Peak of Eloquence Nahjul Balagha By Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib - English Translation - Letter 5

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To al-Ash`ath ibn Qays (al-Kindi), Governor of Azerbaijan

Certainly, your assignment is not a morsel for you, but it is a trust round your neck, and you have been charged with the protection (of the people) on behalf of your superiors. It is not for you to be oppressive towards the subjects, nor to put your life at risk save on strong grounds. You have in your hands the funds which are the property of Allah to Whom belong Might and Majesty, and you hold its charge till you pass it on to me. Probably I will not be one of the bad rulers for you, and this is the end of the matter.

When Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (x) was through with the Battle of

Jamal, he wrote to al-Ash`ath ibn Qays (al-Kindi), who had been the Governor of Azerbaijan since the days of Othman, to send the revenue and levies of his province to him [in Kufa]. But since al-Ash’ath had fears about the future of his status and assignment, he intended to pocket all this money like other officers appointed by Othman. Therefore, as soon as this letter reached him, he sent for his chief associates. Having mentioned this letter to them, he said the following: “I fear that this money will be taken away from me; I, therefore, intend to join Mu`awiyah.” It was then that those people said that it was a matter of shame to leave the kith and kin and to seek refuge with Mu`awiyah. Consequently, on the advice of those people, he postponed the implementation of his idea to run away, but he did not agree to part with the money. On getting this information, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (x) sent Hijr ibn Adiy al-Kindi to bring the man

to him to Kufa. He persuaded him and brought him to Kufa. On reaching there, his kit was found to contain four hundred thousand Dirhams out of which Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (x) left thirty thousand for the man and deposited the rest in the public treasury.