Nahj al-Balāgha

ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى الأشعث بن قيس (عامل أذربيجان)

To al-Ash‘ath ibn Qays (al-Kindī), the Governor of Āzarbāyjān

وَإِنَّ عَمَلَكَ لَيْسَ لَكَ بِطُعْمَة، وَلكِنَّهُ فِي عُنُقِكَ أَمَانةٌ، وَأَنْتَ مُسْتَرْعىً لِمَنْ فَوْقَكَ، لَيْسَ لَكَ أَنْ تَفتَاتَ فِي رَعِيَّة، وَلَا تُخَاطِرَ إِلَّا بِوَثِيقَة، وَفي يَدَيْكَ مَالٌ مِنْ مَالِ اللهِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ، وَأَنْتَ مِنْ خُزَّانِهِ حَتَّى تُسَلِّمَهُ إِلَيَّ، وَلَعَلِّي أَلَّا أَكُونَ شَرَّ وُلَاتِكَ لَكَ، وَالسَّلَامُ.

Certainly, your assignment [1] 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 ruled, nor to risk yourself save on strong grounds. You have in your hands the funds which are the property of Allāh, to Whom belongs 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 that is an end to the matter.