By Shaykh Sulaiman Moola
We live in a world rocked by political turbulence and plagued by the greed for power.
The Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) has said,
مَا ذِئْبَانِ جَائِعَانِ أُرْسِلَا فِي غَنَمٍ بِأَفْسَدَ لَهَا مِنْ حِرْصِ الْمَرْءِ عَلَى الْمَالِ وَالشَّرَفِ لِدِينِهِ
“Two hungry wolves sent in the midst of a flock of sheep are no more destructive to them than a man’s greed for wealth and fame is to his religion.” (Tirmidhī)
إِذَا أُسْنِدَ الْأَمْرُ إِلَى غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ فَانْتَظِرْ السَّاعَةَ
Amongst the signs of Judgement Day is that undeserving people will assume posts and public office.
A Companion (may Allāh be pleased with him) once asked ‘Omar bin Khattāb (may Allāh be pleased with him),
مَالَكَ لا تَسْتَعْمِلنِي؟
“Why do you not give me a post in the government?
قَاَل أخَافُ أنْ يُدنِّسَ ديْنَكَ
‘Omar bin Khattāb (may Allāh be pleased with him) replied, “I am afraid it will taint your faith.” (Majma’ al-Fawāid)
Prior to the demise of ‘Omar bin Khattāb (may Allāh be pleased with him) he said to ‘Abdullāh Ibn Abbās (may Allāh be pleased with him), “I really do not know who to hand over the reigns to!” He further added,
مَا يَصْلُحُ لِهَذَا الأَمْرِ إِلا الْقَوِيُّ فِي غَيْرِ عُنْفٍ ، اللَّيِّنُ فِي غَيْرِ ضَعْفٍ ، الْجَوَادُ فِي غَيْرِ سَرَفٍ ، الْمُمْسِكُ فِي غَيْرِ بُخْلٍ
“A leader needs to be strong, yet not harsh, gentle, yet not weak, generous, yet not extravagant and he needs to (occasionally) withhold, yet not be a miser.” (Ḥayāt al Ṣaḥābah)
The Messenger Dawūd (peace and blessings upon him) was a prophet and king. Allāh the Almighty summoned him,
يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا نَسُوا يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ
“O Dawūd, verily We have made you a deputy on the earth, so govern amongst the people with truth and do not follow your base desires, least it deviates you from the way of Allāh.” (Qur’ān 38:26)
The Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) has also stated,
لَن نَسْتَعْمِلَ عَلَى عَمَلِنَا هَذَا مَنْ أَرَادَه
“We do not delegate posts to people who seek it.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Unfortunately, transparency and accountability from people holding posts, has become rather rare. Those who truly understand the colossal and mammoth task of leadership and the subsequent accountability to Almighty Allāh, will be very hesitant in embracing it.
‘Omar bin Khattāb (may Allāh be pleased with him) intended renewing the contract of the Governor of “Ḥimṣ” as he was very honest and principled. The Governor, namely Umayr (may Allāh be pleased with him) declined saying, “I will not accept this post again.”
The Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) has also said,
إِذَا كَانَتْ أُمَرَاؤُكُمْ شِرَارَكُمْ فَبَطْنُ الأَرْضِ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ ظَهْرِهَا
“When your leaders are the worst amongst you, then it is better to be beneath the earth than above it.” (Tirmidhī)
We ask Almighty Allāh to bless our organisations, institutions and the world at large with selfless leaders. Amīn
