In Islam, leadership is a trust. Writing on Prothom Alo's religion page, Islamic scholar, writer and programmer Abdullahil Baqi sets out the core qualities of the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) leadership through the hadith and the Quran. He opens with a hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (7138): 'Each of you is a guardian, and each of you will be asked about those in your care.'
The first quality is honesty and trustworthiness: even his enemies called him al-Amin, the trustworthy. The writer cites Musnad Ahmad (12383): one who is not trustworthy has no faith. Second is clear communication: Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he would repeat a point three times when needed so that it was understood (Sahih al-Bukhari, 95). Third is wisdom, shown in how he settled the Quraysh dispute over placing the Black Stone.
Justice was a foundation of his leadership. Declaring the law equal for rich and poor, Muslim and non-Muslim, he said that even his daughter Fatimah would be punished if she stole (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6787). He gave priority to merit, warning that when responsibility is handed to the unfit, trust is lost (Sahih al-Bukhari, 59), and he declined to give Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) office because the burden was too heavy for him (Sahih Muslim, 1825).
Compassion, the writer says, was the jewel of his leadership, citing Surah At-Tawbah, verse 128. He took important decisions through consultation (shura); Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said he never saw anyone consult his companions more (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 1714). He saw the leader as a servant, and he himself carried earth while the trench was dug before the Battle of the Trench (Sahih al-Bukhari, 4104).
He corrected mistakes gently and without naming people (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6101). He called those under one's care brothers, to be fed and clothed as oneself and never overburdened (Sahih al-Bukhari, 30); Anas served him for ten years and never heard so much as 'uff' (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6038). In the writer's view, this model of honesty, justice, goodwill and service is a timeless guide for leadership and institutions in any age.
Photo: Bluemangoa2z / Wikimedia Commons (public domain); Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
Source: Prothom Alo
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