Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

602 Governors at the time of 'Ali ibn Abi Tcilib
~uha~rah.~~~ 'Ali (&,) threw the door wide open for any complaints
against any of his governors, and if he heard a complaint about any of
them, he would say: "0 Allah, I did not instruct them to wrong any of
Your creation or to neglect Your rights."271 He detained one of his
governors and disciplined him and heat him with a stick after he
heard complaints about him and the accusations were proven."2
Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali (&) was always advising his
governors. When he appointed Qays ihn Sa'd him as governor of
Egypt, he told him: "Go there, and take people whom you tmst and
love to accompany you. Take troops with you until you get there,
because that will he more frightening to yonr enemies and more
encouraging to your followers. When you get there inshallah, he kind
to those who do good, and he harsh towards those who do evil. Be
kind to the common folk and prominent people alike, for kindness is
a
Another example of his advice to Qays ibn Sa'd
appears in one of his letters, where he said: "Collect yonr tax on the
basis of tmth, treat your troops kindly and fairly and teach those who
are around you of that which Allah has taught Some of the
letters that were sent to various regions appointing governors
included advice and instmctions, such as the letter that 'Ali (&) sent
to Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr concerning the governorship of Egypt,
which he read out to the people. It contained some advice to the
public and to the governor hirn~elf.2~~
There was frequent communication between 'Ali (&) and his
governors, whether it took the form of written or verbal messages or
of direct commnnication, which took place primarily when the
governors came to Kufah to meet Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali or when
they joined him in fighting the Kharijites and others. There is no
report to suggest that Amir al-Mn'mineen went for hajj and met his
governors during the pilgrimage while he was the caliph, as was the
way of the previous caliphs; rather he would send one of those whom