be pleased with him—and asked, “O ʿAlī, why have the people turned against you when they never turned against Abū Bakr and ʿUmar?”

ʿAlī replied, “The men who stood behind Abū Bakr and ʿUmar were men like me, whereas my men are the likes of you—people in whom there is no good.” This became the cause for the masses to overpower, split, and rise up against ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, until they finally killed him—may Allah be pleased with him.

It is also related that one of the Umayyad kings—most likely ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān—heard what the people were saying about him. He gathered the nobles and dignitaries and addressed them: “O people, do you want us to be for you as Abū Bakr and ʿUmar were?”

They replied, “Yes!” He said, “Then be for us as the men of Abū Bakr and ʿUmar were!” Allah, the All-Wise, appoints over people rulers who match their deeds: when they act wickedly, they receive wicked treatment; when they act righteously, they are treated righteously.

Yet there is no doubt that the righteousness of the shepherd—that is, the ruler—is the cornerstone. When the shepherd is upright, affairs are set aright, for he has authority to administer wealth justly and to discipline anyone who behaves arrogantly or wrongfully. Allah is the One who grants success.

53 – From Abū Ibrāhīm ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Awfā, may Allah be pleased with both of them: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, on one of the days when he met the enemy, waited until the sun had begun to decline. He then stood among the people and said, “O people, do not wish to meet the enemy, and ask….”