Ashburn , US
29-03-2024 |20 Ramaḍān 1445 AH

The Chief

Description: The Prophet (S) said, 'The chief of a people should serve them.’

رسولُ اللّٰهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): سَيِّدُ القَومِ خادِمُهُم.

Reference: [Kanz al-’Ummal, no. 17517]

Description: Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) when asked by his father about what chiefdom involves, replied, '[The ability] To make one's tribe flourish, and [the capacity] to bear the burden of their crimes.’

الإمامُ الحسينُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ـ لَمّا سَألَهُ أبوهُ عنِ السُّؤدُدِ ـ: إحشاشُ العَشِيرَةِ ، واحتِمالُ الجَرِيرَةِ.

Reference: [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 72, p. 194, no. 14]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, 'Chiefdom is achieved through tolerating hardships.

الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): بِاحتِمالِ المُؤَنِ يَجِبُ السُّؤدُدُ.

Reference: ’[Nahjul Balaghah, Saying 224]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, 'The truly noble one is he who has been ennobled by his knowledge, and true chiefdom belongs to he who is wary of his duty to Allah, his Lord.

الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الشَّريفُ كُلُّ الشَّريفِ مَن شَرَّفَهُ عِلمُهُ ، والسُّؤدُدُ حَقُّ السُّؤدُدِ لِمَنِ اتَّقي اللّه‏َ رَبَّهُ.

Reference: ’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 82, no. 82]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ' The virtue characteristic of chiefs is the beauty of their worship.

الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): فَضيلَةُ السادَةِ حُسنُ العِبادَةِ .

Reference: ’[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6559]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, 'There are four virtues that qualify a man for chiefdom: chastity, courtesy, magnanimity and intelligence.’

الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أربَعُ خِصالٍ يَسُودُ بِها المَرءُ: العِفَّةُ ، والأدَبُ ، والجُودُ ، والعَقلُ .

Reference: [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 1, p. 94, no. 23]

Description: Imam al-Hasan (a.s.) said, 'The greatest characteristic of chiefdom is giving before one is asked.’

الإمامُ الحسنُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الإعطاءُ قَبلَ السُّؤالِ مِن أكبَرِ السُّؤدُدِ

Reference: [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 113, no. 7]

Description: Imam Ali (a.s.) said, 'Engaging in disputes with the lower classes is a source of disgrace for chiefs.’

الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مُنازَعَةُ السُّفَّلِ تَشِينُ السّادَةَ.

Reference: [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9813]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, 'The person guilty of petty sins should not be coveting chiefdom, and neither should the inexperienced person who proudly holds his own opinion be coveting leadership.’

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): لا يَطمَعَنَّ... المُعاقِبُ علي الذَنبِ الصغيرِ في السُّؤدُدِ ، ولا القَليلُ التَّجرِبَةِ المُعجَبُ بِرَأيِهِ في رئاسَةٍ.

Reference: [al-Khisal, p. 434, no. 20]

Description: Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, 'A fool can never be chief.’

الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): لا يَسودُ سَفِيهٌ.

Reference: [al-Khisal, p. 271, no. 10]