JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE -IMAM ALI’S MESSAGE TO HUMANITY

Injustice: Root Cause of All Problems Including Violation of Human Rights: If asked to mention in one word the root cause of all evils and problems including poverty, ignorance and transgression and violation of Human Rights, one can confidently say that it is injustice – injustice indeed! Rulers and those managing democratic institutions, while being attentive to vox populi, must pay their whole-hearted attention to preservation and implementation of human rights, being the distinctive pillar of good and just governance sans any discrimination between „influential‟ and „non-influential‟ and between „known‟ and „unknown.‟ In his Instrument of Instruction, Holy Imam Ali (p.b.u.h) wrote to Malik Ashtar, Governor-designate to Egypt: Keep Allah in view in respect of the lowest class, consisting of those, who have little means, the poor, the destitute, the penniless and the disabled, because in this class are both, the discontented as well as those, who beg. Take care for the sake of Allah of His obligation about them for which he has made you responsible. Fix for them a share from the public funds and a share from the crops of lands, taken over as booty for Islam in every area, because in it the remote ones have the same share, as the near ones. All these are those, whose rights have been placed in your charge….. do not be unmindful of them, nor turn your face from them out of vanity…..You cannot be excused for ignoring small matters, because of your deciding big matters.