Adhering To Sureties

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Adhere to sureties [that you are liable for] in all firmness.

Imam Ali (AS) said, in his epistle to Mālik al-Ashtar: ‘And if you make a covenant between yourself and your enemy or give him a surety [against life or property], then stand by your pact with loyalty and observe your liability with trustworthiness. Make yourself the shield for your word, for there is nothing from Allahs mandates that all people agree upon, despite their diverse opinions on everything else, as much as they do with regards to respecting the fulfilment of covenants.

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘It is up to my community to protect those who are under them [i.e. non-Muslims living in Muslim lands][ This refers to the free non-Muslim subjects living in Muslim lands who, in return for paying the capital tax, enjoyed protection and safety therein (ed.)].

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The Muslims are brothers, their blood is co-equal, those under them strive to secure their protection, and they are like one hand against their enemy.