Path of Eloquence: Nahjul-Balāgha, Volume Three

“This is what Allāh’s servant Ali ibn Abū Tālib has ordered Mālik ibn al-Hārith al-Ashtar in his instrument (of appointment) for him when he made him governor of Egypt for the collection of its revenues, fighting its enemies, seeking the good of its people and making its cities prosperous.
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“He has ordered him to fear Allāh, to prefer obedience to Him and to follow what He has commanded in His Book (Holy Qur’ān) out of His obligatory and elective commands, without following which one cannot achieve virtue, nor (can one) be evil, save by opposing them and ignoring them, and to support the cause of Allāh, the most Glorified One, with his heart, hand and tongue. This is so because Allāh, Whose name is Sublime, takes the responsibility for supporting those who support Him, for protecting those who help His cause.
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“He also orders him to break his heart off from passions and to restrain it at the time of their increase because the heart leads towards evil unless Allāh has mercy.”