Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

622 Governors at the time of 'Ali ibn Abi Trjlib
happening; keeping away from them creates a banier that may make
them have no idea of what they are deprived of. A prominent man
may become insignificant in their eyes, and an insignificant man may
become prominent; what is had may become good and vice versa;
and trnth will be mixed with falsehood."328 This is the hann of
administrative procedures and strict adherence to them; matters
become ensnared in longer chains of procedures as they move from
one official to another and to a third and fourth and fifth, until they
reach the ordinsuy people. This procedural chain that is occurring
away from the direct supervision of the leader may tum things upside
down; thus what is minor becomes major, what is trne becomes false,
what is good becomes bad and what is had becomes good, as Amir
al-Mu'mineen (&) said. This is the problem with bureaucratic
,.
systems, because they rely on chains of people through which
administrative matters go one after another, and the people get
diverted from their goals. The remedy offered by Amir al-
Mu'mineen 'Ali (&) is not to create barriers between an official and
the people working under him, because doing that causes him to
change his decisions or to implement them in a very bad way that is
contrruy to the good that he was aiming for.
The mission or role of the leader is not limited to meeting with
the people nnder him; rather he should provide a secure environment
that enables the people nnder him to discuss their problems in a safe
ahnosphere and without any fear. The aim is not to have pointless
meetings; it is essential to create a suitable atmosphere for these
meetings so that they are useful. 'Ali (4) said concerning that:
"Allocate some of your time for those who need something from you,
and sit with them in a public gathering. Show humility towards AUah
Who created yon, and keep away from that gathering your soldiers,
helpers, bodyguards and police, so that they may be able to speak to
you without stumbling over their He sent a letter to his