Virtues Required By Rules, Governments and Managers According to the Holy Qur’an and Nahjul-Balaghah

By: Ali Abedi

Translated by: FatemehKhazaii

According to the Quranic teachings and the words of the Infallible, responsibilities are divine trusts; hence it is necessary for the one who is entrusted with responsibilities to possess the needed abilities, righteousness and the required trustworthiness for the proper fulfillment of the responsibilities he takes on. This very significant matter has particularly been cited in Verse 58 of Chapter 4(Al-Nisa), Verse 39 of Chapter 16(Al-Nahl), Verse 26 of Chapter (Al-Qisas), and Verse 55 of Chapter 12 (Yusif).

According to the certain researches conducted by a number of Islamic scholars in recent years, the Holy Qur’an regards 10 conditions as the required qualifications and virtues for those entrusted with the tasks of governing and management-related works:

1-    Creativity and innovation (referred to in 29 verses of the Holy Qur’an).

2-    Avoidance of wastefulness (referred to in 5 Versus of the Holy Qur’an).

3-    Patience and tolerance (referred to in 28 verses of the Holy Qur’an).

4-    4- Being just and fair in passing judgments (referred to in 5 verses of the Holy Qur’an).

5-    Bravery (referred to in 11 verses of the Holy Qur’an).    

6-    Being forgiving (referred to in 8 verses of the Holy Qur’an). 

7-    Being Perseverant (referred to in 5 verses of the Holy Qur’an).

8-    Being God-fearing (referred to in 7 verses of the Holy Qur’an).

9-    Being compassionate and tender (referred to in 5 verses of the Holy Qur’an).

10-                 Being cooperative and helpful (referred to in 3 verses of the Holy Qur’an).

Likewise, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS) has repeatedly and on numerous occasions advised his men to regard the tasks they are charged with as trusts. In a letter addressed to a governor (appointed by His Holiness during his Caliphate), the Imam(AS) advised him thus: “Governorship rule is not a prey for you, rather it is a responsibility put upon your shoulders and you are required to do your best to fulfill it properly and guard it as a trust.”   
Likewise, Imam Ali (AS) in a letter to Malik-e-Ashtar has presented a perfect account of required qualifications for those entrusted with positions:…. “Look for virtuous and experienced persons from pious and pioneering in Islam, for such persons are the most moral and trust-worthy and far-sighted of people…..”