- If the vizier asks a favor, the Sultan must not hesitate to grant it; nor should he deprive him of three privileges: whenever the vizier wishes to see the ruler, he must not be barred from an audience; the Sultan must not lend an ear to any mischief-maker who maligns him; and he must conceal nothing of his own secrets from him. For a righteous vizier is the guardian of the Sultan’s confidences, the steward of the realm’s affairs, the builder of provinces and treasuries, the ornament of the kingdom, the source of its awe and power. Through him all public business is voiced and replies are heard; by him the king rejoices and his enemies are subdued. Of all people he is the one most deserving to be heeded, exalted in rank, and held in utmost esteem.
Luqman said to his son, “Honor your vizier, for if he sees you bent on something impermissible he will not concur with you in it.”
The vizier himself should incline toward good in every affair and guard against evil. If his Sultan is sound in faith and compassionate toward his subjects, the vizier must assist him in that and urge him to increase it. But if the Sultan is quick-tempered or lacking in statesmanship, the vizier should guide him, little by little and with the gentlest approach, toward the praiseworthy path.
He must realize that the endurance of kingship rests upon the vizier, just as the stability of the world rests upon the king. He should devote his concern to nothing but the good and remember that he is the very first person upon whom the Sultan relies.
Bahram Gur was asked, “How many companions does a king need for his sovereignty to be complete and his dominion perfected in happiness?” He replied, “Six: a righteous vizier to whom he may reveal his secrets, with whom he may deliberate, and by whom his affairs are managed; a noble steed to carry him to safety when flight is required; a keen sword and stout armor; abundant wealth that is light to carry yet heavy in value, such as jewels, pearls, and rubies; a beautiful wife to gladden his heart and dispel his sorrows; and a skilled cook who, whatever provisions he receives, prepares them with finesse.”
Wisdom: Azdashir said, “A king must seek four persons, and when he finds them he should cling to them: a trustworthy vizier, a learned scribe, and a compassionate chamberlain. When the scribe is learned, it points to the king’s intelligence and sobriety; when the chamberlain is compassionate, it indicates…"