5 - Family, friends and relations

Summary

From the image of Muhammad Ali that we have presented it should by now be clear that the wali was a man who planned his moves after a great deal of thought. To assume that he acted capriciously or under the inspiration of a third party is to misjudge his character completely. He consulted his advisers, the few he respected and the many he despised, but he believed in action after mature reflection. In his letters to his sons that trait comes through very clearly, especially in his letters to his son Ismail who was rash and impetuous. He wrote to him, ‘the position of a commander-in-chief - (ser asker) - is not attained through heroism (butula), which we call courage (basala), but through good planning (husn al tadbir), and through constant inquiry and consultation with your officers on all matters. Therefore ask, question so that you can learn everything that will lead to victory.’ In another letter he admonishes him to seek ‘advice from your subordinates from the highest to the lowest ranks’.

Muhammad Ali believed in the value of specialists. He searched them out, learned from them and made use of that knowledge. He tried to teach his sons the virtue of the expert, and every son who was sent out on a military expedition was given two tried and experienced men and enjoined to take no steps that these two had not approved.