُلْهِيكَ عَنْ عَمَلِ يَوْمِكَ الَّذِي أَخَّرْتَ. وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْيَوْمَ إِذَا مَضَى ذَهَبَ بِمَا فِيهِ، وَإِذَا أَخَّرْتَ عَمَلَهُ اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْكَ أُمُورُ يَوْمَيْنِ فَيَشْغَلُكَ ذَلِكَ، حَتَّى تُعْرِضَ عَنْهُ، وَإِذَا أَمْضَيْتَ لِكُلِّ يَوْمٍ عَمَلَهُ، أَرَحْتَ نَفْسَكَ وَبَدَنَكَ، وَأَحْكَمْتَ أُمُورَ سُلْطَانِكَ. وَانْظُرْ أَحْرَارَ النَّاسِ وَذَوِي السِّنِّ مِنْهُمْ مِمَّنْ تَسْتَيْقِنُ صَفَاءَ طَوِيَّتَهُمْ، وَشَهِدْتَ مَوَدَّتَهُمْ لَكَ، وَمُظَاهَرَتَهُمْ بِالنُّصْحِ وَالْمُخَالَصَةِ عَلَى أَمْرِكَ - فَاسْتَخْلِصْهُمْ وَأَحْسِنْ إِلَيْهِمْ. وَتَعَاهَدْ أَهْلَ الْبُيُوتَاتِ مِمَّنْ قَدْ دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْحَاجَةُ، فَاحْتَمِلْ مَئُونَتَهُمْ، وَأَصْلِحْ حَالَهُمْ حَتَّى لَا يَجِدُوا لِخَلَّتِهِمْ مَسًّا، وَأَفْرِدْ نَفْسَكَ بِالنَّظَرِ فِي أُمُورِ الْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ، وَمَنْ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى رَفْعِ مَظْلَمَةٍ إِلَيْكَ، وَالْمُحْتَقِرِ الَّذِي لَا عِلْمَ لَهُ بِطَلَبِ حَقِّهِ، فَسَلْ عَنْهُ أَحْفَى مَسْأَلَةٍ، وَوَكِّلْ بِأَمْثَالِهِ أَهْلَ الصَّلَاحِ مِنْ رَعِيَّتِكَ، وَمُرْهُمْ بِرَفْعِ حَوَائِجِهِمْ وَحَالَاتِهِمْ إِلَيْكَ لِتَنْظُرَ فِيهَا بِمَا يُصْلِحُ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَمْرَهُمْ. وَتَعَاهَدْ ذَوِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَأَيْتَامَهُمْ، وَأَرَامِلَهُمْ، وَاجْعَلْ لَهُمْ أَرْزَاقًا مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ اقْتِدَاءً بِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ - أَعَزَّهُ اللَّهُ - فِي الْعَطْفِ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَالصِّلَةِ لَهُمْ، لِيُصْلِحَ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ عَيْشَهُمْ، وَيَرْزُقَكَ بِهِ بَرَكَةً وَزِيَادَةً، وَأَجْرِ لِلْأَضْرَابِ مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ، وَقَدِّمْ حَمَلَةَ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْهُمْ، وَالْحَافِظِينَ لِأَكْثَرِهِ فِي الْجَرَائِدِ عَلَى غَيْرِهِمْ، وَانْصِبْ لِمَرْضَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ دُورًا تُؤْوِيهِمْ، وَقُوَّامًا يَرْفُقُونَ بِهِمْ، وَأَطِبَّاءَ يُعَالِجُونَ أَسْقَامَهُمْ، وَأَسْعِفْهُمْ بِشَهَوَاتِهِمْ مَا لَمْ يُؤَدِّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى سَرَفٍ فِي بَيْتِ الْمَالِ. وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ إِذَا أُعْطُوا حُقُوقَهُمْ وَأَفْضَلَ أَمَانِيهِمْ - لَمْ يُرْضِهِمْ ذَلِكَ، وَلَمْ تَطِبْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ دُونَ رَفْعِ حَوَائِجِهِمْ إِلَى وُلَاتِهِمْ، طَمَعًا فِي نَيْلِ الزِّيَادَةِ، وَفَضْلِ الرِّفْقِ مِنْهُمْ، وَرُبَّمَا تَبَرَّمَ الْمُتَصَفِّحُ لِأُمُورِ النَّاسِ لِكَثْرَةِ مَا يَرِدُ عَلَيْهِ، وَيَشْغَلُ فِكْرَهُ وَذِهْنَهُ مِنْهَا مَا يَنَالُهُ بِهِ مِنْ مَئُونَةٍ وَمَشَقَّةٍ، وَلَيْسَ مَنْ يَرْغَبُ فِي الْعَدْلِ، وَيَعْرِفُ مَحَاسِنَ أُمُورِهِ فِي الْعَاجِلِ وَفَضْلِ ثَوَابِ الْآجِلِ - كَالَّذِي يَسْتَثْقِلُ بِمَا يُقَرِّبُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ - تَعَالَى - وَيَلْتَمِسُ رَحْمَتَهُ. وَأَكْثِرِ الْإِذْنَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكَ، وَأَبْرِزْ لَهُمْ وَجْهَكَ، وَسَكِّنْ لَهُمْ حَوَاسَّكَ، وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمْ جَنَاحَكَ، وَأَظْهِرْ لَهُمْ بِشْرَكَ، وَلِنْ لَهُمْ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ وَالْمَنْطِقِ، وَاعْطِفْ عَلَيْهِمْ بِجُودِكَ وَفَضْلِكَ. وَإِذَا أَعْطَيْتَ فَأَعْطِ بِسَمَاحَةٍ وَطِيبِ نَفْسٍ، وَالْتِمَاسٍ لِلصَّنِيعَةِ وَالْأَجْرِ مِنْ غَيْرِ تَكْدِيرٍ وَلَا امْتِنَانٍ، فَإِنَّ الْعَطِيَّةَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ تِجَارَةٌ مُرْبِحَةٌ - إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى -. وَاعْتَبِرْ بِمَا تَرَى مِنْ أُمُورِ الدُّنْيَا، وَمَنْ مَضَى مِنْ أَهْلِ السُّلْطَانِ وَالرِّئَاسَةِ فِي الْقُرُونِ الْخَالِيَةِ، وَالْأُمَمِ الْبَائِدَةِ، ثُمَّ اعْتَصِمْ فِي أَحْوَالِكَ كُلِّهَا بِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ، وَالْوُقُوفِ عِنْدَ مَحَبَّتِهِ، وَالْعَمَلِ بِشَرِيعَتِهِ وَسُنَّتِهِ، وَإِقَامَةِ دِينِهِ، وَكِتَابِهِ، وَاجْتَنِبْ مَا فَارَقَ ذَلِكَ، وَخَالِفْ مَا دَعَا إِلَى سُخْطِ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ -. وَاعْرِفْ مَا يَجْمَعُ عُمَّالُكَ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ، وَيُنْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا، وَلَا تَجْمَعْ حَرَامًا، وَلَا تُنْفِقْ إِسْرَافًا. وَأَكْثِرْ مُجَالَسَةَ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَمُشَاوَرَتَهُمْ، وَمُخَالَطَتَهُمْ، وَلْيَكُنْ ( هَوَاكَ اتِّبَاعَ السُّنَنِ وَإِقَامَتَهَا، وَإِيثَارَ مَكَارِمِ الْأُمُورِ وَمَعَالِيهَا، وَلْيَكُنْ ) أَكْرَمُ دُخَلَائِكَ وَخَاصَّتِكَ عَلَيْكَ مَنْ إِذَا رَأَى عَيْبًا فِيكَ لَمْ تَمْنَعْهُ هَيْبَتُكَ مِنْ إِنْهَاءِ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْكَ فِي سِرِّكَ، وَإِعْلَامِكَ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ النَّقْصِ، فَإِنَّ أُولَئِكَ أَنْصَحُ أَوْلِيَائِكَ وَمُظَاهِرِيكَ، وَانْظُرْ عُمَّالَكَ الَّذِينَ بِحَضْرَتِكَ، وَكُتَّابَكَ، فَوَقِّتْ لِكُلِّ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَقْتًا يَدْخُلُ فِيهِ عَلَيْكَ بِكُتُبِهِ وَمُؤَامَرَتِهِ، وَمَا عِنْدَهُ مِنْ حَوَائِجِ عُمَّالِكَ، وَأُمُورِ كُوَرِكَ وَرَعِيَّتِكَ، ثُمَّ فَرِّغْ لِمَا يُورِدُهُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ سَمْعَكَ، وَبَصَرَكَ، وَفَهْمَكَ، وَعَقْلَكَ، وَكَرِّرِ النَّظَرَ فِيهِ وَالتَّدَبُّرَ لَهُ، فَمَا كَانَ مُوَافِقًا لِلْحَقِّ وَالْحَزْمِ فَأَمْضِهِ، وَاسْتَخِرِ اللَّهَ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - فِيهِ، وَمَا كَانَ مُخَالِفًا لِذَلِكَ فَاصْرِفْهُ إِلَى التَّثَبُّتِ فِيهِ وَالْمَسْأَلَةِ عَنْهُ. وَلَا تَمْتَنَّ عَلَى رَعِيَّتِكَ وَلَا غَيْرِهِمْ بِمَعْرُوفٍ تَأْتِيهِ إِلَيْهِمْ، وَلَا تَقْبَلْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا الْوَفَاءَ وَالِاسْتِقَامَةَ، وَالْعَوْنَ فِي أُمُورِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَلَا تَضَعَنَّ الْمَعْرُوفَ إِلَّا عَلَى ذَلِكَ، وَتَفَهَّمْ كِتَابِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَكْثِرِ النَّظَرَ فِيهِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ، وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمُورِكَ، وَاسْتَخِرْ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - مَعَ الصَّلَاحِ وَأَهْلِهِ، وَلْيَكُنْ أَعْظَمَ سِيرَتِكَ، وَأَفْضَلَ عَيْشِكَ مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - رِضًى، وَلِدِينِهِ نِظَامًا، وَلِأَهْلِهِ عِزًّا وَتَمْكِينًا، وَلِلذِّمَّةِ وَلِلْمِلَّةِ عَدْلًا وَصَلَاحًا، وَأَنَا أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُحْسِنَ عَوْنَكَ، وَتَوْفِيقَكَ، وَرُشْدَكَ، وَكَلَاءَتَكَ. وَالسَّلَامُ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى النَّاسُ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ تَنَازَعُوهُ، وَكَتَبُوهُ، وَشَاعَ أَمْرُهُ، وَبَلَغَ الْمَأْمُونَ خَبَرُهُ، فَدَعَا بِهِ فَقُرِئَ عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: مَا بَقَّى أَبُو الطَّيِّبِ - يَعْنِي طَاهِرًا - شَيْئًا مِنْ أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَالدِّينِ، ( وَالتَّدْبِيرِ، وَالرَّأْيِ )، وَالسِّيَاسَةِ، وَإِصْلَاحِ الْمُلْكِ وَالرَّعِيَّةِ، وَحِفْظِ السُّلْطَانِ وَطَاعَةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ، وَتَقْوِيمِ الْخِلَافَةِ - إِلَّا وَقَدْ أَحْكَمَهُ، وَأَوْصَى بِهِ. وَأَمَرَ الْمَأْمُونُ فَكُتِبَ بِهِ إِلَى جَمِيعِ الْعُمَّالِ فِي النَّوَاحِي، فَسَارَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ إِلَى عَمَلِهِ، فَاتَّبَعَ مَا أُمِرَ بِهِ وَعُهِدَ إِلَيْهِ، وَسَارَ بِسِيرَتِهِ.

Translation

✧ Then the year 206 AH commenced. Mention of ʿAbd Allāh b. Ṭāhir's governorship of al-Raqqah In this year, al-Maʾmūn appointed ʿAbd Allāh b. Ṭāhir as governor over the region from al-Raqqah to Miṣr (Egypt), and ordered him to wage war against Naṣr b. Shabath. The reason for that was that Yaḥyā b. Muʿādh, whom al-Maʾmūn had appointed over al-Jazīrah, died in this year, and he was succeeded by his son Aḥmad, who was of no account. So al-Maʾmūn appointed ʿAbd Allāh in his place. When he wished to invest him, he had him brought before him and said: "O ʿAbd Allāh, I have been seeking Allah's guidance (istikhārah), may He be exalted, for more than a month, and I hope that He has chosen well for me. I saw the man describing his son [to praise him] out of his own good opinion of him, yet I have seen you above what your father said of you. Yaḥyā has died and left his son as successor, but he is nothing. I have decided to appoint you over Miṣr and to fight Naṣr b. Shabath." He said: "Hearing and obedience, and I hope that Allah will grant the Commander of the Faithful and the Muslims the best choice." So he concluded the appointment for him. It was also said that his appointment was in the year 205 AH, and another report says 207 AH. When he set out, he appointed Isḥāq b. Ibrāhīm b. al-Ḥusayn b. Muṣʿab, his paternal cousin, as his deputy over the shurṭah (police). And when al-Maʾmūn appointed him, his father Ṭāhir wrote him a letter in which he gathered all that princes need of etiquette, governance, and other matters. I have recorded the best of it because of its cultivation of good manners and its encouragement of noble character and praiseworthy traits, for no one—whether king or commoner—can do without it. It reads: In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Now then: You must fear Allah alone, with no partner, and dread Him, and watch over yourself before Him, may He be mighty and glorious. Avoid His wrath and protect your subjects night and day. Cling to the well-being He has clothed you with by remembering your final return, and what you are heading to, and will be made to stand for, and will be questioned about. Act in all of that according to what Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, protects you with and saves you on the Day of Resurrection from His punishment and painful chastisement. For Allah, glorified and exalted, has been gracious to you, and made it obligatory for you to show mercy toward those of His servants whose affairs He has entrusted to you, and has bound you to show justice among them, to uphold His right and His limits among them, to defend them, to ward off harm from their sacred things and their community, to safeguard their blood, to secure their roads, to bring comfort to them, and He will hold you accountable for what He has imposed on you, will make you stand before Him for it, will question you about it, and will reward you for what you have done, both earlier and later. So devote your understanding, your intellect, and your reflection to this. Let nothing distract you from it, for it is the root of your authority, the cornerstone of your affair, and the first thing through which Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, grants you right guidance. Let the first thing you impose on yourself and attribute your deeds to be constant observance of the five prayers that Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, has made obligatory on you, and leading the people in them. Perform them at their times and according to their Sunan, with full ritual ablution for them, and with the opening remembrance of Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, in them. Recite with measured recitation, and be deliberate in your bowing, prostration, and testimony. Let your intention and purpose be sincere in them, and urge the same on all who are with you and under your authority. Persevere in them, for they are as Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, said: 'Indeed, prayer restrains from indecency and wrongdoing.' (Qurʾān 29:45). Then follow this with adherence to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, persisting in his way, and following the traces of the righteous predecessors after him. When a matter comes before you, seek help through seeking Allah's guidance, may He be mighty and glorious, and through fear of Him, and by adhering to what Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, revealed in His Book of command and prohibition, lawful and unlawful, and by completing what has come in the narrations from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Then act in it according to what is due to Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, from you. Do not weary of justice in what you love or hate, whether the person is near to people or distant. Prefer Islamic jurisprudence and its people, the religion and its bearers, and the Book of Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, and those who act by it. The best adornment for a man is knowledge of the religion, seeking it, urging others toward it, and knowing what brings one near to Allah, may He be mighty and glorious. For it is the guide to all good, its leader, its commander, and the forbidder of sins and all destructive things. With Allah's guidance, may He be mighty and glorious, the servant increases in knowledge of Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, and in reverence for Him, mindful of the highest ranks in the hereafter. And with its being shown to people comes respect for your authority, awe for your power, comfort with you, and confidence in your justice. Be moderate in all matters, for there is nothing more evident in benefit, more apt for security, or more comprehensive in virtue than it. Moderation calls to right guidance, right guidance points to divine help, and divine help leads to felicity. The support of the religion and the guiding Sunan lies in moderation. Prefer it in all your worldly affairs, and do not fall short in seeking the hereafter, the reward, righteous deeds, the known Sunan, and the signs of right guidance. There is no limit to seeking more in virtue and striving for it when the Face of Allah, may He be exalted, and His good pleasure and the companionship of His friends in the abode of His honor are sought by it. Know that moderation in worldly affairs begets honor and protects from sins. You will not protect yourself and those under your charge, nor set right your affairs, with anything better than it. So practice it and be guided by it, and your affairs will be completed, your power will increase, and your elite and common people will be set right. Think well of Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, and your subjects will remain upright for you. Seek nearness to Him in all matters, and He will perpetuate His favor upon you. Do not accuse anyone of the people whom you appoint to your work before you investigate his case, for casting accusations against the innocent and entertaining evil thoughts about them is a sin. So make it your way to think well of your companions, and drive away from yourself evil thoughts about them, and reject them. That will help you win them over and train them. Let the enemy of Allah, Satan, find no point of entry in your affair, for he is satisfied with only a little of your weakness, and he introduces into you such grief through evil thoughts as to spoil the pleasure of your life. Know that through good thoughts you will find strength and comfort, and by it you will attain what you love of sufficiency in your affairs, and you will call people to love you and uprightness in all matters for you. But do not let good thoughts about your companions and mercy toward your subjects prevent you from using questioning and investigation into your affairs. Let direct oversight of the affairs of your governors, care for the subjects, consideration of what uplifts and reforms them, attention to their needs, and bearing their burdens be more important to you than anything else. For that is more upright for the religion and more life-giving for the Sunnah. Make your intention sincere in all of this, and devote yourself to correcting your own soul as one who knows that he will be asked about what he has done, rewarded for what he has done well, and held to account for what he has done ill. For Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, has made the religion a protection and an honor, and has raised those who follow it and strengthened them. So lead those you govern and protect along the path of the religion and the way of guidance. Apply the limits of Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, to those who commit crimes according to their ranks and what they deserve. Do not neglect that, do not be lax in it, and do not postpone the punishment of those who deserve punishment. For in your negligence of that is what corrupts your good opinion of yourself. Resolve in that matter to follow the known Sunan, and avoid innovations and doubtful matters, so that your religion remains safe and your manly virtue stands firm. When you make a covenant, fulfill it. When you promise good, carry it out. Accept a good deed and requite it, overlook the fault of every faulty person among your subjects, restrain your tongue from lying and falsehood, hate the people of lying, and remove the people of slander. For the first corruption of your affairs, in their present and their future, is bringing near the liar and being bold toward lying, because lying is the head of all sins, and falsehood and slander are its seal. For the slanderer and his speaker are not safe, no companion is safe for him, and no affair is completed for the one who harbors him. Love the people of righteousness and truthfulness, help the nobles by the truth, console the weak, maintain kinship ties, and seek by that the Face of Allah, may He be exalted, and the support of His command, and seek His reward and the hereafter in it. Avoid evil desires and tyranny, turn your judgment away from them, show your innocence of that to your subjects, order their governance with justice, and uphold the truth among them, and the knowledge that leads you to the way of guidance. Control yourself in anger, prefer dignity and forbearance, and beware of sharpness, pessimism, and arrogance in the path you follow. Beware of saying: 'I am given absolute power; I may do what I wish,' for that quickly leads in you to deficiency of judgment and little certainty in Allah, may He be mighty and glorious. Make sincere to Allah alone, with no partner, your intention in it and your certainty in Him. Know that sovereignty belongs to Allah, glorified and exalted. He gives it to whom He wills and takes it from whom He wills. You will not find the change of favor and the descent of punishment to anyone swifter than to the bearers of favor among the people of authority and those given ample power in the state when they deny the favors of Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, and His goodness, and become arrogant in what Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, has given them of His bounty. Leave aside your own self, and let your stores and treasures that you store and hoard be virtue, piety, justice, the betterment of your subjects, the cultivation of their lands, care for their affairs, protection of their blood, and relief for their distressed. Know that wealth, when hoarded and stored in treasuries, does not grow. But when it is spent in the welfare of the subjects, in giving them their rights, and in lightening their burdens, it rises, purifies, grows, and through it the common people are set right, the province is adorned, the time becomes good, and dignity and protection are secured. So let the treasure of your treasuries be the distribution of wealth in cultivating Islam and its people, and set aside from it generously for the friends of the Commander of the Faithful, for that is their due. Give your subjects their shares from it, and attend to what sets right their affairs and their livelihoods. For if you do that, favor will settle upon you, you will deserve more from Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, and you will be more capable in collecting your land tax, gathering the wealth of your subjects, and your work. The whole people, because of the justice and goodness that includes them, will be more compliant to your obedience and more content with whatever you desire. Exert yourself in what I have laid down for you in this chapter, and let your good deed be great in it. Of wealth only that remains which is spent in the way of Allah. Acknowledge the gratitude of the thankful and reward them for it. Beware lest the world and its delusion make you forget the terror of the hereafter, so that you become lax in what is required of you. For laxity breeds negligence, and negligence breeds ruin. Let your work be for Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, and hope for reward in it. For Allah, glorified, has showered His favor upon you and poured out His bounty before you. Cling to gratitude and rely on it, and Allah will increase you in good and excellence. For Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, rewards the gratitude of the grateful and the way of the doers of good. Do not despise a debt, do not support an envious person, do not pity a wicked person, do not maintain ties with an ungrateful one, do not flatter an enemy, do not believe a slanderer, do not trust a traitor, do not befriend a corrupt person, do not follow a misguided one, do not praise a hypocrite, do not despise any human being, do not turn away a poor beggar, do not answer to falsehood, do not regard a jester, do not break a promise, do not fear wrongdoing, do not act foolishly, do not display anger, do not walk exultantly, do not be negligent in seeking the hereafter, do not push away days in reproach, do not close your eyes to an oppressor out of fear of him or favoritism toward him, and do not seek the reward of the hereafter in this world. Frequently consult the jurists, accustom yourself to forbearance, and learn from people of experience, intellect, judgment, and wisdom. Do not admit into your counsel the protected non-Muslims and sectarians, and do not listen to their words, for their harm is greater than their benefit. Nothing is swifter in corrupting what you undertake for the affairs of your subjects than avarice. Know that if you are greedy, you will take much and give little. And if you are like that, your affairs will rarely remain upright, for your subjects only bind themselves to love you when you refrain from their wealth and leave off tyranny against them. The sincerity of your friends endures through your generosity to them and good giving. Avoid avarice, and know that it is the first thing by which man disobeyed his Lord, and that the disobedient one is in a state of disgrace. It is the word of Allah, may He be mighty and glorious: 'And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul—it is those who will be the successful.' (Qurʾān 59:9). Make in your intention a share and portion for all the Muslims, and be certain that generosity is among the best deeds of the servants. So count it as a character trait for yourself, ease the path of generosity through the truth, be content with it as a practice and a way, and attend to the affairs of the soldiers in their registers and records. Give them their provisions regularly and be generous in their livelihoods, so that Allah, may He be mighty and glorious, may by that remove their poverty, their affairs may be strong for you, and their hearts may increase in sincerity and openness toward obedience to you in your affair. It is enough of felicity for a ruler that he be merciful to his soldiers and subjects in his justice, protection, fairness, care, compassion, kindness, and generosity. So remove the hardship of one of the two afflictions by adopting the virtue of the other and persisting in acting upon it. You will meet, if Allah wills, success, righteousness, and prosperity. Know that judgment with justice is from Allah, may He be exalted, in a place with which nothing else can be compared. For it is the balance of Allah by which the conditions of people on earth are weighed. Through the establishment of justice in judgment and action, the conditions of the subjects are set right, the roads are made safe, the wronged obtain redress, people receive their rights, livelihoods improve, the duty of obedience is fulfilled, Allah grants well-being and safety, the religion stands firm, and the Sunan and laws proceed in their courses. He was stern in the cause of Allah—Mighty and Majestic—and he abstained from doubtful matters, pursued the establishment of the prescribed penalties, showed little haste, kept away from irritation and anxiety, was content with his lot, benefited from his experience, was vigilant in his silence, was measured in his speech, treated the adversary fairly, halted at matters of doubt, exerted himself fully in argument, and did not let favoritism, partisanship, or the blame of any blamer affect him regarding anyone among his subjects. He acted with deliberation, patience, watchfulness, and examined the truth against himself, reflecting, pondering, drawing lessons, humbling himself before his Lord, being compassionate toward all his subjects, and subjecting himself to the truth. He did not hasten to shed blood, for blood is held in great regard by Allah—Mighty and Majestic—and violating it without right is grave. He looked after this land tax by which the subjects were set aright, which Allah made a source of honor and elevation for Islam, abundance and protection for its people, suppression and vexation for His enemy and theirs, and humiliation and degradation for the stubborn disbelievers among them. He distributed it among his followers with truth, justice, equality, and comprehensiveness. He did not exempt any nobleman on account of his nobility, any rich man on account of his wealth, any secretary, or any of his close associates and retinue. He did not take from it beyond what could be borne, nor did he impose any excessive burden. He carried all people upon the hard truth, for that was more conducive to their harmony and more binding for the satisfaction of the common people. Know that by your governorship you have been made a treasurer, a guardian, and a shepherd. The people of your jurisdiction are called your subjects only because you are their shepherd and their caretaker. You take from them what they give from their surplus and their capacity, and you spend it on the maintenance of their affairs, their welfare, and the rectification of their crookedness. Therefore, employ over them people of judgment and prudence, experience and expertise in work, knowledge of politics, and chastity. Be generous toward them in livelihood, for that is among the rights incumbent upon you in what you have undertaken and what has been entrusted to you. Let no distraction distract you from it, nor any diversion divert you from it. For whenever you give it priority and fulfill what is due in it, you invite thereby increase of blessing from your Lord, a good reputation in your work, the affection of your subjects, and you aid in rectitude. Good things will be apportioned in your land, cultivation will spread in your region, fertility will appear in your districts, your tax revenue will increase, your provinces will prosper, and by that you will be strengthened to bind your troops and to satisfy the common people by pouring out gifts among them from yourself. You will be praiseworthy in governance, pleasing in justice therein even to your enemy, and you will possess in all your affairs justice, means, strength, and readiness. So compete in that and put nothing before it, and the outcome of your affair will be praised—if Allah, Exalted, wills. Appoint in every district of your jurisdiction a trustworthy man who will inform you of the news of your governors and write to you of their conduct and their deeds, so that it is as if you are present with every governor in his work, witnessing all his affairs. If you wish to command them in any matter, look to the consequences of what you intend. If you see safety and well-being in it and hope for good defense and good result, then carry it out. Otherwise, refrain from it and consult people of insight and knowledge about it. Then take your preparation for it. For sometimes a man considers one of his affairs, and it happens to suit his desire, and that beguiles him and pleases him. But if he does not look to its consequences, it ruins him and overturns his affair. So employ resoluteness in everything you intend, and undertake it after the help of Allah—Mighty and Majestic—with strength. Seek your Lord's guidance abundantly in all your affairs. Complete the work of your day and do not postpone it to your tomorrow. Undertake it yourself as much as possible, for tomorrow has matters and events that will distract you from the work of your day that you postponed. Know that when a day passes, it departs with what it contained. If you postpone its work, the affairs of two days gather upon you and preoccupy you until you turn away from it. But if you carry out each day's work on its day, you give rest to your soul and your body, and you make firm the affairs of your authority. Look to the freeborn among people and those of age among them whose purity of conscience you are certain of and whose affection for you and their support of you with sincere counsel and loyalty in your affair you have witnessed. Single them out and treat them well. Take care of the people of noble houses who have fallen into need. Bear their expenses and set their condition right, so that they do not feel the touch of their poverty. Devote yourself personally to looking into the affairs of the poor, the destitute, those unable to bring a grievance to you, and the despised who do not know how to seek their right. Inquire about them with the most thorough inquiry. Entrust their likes to the righteous among your subjects, and command them to bring their needs and their situations to you so that you may look into them with what Allah sets their affairs aright. Take care of those in distress, their orphans, and their widows. Appoint for them stipends from the treasury, following the example of the Commander of the Faithful—may Allah strengthen him—in showing kindness to them and giving to them, so that Allah may thereby set their livelihood aright and grant you blessing and increase as provision. Grant pensions from the treasury to the disabled. Give priority in the registers to the bearers of the Qur'an among them and those who have memorized most of it over others. Establish for the sick among the Muslims houses that shelter them, attendants who treat them gently, and physicians who treat their ailments. Provide them with what they desire, as long as it does not lead to extravagance in the treasury. Know that when people are given their rights and the best of their hopes, that does not satisfy them, and their souls are not at ease until they raise their needs to their governors, out of desire for increase and for the extra kindness from them. Perhaps the one who examines people's affairs becomes weary because of the abundance of what comes to him, and what occupies his thought and his mind of the burdens and hardships he incurs. But the one who desires justice and knows the beauties of its affairs in this world and the excellence of its reward in the hereafter is not like the one who finds burdensome what draws him near to Allah—Exalted—and seeks His mercy. Be generous in granting permission for people to enter upon you. Show them your face, calm your senses for them, lower your wing to them, display cheerfulness to them, be gentle with them in questioning and speech, and show them affection with your generosity and your bounty. When you give, give with liberality and cheerfulness of soul, seeking good deeds and reward, without annoyance or reproach. For a gift given in that manner is a profitable trade—if Allah, Exalted, wills. Draw lessons from what you see of the affairs of this world and from those who have passed among the people of authority and leadership in bygone generations and extinct nations. Then hold fast in all your circumstances to the command of Allah, stopping at what He loves, acting according to His law and His Sunnah, establishing His religion and His Book. Avoid whatever departs from that, and oppose whatever calls to the wrath of Allah—Mighty and Majestic. Know what your governors collect of wealth and what they spend of it. Do not collect what is unlawful, and do not spend extravagantly. Sit frequently with the scholars, consult them, and mix with them. Let your desire be the following of the Sunnahs and their establishment, and the preference for noble and lofty matters. Let the most honored of your intimate companions and your close associates be the one who, if he sees a fault in you, is not prevented by awe of you from conveying it to you in private and from informing you of the deficiency in it. For such are the most sincere of your friends and your supporters. Look to your governors who are in your presence and your secretaries. Appoint for each one of them each day a time in which he enters upon you with his letters, his consultations, and whatever he has of the needs of your governors and the affairs of your districts and your subjects. Then devote to what he presents to you your hearing, your sight, your understanding, and your intellect. Repeat your examination of it and your reflection upon it. Whatever accords with truth and resoluteness, carry it out, seeking Allah's guidance—Mighty and Majestic—in it. Whatever opposes that, turn it toward verification and inquiry about it. Do not reproach your subjects or others for a kindness you do to them. Accept from any of them only faithfulness, uprightness, and support in the affairs of the Commander of the Faithful. Do not place kindness except upon that basis. Understand my letter to you, and examine it frequently and act upon it. Seek help from Allah in all your affairs and seek His guidance, for Allah—Mighty and Majestic—is with rectitude and its people. Let the greatest part of your conduct and the best part of your life be what brings Allah's—Mighty and Majestic—approval, order to His religion, honor and empowerment to its people, and justice and well-being to the protected peoples and to the community. I ask Allah to grant you excellent help, success, guidance, and protection. Peace. When people saw this letter, they competed over it, copied it, and its matter became widely known. Its news reached al-Ma'mun, and he called for it and had it read to him. He said: 'Abu al-Tayyib—meaning Tahir—has left nothing of the affairs of this world and religion, of management, of judgment, of politics, of the reform of the kingdom and the subjects, of the preservation of the sultanate, of obedience to the caliphs, and of the rectification of the caliphate, but he has made it firm and enjoined it.' Al-Ma'mun ordered that it be written and sent to all the governors in the provinces. 'Abd Allah proceeded to his post, followed what he had been commanded and entrusted with, and conducted himself according to its manner.

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