The Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq sends a message to politicians, beginning with the message of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, to Malik al-Ashtar

The Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq, Louis Raphael Sako, stressed the importance of tolerance and brotherhood among the Iraqi nation to overcome challenges and circumstances, citing a commandment of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, to the governor of Egypt, Malik ibn Al-Ashtar.
“Imam Ali, peace be upon him, is the cousin and son-in-law of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, and the first imam of the Shias,” Patriarch Sako stated in a ceremony held in the capital, Baghdad.
“In one of his commandments to Malik al-Ashtar, the Imam says, ‘Infuse your heart with mercy, love and kindness for your subjects. Be not in face of them a voracious animal, counting them as easy prey, for they are of two kinds: either they are your brothers in faith or in creation.”
It added that “Sako also spoke in his speech about tolerance among people, stressing the importance of citizenship and rejecting sectarianism.”
The agency indicated that “the famous saying of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, by Malik Al-Ashtar contains important advice on how to deal with the subjects, and scholars, leaders and thinkers consider it a model for any ruler who wants to act with justice and insight.”