M6:4256 — بر عسس کرده ملک تهدید و بیم / که چرا باشید بر دزدان رحیم

Translation: The ruler threatened and warned the night watchman / Saying, "Why are you merciful towards thieves?" Meaning: This verse refers to a decisive command from a ruler, reprimanding the night watchmen for being lenient and compassionate towards thieves, urging them to be resolute in upholding justice.

Here, in this verse, I discern a pivotal point that stems from a profound understanding of justice and social responsibility. This is not merely a dry governmental decree but rather articulates a fundamental philosophy. The ruler threatens the night watchman, questioning why he shows mercy to thieves. This "mercy," at first glance, might appear virtuous. However, Mawlana, and before him, great religious figures, invite us to a deeper contemplation. As stated in Imam Ali's letter to Malik Ashtar, the primary responsibility of a ruler is to protect the interests of the 'āmmeh (the general public), not the khawāṣṣ (the elite or special few). Undue compassion for the khawāṣṣ (in this context, the thieves) is, in essence, an act of cruelty towards the common people who suffer from their thefts. This principle, in fact, reflects a foundational moral and governmental axiom: misplaced and blind mercy towards a wrongdoer is precisely oppression against the innocent. It's akin to the well-known example of the "stung finger," which Mawlana himself references multiple times: if a finger is stung and poison spreads, if that finger is not cut off or lanced, the entire body will perish. Here, the thief is analogous to that stung finger. If mercy is shown to him, the poison of theft and insecurity will spread throughout the body of society, causing widespread suffering. From Mawlana's perspective, this ruling is not just about maintaining order but is an "asl-i dīn" (a principle of religion) that directly relates to self-knowledge and understanding the truths of existence. If we do not understand the truth of "justice," we cannot distinguish between true mercy and false compassion. True mercy is that which brings about the good for the "majority," even if it entails hardship for the "minority." Furthermore, in this narrative, the roots of corruption are also critiqued. The ruler asks the watchman: "Why do you believe their charms? / Or why do you accept gold from them?" This indicates that even in those times, administrative decay and corruption, through bribery and deception, hindered the execution of justice. Therefore, the ruler is not merely addressing the punishment of thieves but also pointing to the roots of corruption within his own apparatus. Thus, this verse is not merely the story of a thief and a watchman; it is a profound lesson in the philosophy of governance, social justice, and the distinction between genuine mercy and misguided compassion.

Key takeaways

• Misplaced mercy towards a criminal is actual cruelty to the public.
• A ruler's duty is to protect the general public's interests, even if it displeases certain elites.
• Corruption (like bribery and deception) is a root cause of judicial failure.
• Sacrificing the part (the individual offender) for the whole (societal security) is a moral and governmental principle.
• Justice and social order do not tolerate blind compassion.