Conditions of Imama and Qualities of the Imam

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘One who appoints himself as a leader of the people must first begin by educating himself before educating others; he must discipline through his own behaviour, before disciplining with his tongue.

Imam Ali said, ‘None can uphold the command of Allah, Glory be to Him, save one who is neither neglectful [in carrying out his duties], nor runs after his personal gains, nor follows coveted desires.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘You certainly know that he who is in charge of the honor, the lives, the booty [enforcement of], the commandments and the leadership of the Muslims must not be: a miser, as he would avidly crave their wealth, nor an ignorant man as he would then mislead them with his ignorance, nor crude in his manner for he would estrange them with his crudeness, nor one who deals unjustly with different places thus preferring one group over another, nor one to accept bribes in his ruling lest he forfeit peoples rights and pass judgments without them, nor one to abolish recommended practices whereby he would ruin the community.

Imam al-?asan (AS), in his letter to the inhabitants of Kufa said, ‘By my life, an Imam is only one who rules by the Book, a maintainer of justice, bound to the right religion, who controls himself for the sake of Allah.

Imam al-Ridha (AS), describing an Imam, said, ‘Thoroughly proficient with leadership and well-versed in politics.