Imam Ali Believed in Specialization in Running Society
Meritocracy is a pivotal principle in all societies and cultures and it has a special status in the Islamic culture.
According to Verse 105 of Surah Al-Anbiya, “We have written in the Psalms, after the Remembrance: ‘The righteous among My worshipers shall inherit the earth,’” it has been emphasized that the righteous will rule the earth. The word Salihun (the righteous) has a broad meaning that covers many merits such as Taqwa (God-fearing), knowledge, judiciousness, power, etc.
When God’s righteous servants make efforts to acquire such merits, God will help them to systemically prepare the grounds for global rule and cutting off the hands of the arrogant.
Verse 124 of Surah Al-Baqarah clearly underlines the importance of meritocracy in giving responsibilities to people: “And when Abraham was tested by His Lord with certain words and he fulfilled them, He said: ‘I have appointed you as a leader for the nation.’ (Abraham) asked: ‘And of my descendants?’ ‘My covenant,’ said He, ‘the harmdoers shall not receive it.’”
In another verse, when Joseph (AS) was released from prison and the ruler of Egypt wanted to give him a responsibility, Joseph (SA) said: “Put me in charge of the treasuries of the land. I know how to manage them.” (Verse 55 of Surah Yusuf)
It shows that knowledge and capability to fulfil a responsibility are among the most important issues in management. That is, someone who is going to assume a responsibility must have the necessary qualities and capabilities for that responsibility. It is a divine Sunnah (law) that God never gives one a responsibility unless he or she is capable of fulfilling it.
According to Imam Ali (AS), the capabilities and merits of those taking responsibilities are part of the issue of Adl (justice) and a main issue in running societies. The Commander of the Faithful (AS) believes that every position requires certain abilities, creativities, merits and specialties and it is not permissible for those who lack these criteria to assume a position instead of those who have those qualities because in that case, the society will not move on the path of growth, development and perfection.
From the words of Imam Ali (AS) on this issue, we can deduce that he believed in functional specialization and used it in his government.
Lack of meritocracy in society will lead to a waste of talents and a drop in efficiency in different sectors.
Experience shows that most of problems in government systems in the world arise from selection of wrong people for different positions.
