Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

614 Governors at the time of 'Ali ibn Abi Trilib
judgement on individuals. One of the roles of this department is to
keep a watchful eye on merchants and tradesmen, so as to prevent
them from hoarding and causing harm to the people. In his letter to
al-Ashtar, Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali (&) indicated that the
governments of the Rightly Guided Caliphs had always been directly
concerned with the people's affairs; they monitored their situation
and tried to find out about any shortcomings at both the individual
and group level. This is a Qur'anic principle which Allah (B) stated
on the lips of the prophet Snlaymh (@): (He inspected the birds,
and said: 'What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he
among the absentees? I will surely punish hi with a severe torment
or slaughter him, unless he brings me a clear reason.') (Qur'an 27: 20-
21) Just as Sulaymh (,@) checked on the birds, the caliphs were
required to pay attention to every individual and to show care to each
one, especially the weak. No doubt the leadership requires
committees, institutions and departments so that it will be able to
cany out this great task. Snlaymzn (m) was concerned with
following up on the troops and tradesmen, especially if he was
suspicious about their situation, so when he did not see the hoopoe,
he hastened to ask: "What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe?"
Meaning, "Is he absent?" It is as if he was asking whether what he
thought was correct.305 Tben he said: "Or is he among the
absentees?" This second question was asked in a more stem tone,
after be asked the first question in a gentle m,anner. Sulaymh (@)
wanted it to be understood that be was asking about one who was
absent, not only out of compassion, but also out of strictness if his
absence was not due to an excuse.306 The era of the Rightly Guided
Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them) represented a practical
implementation of the Qur'anic concepts. Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali
(&) highlighted the importance of the Muslim state's security
apparatus, which sought to gather news and information so that it
could be employed in the senrice of the religion, spreading sublime