Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

61 6 Governors at the time of 'Ali ibn Abi Tilib
provinces and those who are scattered in other areas of the province.
You should be aware that many of them are stingy and miserly, and
that they may resort to hoarding what people need and trying to
control the prices. That is harmful to the public, and it is something
shameful for the province to allow. So prevent boarding, for the
Messenger of Allah (g) forbade it. Transactions should be done on a
tolerant and easy-going basis, on the basis of fairness and on the basis
of prices that are not unfair to either party. Whoever engages in
boarding after yon have forbidden it, punish him, but without going
to extremes."308
We may note from the words of Amir al-Mu'mineen 'Ali (&)
that the merchant class is one of the most important sectors of society.
Hence he advised his governors to pay attention to them by creating a
department to take care of this sector and supervise their work, so that
they would not behave in a negative manner, such as being stingy or
hoarding and the like. Craftsmen are subject to the same problems as
merchants, so it is essential that there should be a department to take
care of them and help them to do their
Another of these sectors, or levels, of society are the people
who pay the land tax; they are the ones who work the land by
fanning, tilling and digging wells. They need attention and the
formation of committees to be in charge of them and to solve the
problems they are facing, because this is the way to develop and
invest in the land.
Another level is the dhimmis who live and work in the Islamic
state. It is essential for the state to monitor their affairs through a
department that looks after their economic and social affairs.310
Then there is the last level, that of the poor and needy,
including those who are in severe poverty and the chronically ill.
This level includes both the beggar and the one who does not ask, as
well as orphaned families and the elderly who have no means of