ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى العمال الذين يطأ الجيش عملهم

To the officers through whose jurisdiction the army passed

مِنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَى مَنْ مَرَّ بِهِ الْجَيْشُ مِنْ جُبَاةِ الْخَرَاجِ وَعُمَّالِ الْبِلَادِ.

From the servant of Allāh ‘Alī, Amīr al-mu’minīn to all the collectors of revenue and officers of the realm through whose area the army passes.

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي قَدْ سَيَّرْتُ جُنُوداً هِيَ مَارَّةٌ بِكُمْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ، وَقَدْ أَوْصَيْتُهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ لِلَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كَفِّ الْأَذَى، وَصَرْفِ الشَّذَا، وَأَنَا أَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكُمْ وَإِلَى ذِمَّتِكُمْ مِنْ مَعَرَّةِ الْجَيْشِ، إِلَّا مِنْ جَوْعَةِ الْمُضْطَرِّ، لَا يَجِدُ عَنْهَا مَذْهَباً إلَى شِبَعِهِ. فَنَكِّلُوا مَنْ تَنَاوَلَ مِنْهُمْ شَيْئاً ظُلْماً عَنْ ظُلْمِهِمْ، وَكُفُّوا أَيْدِيَ سُفَهَائِكُمْ عَنْ مُضَادَّتِهِمْ [مُضَارَّتِهِمْ]، وَالتَّعَرُّضِ لَهُمْ فِيمَا اسْتَثْنَيْنَاهُ مِنْهُمْ.

Now, I have sent an army that will pass by you, if Allāh wills. I have instructed them about what Allāh has made obligatory on them, namely that they should avoid molestation and avert harm. I hold myself clear before you and those (unbelievers) who are under your protection from any annoyance committed by the army except when one is compelled by hunger and there is no other way of satisfying it. If anyone of them takes anything through force you should punish him. None of you should be foolish enough to obstruct them or intervene in matters which we have allowed them by way of exception.

وَأَنَا بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِ الْجَيْشِ، فَارْفَعُوا إِلَيَّ مَظَالِمَكُمْ، وَمَا عَرَاكُمْ مِمَّا يَغْلِبُكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ، وَ[مَا] لَا تُطِيقُونَ دَفْعَهُ إِلَّا بِاللهِ وَبِي،فَأَنَا أُغَيِّرْهُ بِمَعُونَةِ اللهِ، إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ.

I am myself within the army. So, refer to me their high-handedness and any hardship which is caused by them and which you cannot avert except through Allāh and through me. I shall then avert it with the help of Allāh, if He so wills.

Extrait d’une lettre aux préfets des régions par où passe l’armée

Du serviteur de Dieu ‘Ali, Prince des Croyants, aux préposés du tribut foncier et aux préfets des régions par où passe l’armée.

J’ai envoye des troupes qui passeront par vos régions, si Dieu le veut Je leur ai recommandé d’éviter d’y faire des torts et d’y commettre des exactions, ce qui fait partie de leurs devoirs. Je vous déclare responsables consciencieusement de tout tort fait par les troupes, sauf en cas de faim atroce qui les poussent à se rassasier. ...

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #60