Ali's letter to Malik al-Ashtar

Ali's letter to Malik al-Ashtar refers to a set of instructions and advice for rulers, reputedly addressed at Malik al-Ashtar (d. 657), the Arab military commander and an ardent supporter of Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 661), who was the fourth Rashidun caliph (r. 656–661), the first Shia imam, and the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The letter is attributed to Ali and outlines his conception of just and righteous governance, following the appointment of al-Ashtar as the new governor of Egypt circa 657 CE. Among the earliest extant records about Islamic rule, the letter has received considerable attention throughout the Muslim history as a blueprint for Islamic governance.

Source: Wikipedia — Ali's letter to Malik al-Ashtar (CC BY-SA 4.0)