598. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Oppression causes the steps to stumble, brings about an end to blessings and destroys nations.”1
599. Imām Ali (a.s.): “Tyranny ruins power.”2
600. Imām Ali (a.s.): “He who does not secure the rights of an oppressed from the oppressor, God will dispossess his power.”3
10/2 – 2
Unlawful Bloodshed
601. Imām Ali (a.s.) – in his instructions to Mālik al-Ashtar: “Beware of blood and spilling it unlawfully, for nothing is more deserving of vengeance, greater in its consequence or more likely to (bring about) a cessation of blessing and the cutting off of (one's appointed) term than shedding blood unjustly. God, the Glorified, on the Day of Resurrection will begin judgment among His servants over the blood they have shed.
So never strengthen your rule by shedding unlawful blood, for that is among the factors which weaken and enfeeble it, nay, and rather overthrow and transfer it. You have no excuse before God and before me for deliberate killing, for in that there is bodily [talion] retaliation. If you are stricken by error and your whip, your sword or your hand should exceed their bounds in punishment – harmed anyone by mistake – never let the arrogance of your authority prevent you from paying the relatives of the killed their rightfully due.”4
602. Imām Ali (a.s.): “The survivors of the sword5 are larger in number and more in descendants.”6
1.. Ibid, h. ۱۷۳۴.
2.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۸۶۵, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۵۱, h. ۱۳۱۹.
3.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۸۹۶۶, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۴۲۸, h. ۷۲۶۱.
4.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Letter ۵۳, Tuhaf al-`Uqul, p. ۱۴۶.
5.. God will not let their blood be wasted and will increase the number of those who remain after them..
6.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Aphorism ۸۴, `Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā`iz, p. ۱۹۶, h. ۴۰۰۴.
