Dealing with the Umara (the nobles)

Source: Ain-al-Hayat, By: Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi
It is said about the justice and tyranny of kings that the welfare of the subjects of a kingdom depends much upon the fairness of its ruler. Therefore, The Prophet of Allah (S) has said, “My Ummat depends for its prosperity on two types of persons: the first the Fuqha (the jurists) and the second, the nobles.”
Also the Prophet (S) said: On the Day of Reckoning the Hell will address three categories of people:
1. The Umara (the nobles)
2. The Quraa (the reciters) and
3. The Aghnia (the rich).
It will tell to the Umra that Allah had given them the authority and you abused it for perpetrating tyranny on the hapless people. Now you have to pay for your deeds.
The Hell will tell the Quraa that to make a show of their prowess and to acquire false fame they were reciting the Qur’an and involved themselves in disobedience of Allah. Now they would have to taste the Hellfire.
The Hell will address the Aghnia that Allah had blessed them with wealth and they didn’t spend it in any way to please Allah. How will they now bear the retribution.
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen Amir al Mu’mineen (as) said that obedience of a tyrannical and cruel ruler is a major sin. Obeying the Ulu al Amr who are the Infallible Imams is the bounden duty of the believers. Disobedience of these Imams is a major sin. These Imams are Infallible and Allah is Just that He doesn’t Ordain obedience of fallible rulers.
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) also said: Allah will send His Retribution to six types of persons for their foul traits:
On the Arabs for their bigotry.
The rich for their pride and conceit.
On the nobles and kings for their tyranny.
On the jurists and scholars for their jealousies.
On the traders for their unfair business practices.
On the rustics for their ignorance.
It is narrated from the Prophet of Islam (S) that there is a mill in the Hell that rotates perpetually. People asked him, “Ya Imam! What does this mill grind?” The Prophet (S) replied: It will grind the sinful scholar (Ulema), sinning reciters, tyrannical kings, untrustworthy viziers and dissimulating courtiers.
The Prophet of Islam (S) said: I curse seven types of persons. All the prophets (as) who came prior to me have also d’Isapproved of such persons. These persons are:
One who adds or removes anything from the Book of Allah.
One who denies the Divine Decree (Qaza wa Qadr) and doesn’t believe in the fate Decreed by Allah.
One who acts against my Sunna and creates hypocricy (Bidaa) in Religion.
One who usurps the rights of my Ahl-ul-Bayt. Allah has termed such usurpation Haram.
One who imposes himself forcibly on the people and gives honor to those who have been disgraced by Allah and disgraces those who have been honored by Allah.
One who imposes himself on the material assets of the Muslims and considers himself the sole owner of everything.
One who decrees haram that which has been termed Halal by Allah.
It is authentically narrated from Imam Ar-Ridha’ (as), “When the persons at the helm of affairs start lying and give partial and unjust decisions, then it stops raining from the skies. When the kings are tyrannical and unjust, their realms become weak. When people stop paying Zakat, the cattle start dying!”

Behavior of People In Power
It is narrated that Ziyad Qandi came to the presence of Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as). The Imam (as) asked him, “O ziyad! Are you the chief appointed by those tyrannical caliphs?” Ziyad replied, “O son of the Prophet (S)! No doubt I am the chief. But I am considerate! I am not one of those who hoard riches. Whatever I get, I share with the deserving Mu’mins. I treat them equitably!”
The Imam (as) said, “If you do this, then it is very good. Remember! When your conscience takes you towards unjust acts, and you have control over the conscience, then remember Allah’s Rights. One who wreaks tyranny on people, Allah will wreak Retribution on him! When other people give you trouble, the trouble passes by! But when you unjustly terrorise others, the punishment will await for you!”
It is narrated from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that when Allah gives a kingdom to someone, he fixes the days, nights, months and years for which the realm would last. If the ruler is just, Allah orders the angel incharge of keeping the time for the epoch of the king to prolong it. Then the days, nights, months and years of the realm are revised upwards. When a king is unjust and cruel to his subjects, then Allah orders the angel to shorten his realm.
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) told to Naufil Bakali, “O Naufil! Listen and act on my advice! Never accept chieftaincy, commission for collecting taxes and the position of a proclaimer (Naqeeb).”
One person came to Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) and said, “Ya Imam! I have been the chief over the people from the times of Hajjaj till now. Will my repentence be accepted by Allah?” The Imam (as) kept quiet and did not reply. The man repeated his question. Now the Imam (as) replied, “Your penitence will not be acceptable till you restore the right of every person you have wronged!”
It is narrated from the Prophet of Islam (S) that one had been unjust to someone and wishes to make amends, but the person is not traceable.In this event the repentent person should pray for the Deliverance of the wronged person and this way his sin might be pardoned.”
The Prophet (S) then added, “The first to enter the Hell will be the chief who was unjust. The second person will be the rich man who did not distribute Allah’s Right from his wealth. The third person will be the beggar who was proud of his penury.”
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) told to one chieftain, “Abstain from tyranny and injkustice! The suppreed overcomes the pangs of tyranny, but the tyrant faces Retribution for the tyranny for ever.”
The Imam (as) further added: On the Day of Judgement three persons will be the dearest to Allah:
One who is not unjust to a persaon even in a state of acute anger.
One who is an arbiter in some matter and doesn’t take sides unjustly.
One who tells the truth even at the risk of harm to his own person.
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) said, “One must be scared of doing an injustice to a person who has no helper in the world except Allah.”
The Imam (as) further added, “The cruel person doesn’t usurp as much value by usurping anything from the weakling than what the weak person takes away from the tyrants faith!”
“And when a person does wrong to anyone, he infact wrongs himself because, as you sow, so shall you reap!”