Letter 38
From the creature of Allah, Ali bin Abi
Taalib (a), to people whose anger and
enmity was on account of Allah, they got
angry when they saw that their land was
being run over by people disobedient to
Allah, when rights were being crushed and
obligations were being ignored and
spurned, when tyranny and oppression
were the order of the day and every
good or bad person and every local
resident or outsider had to face them,
when goodness and piety were taboos
and when nobody cared to keep himself
away from vices and sins.
creature of Allah who forsakes rest and
sleep during days of danger, who does not
fear his enemy in the critical junctures, and
who is more severe than burning fire to
sinners and vicious people. He is Maalik
bin Haarith Mazhiji (Mazhij is a sub-class of
Bani Nakha'a). Hear him and obey his
commands which you will find to be right
and according to true canons of Islam. He
is such a sword among the swords of
Allah that its sharpness will never get
blunt or whose stroke and blow will never
be without effect and who will never lose
an opportunity. If he orders you to
advance against your enemies, then
advance; if he commands you to halt then
halt because he himself will never advance
nor halt and will never give orders to
advance, halt or retreat without my
consent.
After glorifying Allah and paying homage
to the Holy Prophet (s) be it known to
you that I am sending towards you a
In sending him to you, I have given
preference to your needs over those of
mine so that he may serve you faithfully
A letter to the people of Egypt, telling
them about Maalik when Imam Ali (a)
appointed him as their Governor.
and may treat your enemies severely and
strongly.
10. Selective obedience to the choice of
Allah is a sign of Hypocrisy.
When Allah has chosen:
Islam as our religion
Quran as our Furqan
The Prophet (s.a.w.w) as the best among
men
Ahlul Bayt as our Ulul Amr
Then backing out of the covenant Muslims
have made with Allah will be saying “I will
obey Allah in some matters and not in
others” means that in reality that person
has rejected Allah, the Prophet (s.a.w.w)
and his Ahlul Bayt.
‘I will never break my covenant wi% y'’
Jud(s 2:1