Important Leadership Lessons: Equality and justice are not the same thing
“The virtuous and the vicious should not be in equal position before you because this means dissuasion of the virtuous from virtue and persuasion of the vicious to vice. Keep everyone in the position which is his.”
The Imam gives a very interesting piece of advice. When first reading this, one may be outraged and think Imam Ali is saying not to treat people equally. Well, let us think about this. Imam is telling us that if you treat those who do good and those who do bad the same way, it will leave you without a moral standard. The good will be discouraged from doing further good when they see that those who do bad are getting the same treatment. The bad will not be reprimanded and will continue to act immoral. Yes, all are equal in rights but the stance between moral and immoral must be clear in how you react to each type of person. This is justice.
