The world relies on four types of men, and upon their righteousness and uprightness depends the righteousness and stability of the world:
The First: A righteous, ascetic, and detached worshipper who possesses complete knowledge of Allah the Almighty and a penetrating insight into religion.
The Second: A scholar of Islamic jurisprudence (Sharia) who is firmly rooted in the knowledge of the Book (the Quran) and the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition). He acts upon his knowledge, teaches and advises people, enjoins good and forbids evil, does not compromise in religion, and does not fear the blame of any critic for the sake of Allah.
The Third: A just and equitable ruler, who possesses a good character, a righteous inner self, and an upright political leadership.
The Fourth: A righteous wealthy person, who possesses broad and lawfully earned wealth that he spends on various charitable causes. He supports the weak and the poor with it, and fulfills the needs of the needy. He neither withheld wealth nor accumulated it except for this purpose and for similar acts of goodness and nobility.
Corresponding to each of these four is a man who resembles him in outward appearance, but not in his true meaning and reality.
Corresponding to the righteous worshipper is the confused, fraudulent sufi.
Corresponding to the practicing scholar is the wicked, hypocritical scholar.
Corresponding to the just ruler is the oppressive ruler who does not act with truth and does not govern or manage his subjects well.
Corresponding to the righteous wealthy person is the unjust, oppressive wealthy person who accumulates wealth from unlawful sources, withholds it from those entitled to it, and spends it on improper causes.
These latter four are the cause of the corruption and turmoil of the world, the disruption of people's affairs, and their deviation from the path of correctness. The entire matter belongs to Allah, and in His possession is the dominion of all things. So, extolling glorified be to the One, the Subduer, the Sovereign, the Bestower, the Causer of causes, for whatever He wills, however He wills. There is no god except Him, and to Him is the final return.
Categories of knowledge and principles of wisdom Imam al-Haddad
