The Shariah, in the eyes of the rulers, has become like an abandoned well or a ruined city. Islamic governments have been unable to garner fruit from the branch of the Shariah. When punishing crimes, there is not a single ruler from the Islamic realm who, in enforcing the law, keeps in mind the edicts of the Shariah. Rather, when they are exhorted to follow this path, they become angry and do not fear the wrath of the Majestic God. They cut off the noses and gouge out the eyes; burn and drown at even the smallest of the crimes. And still they do not seek the truth and follow mere suspicions. They slaughter many out of fury, but in comparison reward few. They put people to death at the merest slight, even the poorest of people. When they suspect someone of dishonesty, there is no other punishment for him except bloodshed and death. They cause grief to innocent people and do not fear God and the day when calamity shall descend. They do not consider justice when meting out punishment; and do not incline towards love and kindness when they are waging war. They are not even aware of the prerequisites of being rulers and politicians, nor have they been granted any share of wisdom. They claim to be Muslims, but their actions are contrary to the commandments of Islam, and they fear not. They continue to follow habits that are contrary to righteousness and piety. They do not care about fasting nor come near the Salat. They do not tread the path of justice when witnessing people’s weaknesses. They do not take necessary measures when vices are widespread, and they put their trust in diabolical courtiers. Most of them waste the money of their subjects on their own pleasures. They acquire this wealth unjustly and then spend it on sinful endeavours. They do not care about righteous endeavours and lean towards extravagance. You will find them frequenting places of useless entertainment, rather than sitting on the throne of justice. Undoubtedly, the sins of kings are the kings of evil, for their effect reaches the weak, the orphans, and righteous men and women. Many noble people who rejected these kings, were consigned to obscurity due to injustice and were humiliated after having been honoured. You will see that such kings make it hard for the subjects to meet them, keeping them away by employing guards. Many fawners try to find a way to become the courtiers of these rulers, and present themselves for service claiming that they have full evidence and have fully investigated matters. Whereas, all the while their intention is to usurp the rights of the poor among the subjects. They concoct deceit and stitch together a pack of lies. Then they annihilate the poor and weak people and cause pain to those who are already in anguish. The kings take wives upon wives, but do not give them their due rights, and slaughter them like sheep. They do not even look at their kingdom, as to how it has fallen into ruin and chaos, nor on the abject condition of their subjects, and how their affairs have fallen into disarray. Nor do they look at their military as to how pitiful a condition it is in, nor even at their horses as to how they are ignored and put down. They do not forego even a penny from the tax levied on their subjects, even if their subjects have suffered from the loss of livestock through heavenly or earthly calamities and their farms have been ruined. Even if due to drought a famine rages through the country, causing the people to grow thin from hunger, the fodder to all but disappear and the food to grow scarce, they will continue to demand tribute from their subjects on pain of punishment. They do not care in the least as to whether their subjects live or die, or are even forced to migrate from one country to another due to the harsh conditions or whether, despite their debilitation, they wander about with their children asking for alms and do not even own a speck and have no means to acquire anything, not even having such provisions as to last them through harsh times. Famine, hunger that assails them like a ferocious tiger, lack of arable land, and the total ban on the purchase of property by the authorities has annihilated them. The calamity has become so severe that women suffer miscarriages, children cry and bawl but get no food. But, despite all this, the king’s soldiers are always on the lookout to collect tribute from them, and treat them severely. They shackle them and ask:
“Where are you running to while you still owe this much in tribute?” They cry and wish that death could bring an end to their life. But the rulers do not give ear to any of their supplications, no matter how much they grovel. This is the life of their subjects, while they themselves sit happily on thrones. They drink and dance and frolic with young wenches. They commit adultery at night and perpetrate injustice during the day. And if anyone from the calamity stricken people comes to them, they abuse him and shove him away. And when the stories of these tribulations are related before them with due respect, they turn away mutely and do not even answer. They do not give heed to any of their statements, nor care for their beseeching and the calamities that have befallen them. Thus, injustice is continuing to grow, and people are being hunted down. So much so that the populace is being wiped out and cities lie in ruins. And these are the people who claim that they are the monarchs of the Muslims; and I do not speak to you about other peoples. O Divine Decree! We call upon Thee, how far are Ye from these affluent men! The common populace takes great pains in tilling the earth and making it fit for cultivation, and when it has been prepared for cultivation, their rulers levy taxes upon them, even though they themselves are not adequately discharging the duties of government. We know that subjects pay tribute to their rulers so that they can provide them protection and succour. But when the condition of guardianship, succour and support are not being met, then they lose this right. In other words, the subjects are no longer true subjects of that government. The tax that is levied on farmers, in that case, is no longer a tax, but a tribute that is enforced upon the conquered. In short, they take their tribute whether or not it rains on the farmers’ fields, and this is their ‘justice’. Therefore, observe and wonder! Similarly, they have other traits that cannot be detailed here, nor are their wounds such as can be cured. Their nights are filled with wine and music, and their days are spent playing backgammon games and gambling. On top of this, every one of them desires that people should be overawed by him and that he should be seen to be victorious in the field of battle. You will find them lusting after the sensual objects of this world and its pleasures, and engrossed in its vain pursuits and ignorance. They do not give up their goblets of wine, nor the filth of their cronies. They cannot bear to hear even a single word of advice or exhortation; they are hindered by their honour and flare up with anger and indignation. The most honourable to them is the one who portrays them and their condition in the most beguiling terms and praises their actions. They ascend the throne at a young age, when they have just passed adolescence, so their sensual desires and their cronies pull them towards the paths of destruction. They do not know how to solve people’s problems and manage their affairs; nor are they aware of the thoughts and hidden condition of their people; nor are they granted the wisdom through which they could act with balance, justice and moderation—hence, they indulge in excess and their worldly treasures and reserves of wealth become a trial for them. And if they are afflicted by sorrow, they are unable to act with patience and perseverance. Often they are propelled towards death and destruction with their own two feet, such that God’s wrath befalls them and they meet their own downfall. They are never satisfied with the wise who strengthen the affairs of their government; rather, they keep mean people as secret friends like a man who takes secret mistresses. Hence, their end is suicide, insanity or humiliation and death. They have not been granted true wisdom or a nature like those of sages.
You are aware that for one to be a great leader it is necessary that he be granted deep wisdom and such intellect that he is able to reach the root of the most intricate matters; and that he should possess many talents; and that he should be granted such insight as encompasses every high and low matter. It is also necessary that he should be able to discern the intent of the speaker and have the capacity to distinguish between the true and false petitioners; and that he should have such deep insight as to be virtually aware of the secrets of the hearts, or that he should be skilled at figuring out these hidden secrets. It is also essential for a leader to be able to tell the difference between swelling and corpulence; and that he should be able to fathom the intricacies of political affairs; and that his opinion should have greater weight than the opinions of all the members of his cabinet. He should have an awe-inspiring and commanding presence, and he should be able to enforce his commands by a mere flick of a finger. Furthermore, he should have the ability to fulfil his responsibilities in a disciplined and confident manner; and he should discharge his duties with thought and consideration and have the firm resolve to do this with true insight; and in traversing serpentine paths he should have the light of ingrained wisdom; and when treading dangerous paths he should have his plans set out to the last detail. But how can they attain such a status when they do not fear God, the Knower of the Unseen, nor do they speak with a smiling face, rather their brows are ever furrowed and their tongues sharp. This is why they remain oblivious to the hidden conditions of common people. They do not have the ability to judge the character of people, like one measures weights on a scale. Hence, they show wrath towards one who deserves mercy, and show mercy to the satanic. They breathe fire on those who deserve compassion and bestow gold upon the unworthy. Their hearts battle against God and their sins please the devils. Those who are employed to teach them manners and etiquette in childhood exhort them to drink and listen to music and to hold drinking parties on mountain tops. They find excuses to engage in such frivolities, such as when the morning breeze is blowing or when rain is falling. They begin by drinking a little but then increase it and make it a habit; such are the practices in which they are brought up. In drinking parties, they ask for more, and run about to satisfy their sensual desires. Thus, they blacken the record of their deeds even before attaining puberty or acquiring facial hair. Day by day they grow more set in these habits. They pay no heed to reproach or damnation, and think that wine will strengthen their bodies and awaken their carnal desires. Their inner Satan makes them lust after sinful women, and they imagine that wine will alleviate the burden of their grief and cast away the mantle of their pains. They say that wine refreshes the heart and dispels weakness and exhaustion. And after they have drunk, they spend the day blabbering senselessly. If any of their companions or helpers do not drink, they present to him the goblet with their own hands and insist that he drink; so, out of necessity, he drinks whatever is presented to him. But he then gets addicted and drinks wine every night until he falls down like a locust. They dedicate their days to dressing and beautification, and their nights are for drinking. On some nights prostitutes also visit them. These women are then honoured and presented with goblets of night wine. They consume goblet upon goblet and are never away from wine. They laugh and celebrate, and their talk revolves around praising their means of entertainment and all kinds of pleasure. Often, they start discussing which is the finest of wines and every so often speak in praise of singing girls. While one says that he has sworn to marry a certain woman of ill repute, another says that if he were to succeed in this it would be like capturing a bright star.