|
The United Nations
has advised Arab countries to take Imam Ali bin Abi Talib
(AS) as an example in establishing a regime based on
justice and democracy and encouraging knowledge.
The UNDP in its
2002 Arab Human Development
Report, distributed around the world, listed
six sayings of Imam Ali (AS) about ideal governance.
They include
consultation between the ruler and the ruled, speaking
out against corruption and other wrong doings, ensuring
justice to all, and achieving domestic development.
The UNDP said most
regional countries are still far behind other nations in
democracy, wide political representation, women's
participation, development and knowledge.
Imam Ali bin
Abi Talib (AS)'s sayings:
The UNDP quoted the
following
sayings of Imam Ali (AS)
in its 2002 Arab Human Development Report:
1. "He
who has appointed himself an Imam (ruler) of the people
must begin by teaching himself before teaching others.
His teaching of others must be first by setting an
example rather than with his words, for he who begins by
teaching and educating himself is more worthy of respect
than he who teaches and educates others."
2. "Your concern with developing
the land should be greater than your concern for
collecting taxes, for the latter can only be obtained by
developing; whereas he who seeks revenue without
development destroys the country and the people."
3. "Seek the company of the
learned and the wise in search of solving the problems
of your country and the righteousness of your people."
4. "No good can come out in
keeping silent to the government or in speaking out of
ignorance."
5. "The righteous are men of
virtue, whose logic is straightforward, whose dress is
unostentatious, whose path is modest, whose actions are
many and who are undeterred by difficulties."
6. "Choose the best among your
people to administer justice among them. Choose someone
who does not easily give up, who is unruffled by
enmities, someone who will not persist in wrong doings,
who will not hesitate to pursue right once he knows it,
someone whose heart knows no greed, who will not be
satisfied with a minimum of explanation without seeking
the maximum of understanding, who will be the most
steadfast when doubt is cast, who will be the least
impatient in correcting the opponent, the most patient
in pursuing the truth, the most stern in meting out
judgment, someone who is unaffected by flattery and not
swayed by temptation and these are but few." |
