Rights of People in the Conduct of Imam Ali (AS): The Path to God Runs Through the Rights of the People

Why did Imam Ali (AS) refuse even his brother's request for a larger share of the public treasury, and consider taking the trifling right of an ant an act of disobedience to God? A review of Alawite conduct shows that respecting the rights of people, opposing discrimination, and restoring usurped rights were fundamental principles of justice in Imam Ali's government.

Why did Amir al-Mu'minin (a.s.) even stand against his brother's request to receive a larger share from Bait al-Mal and considered taking the meager right of an ant as disobedience to God? The analysis of Alavi way of life shows that respecting human rights, confronting discrimination and restoring violated rights were among the fundamental principles of justice in Imam Ali's (a.s.) rule.

According to the Missionary Thought and Culture Base, the biography of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (AS) shows that religiosity is not only limited to individual worship, but respecting people's rights, avoiding discrimination, and restoring the rights of the oppressed are also among the most important criteria of servitude. A criterion that, in Imam's view, even kinship and social status cannot influence it.

Amirul Momineen (AS) said in a speech: "God has put the rights of his servants before his own rights." (Gharr al-Hakm, vol. 1, p. 480)

This statement clarifies the special position of people's rights in the path of slavery. Based on this, respecting the rights of others is not against worship, but an inseparable part of it and a measure to measure the sincerity of a person in religion. We cannot talk about being close to God, but he was indifferent to people's rights.

A sin that remains without compensation

In the teachings of Amirul Momineen (AS), oppression is divided into three categories: oppression that cannot be forgiven, oppression that can be forgiven, and oppression that God will not let go of. Shirk is in the first category, human sins against themselves are in the second category, and the oppression of servants against each other is in the third category; Because it involves the rights of others and its handling has a special accounting.

In the 176th sermon of Nahj al-Balagha, Imam Ali (a.s.) emphasized that oppression of others is not something that can be easily ignored. In this view, repentance and asking for forgiveness is associated with responsibility when a person also takes action to compensate for the right he has lost.

Illegal property does not become halal with the passage of time

At the beginning of his rule, Amirul Momineen (AS) took a firm position regarding the lands that were previously given to individuals as public property and emphasized on restoring public rights.

In the 15th sermon of Nahj al-Balagha, they say that even if they have married with those properties or bought female slaves, they will return them to Bait al-Mal; Because according to the Imam, the real opening and liberation depends on the establishment of justice.

This approach shows that the passage of time, transformation of property or use of illegitimate property does not destroy the right taken from others. Justice in the Alevi way of life is defined by the restoration of violated rights; The principle which is also emphasized in letter 41 of Nahj al-Balagha in the context of dealing with treason in public property.

In Alevi justice, kinship is not a privilege

The story of Aqeel, the needy brother of Imam Ali (AS), is a clear example of his adherence to justice. When Aqeel asked for a larger share of the treasury, Imam melted an iron and brought it close to him to show the severity of God's punishment. Then they said: "You complain about the fire that a human kindled for fun, and I should not be afraid of the fire that God Almighty has kindled?" (Nahj al-Balagha, sermon 224)

This approach shows that in the eyes of Amir al-Mu'minin (a.s.), family relationship and closeness to the ruler cannot be a license to unfairly benefit from public property. Justice means when the law and the right are implemented equally for relatives and others.

Even taking the right of an ant is not acceptable

Imam Ali's emphasis on respecting rights is not limited to human relations and public property. In sermon 224 of Nahj al-Balagha, they swear that if they were given the seven climates and everything under the heavens to disobey God by taking the skin of an ant from an ant's mouth, they would not accept such a thing.

This speech provides a clear picture of Imam's sensitivity towards the smallest example of oppression. When the violation of the right of an ant is not acceptable in their eyes, respecting the financial, dignified and social rights of humans becomes doubly important.

The biography of Amir al-Mu'minin (a.s.) is a reminder of the fact that people's rights are not protected by claims and slogans; Rather, it requires fairness, responsibility and compensation. Therefore, every person can start by reviewing his behavior and decisions from this question: what right do I have from others and what action have I taken to compensate for it?

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