122 chapter three
of God’s obligations, the protection of human rights without dis-
tinction of religion or community, the care of the destitute and the
poor, the provision of succor to the low and the down-trodden, the
establishment of peace and security, and the prosperity and well
being of the people.
There were four main issues in his general guidance: the moral
issue, justice, peace and security, and economic prosperity. To Caliph
Ali, it was important that the four issues were to be integrated
together to achieve general prosperity in the community.
Structure of society
After laying down the general objective of governorship, the caliph
went on to furnish more details. He went on to divide the com-
munity into seven sectors: the army, judges, executive officers and
clerks, cultivators, traders, industrialists and the poor, the destitute,
the penniless and the disabled. He emphasised, however, that all sec-
tors are dependent on each other.
The army and the subjects
“The army is the fortress of the subjects and the means of peace,
without which the subjects cannot exist, while the army can only
be maintained by the funds fixed by God in the revenues of the
subjects”.
Judges
“These (the above) two classes cannot exist without the judges, the
executives and the secretaries who pass judgments about contracts,
collect revenues and are depended upon in special and general
matters”.
Trade and industry
“These (above) classes cannot exist except with traders and men of
industry, who provide necessities for them, establish the markets and
make it possible for others not to do all this with their own hands”.
The poor and needy
“The lowest economic class in society is the class of the needy and
the destitute the support and help of whom is an obligation laid
down by God”.