By: Christopher Buck

Abstract: The quest for “true Islam” necessarily involves agreement on basic principles. Renewed efforts should be made to identify authentic Islamic principles of good governance — universal and timeless – to be applied resourcefully and sensitively to the widely varying social and political contexts across the Muslim world today. Perhaps the best way to begin to achieve consensus is, to begin by relying on a well-respected document that articulates principles of Islamic good governance, to which all leaders, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, may give assent. As a starting point for building consensus anew, the document that may best embody Islamic principles of good governance may well be “Caliph ‘Alī’s Letter to Mālik al-Ashtar,” which advocates the following Islamic principles of good governance that remain viable today: (1) International Relations: Respect Multilateral and Bilateral Agreements; (2) Trade Relations: Promote a Prosperous Business Environment; (3) Tax Administration: Pursue Enlightened State Revenue Policies While Providing for the Poor and Elderly; (4) Economic Policies: Strive to Reduce Poverty; (5) Administrative Staffing: Appoint the Best Administrators; (6) Judiciary: Appoint the Best Judges; (7) Defense Administration: Appoint Upstanding as well as Outstanding Officers, and Keep the Army Well-maintained; (8) Human Rights: Respect the Rights of All Citizens; (9) Domestic Relations: Hear the Oppressed, and Respond Equitably; (10) Personal Integrity: Be Worthy of Office; (11) General Principles: Be Answerable to the Governed and True to Principles of Good Governance (by relying on the Qur’an, Tradition, Sage Advice, and Mature Experience).