(a.s.) himself directly supervised the market and the quality of the transactions made there. He (a.s.) would go to the markets of Kufa every morning and, as the narrator expresses, ‘like a children’s teacher’, instruct the traders to observe piety and avoid shortchanging, defraud, lying, deceiving and oppressing the customers. The narrations that report this direct supervision are very interesting and instructive to read. The Imām (a.s.) would shout among the Muslims, enjoining them not to practice fraud and hoarding, to be fair and honest in offering the goods as they really were, not to pretend genuineness, to treat the customers in a well-disposed manner, not to humiliate the seller when they are buying goods and not to overestimate their own goods when selling them.
All of these admonitions, warnings and instructions of Imām (a.s.) that were given to the tradesmen in regards to the practice of honesty, justice, human disposition, dignity and magnanimity, are all worth paying attention.

6. Fair Levying of Taxes

Rulership according to Imām Ali (a.s.) is for the sake of people and the establishment of their rights. That is why a part of the government’s financial needs must be met by the people who benefit from the government, and are engaged in producing and trading under its protection. It is for such reasons that taxes are levied in all ruling systems, although by different methods of collection and inclusiveness. In the view point of Imām Ali (a.s.), while the levying of taxes and the government’s responsibility in receiving these taxes from people are stressed, the type of approach towards taxes, why they should be levied, how they must be collected are of particular importance. According to him, having trust in people, emphasis on not creating problems for them and also drawing people’s attention to the status of taxes are very important.
In an instructions to one of his administrators, Imām Ali (a.s.) states: “Never use the whip and never put the people under pressure for collecting taxes.” The administrator said, “In that case I will return the same way I had gone [to collect taxes], because the people

as among the main duties of the administrators and commissioned the troop commanders to defend the farmers’ rights.

3. Development of Crafts

Due to its regional conditions, the society in which Imām Ali (a.s.) had set up his government did not have the qualifications for the development of crafts and industry. However, according to traditions quoted from him, he (a.s.) placed great importance on crafts, using the term ‘treasures’ for such professions. Imām Ali (a.s.) enjoined his administrators to seriously support the artisans and he encouraged craftsmen to take utmost care regarding the production of well-made goods and never sacrifice a product’s quality’ for the sake of speed in its production.

4. Development of Trade

In early Islam and also during the time of the government of Imām Ali (a.s.) trade played the most important role in the society. As a result, from one side he would encourage the trade prosperity, and on the other side he would stress on supporting the merchants within the governmental structure. He would also explain how to practice trade, how merchants were to deal in transactions, and in what manner trading had to be performed.

5. Direct Supervision of the Market

The market presents the outcomes of the economic endeavors of a society. Transactions take place in the marketplace, and the businessmen are somehow directly associated with people. The well-being of the market would not only lead to healthy transactions, but also to people’s proper use of the process of economic struggles and endeavor for daily sustenance. Without doubt, the first loss due to abnormality of improper relations in market transactions would be primarily sustained by the people.
Due to the importance of the market and its great impact on the economical situation of the people and their livelihood, Imām Ali