Covenant of Imam Ali to Malik Al Ashtar

Imam Ali (a) wrote the letter to Malik al-Ashtar when he had appointed him as the ruler of Egypt and its surrounding areas. It is mostly concerned with how the government should treat Muslim and non-Muslim citizens and its duties concerning the development of the society.Here are some subject-matters Imam Ali (a) wrote about to Malik al-Ashtar as the ruler of Egypt: Justice and fairness Satisfaction of people Not peering into, instead covering, people's weaknesses Having a good opinion of people Taking intellectuals—men of intelligence and foresight—as counsellors for issues concerning the administration of cities Considering different classes of jobs and occupations in the community, and observing the rights of each class Attributes of a judge Attributes of officials and governmental agents Giving priority to the development of farms and lands, instead of taxes Conditions of scribes Good treatment of businessmen and artisans Being careful about the poor Causing no discomfort for peop