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LETTER 20

To Ziyad ibn Abih (son of his [unknown] father) when 'Abdullah ibn al-'Abbas was the Governor of Basrah the suburbs of Ahwaz Fars and Kirman while Ziyad was his deputy in Basrah.

I truthfully swear by Allah that if I come to know that you have misappropriated the funds of the Muslims small or big I shall inflict upon you such punishment which will leave you empty handed heavy backed and humiliated; and that is an end to the matter.

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LETTER 21

Also to Ziyad

Give up lavishness and be moderate. Every day remember the coming day. Hold back from the funds what you need and send forward the balance for the day of your need.

Do you expect that Allah may give you the reward of the humble while you yourself remain vain in His view? And do you covet that He may give you the reward of those practising charity while you enjoy comforts and deny them to the weak and the widows? Certainly a man is awarded according as he acts and meets what he has sent forward; and that is an end to the matter.


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[ 20 ] ومن كتاب له عليه السلام

إلى زياد بن أبيه وهو خليفة عامله عبدالله بن العباس على البصرة، وعبد الله عامل أميرالمؤمنين عليه السلام يومئذ عليها وعلى كور الأهواز (1) وفارس وكرمان و غيرها:

وَإِنِّي أُقْسِمُ بِاللهِ قَسَماً صَادِقاً، لَئِنْ بَلَغَني أَنَّكَ خُنْتَ مِنْ فَيْءِ (2) الْمُسْلِمِينَ شَيْئاً صَغِيراً أَوْ كَبِيراً، لَأَََشُدَّنَّ عَلَيْكَ شَدَّةً تَدَعُكَ قَلِيلَ الْوَفْرِ (3) ، ثَقِيلَ الظَّهْرِ (4) ، ضَئِيلَ الْأَمْرِ (5) ، وَالسَّلاَمُ.

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[ 21 ] ومن كتاب له عليه السلام

إلي زياد أيضاً

فَدَعِ الْإِسْرَافَ مُقْتَصِداً، وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْيَوْمِ غَداً، وَأَمْسِكْ مِنَ الْمَالِ بِقَدْرِ ضَرُورَتِكَ، وَقَدِّمِ الْفَضْلَ (1) لِيَوْمِ حَاجَتِكَ.

أَتَرْجُوا أَنْ يُعْطِيَكَ اللهُ أَجْرَ الْمُتَوَاضِعِينَ وَأَنْتَ عِنْدَهُ مِنَ الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ! وَتَطْمَعُ ـ وَأَنْتَ مُتَمَرِّغٌ فِي النَّعِيمِ (2) ، تَمْنَعُهُ الضَّعِيفَ والْأََرْمَلَةَ ـ أَنْ يُوجِبَ لَكَ ثَوَابَ الْمتَصَدِّقِينَ؟ وَإِنَّمَا الْمَرْءُ مَجْزِيٌ بَمَا أَسْلَفَ (3) ، وَقَادِمٌ عَلَى مَا قَدَّمَ، وَالسَّلاَمُ.