By: Tomasi Akingbade
Leadership is essentially a continuous process of influencing behaviour,
it may be considered in context of mutual relations between a leader and
his followers. The leader tries to influence the behaviour of
individuals around him to achieve desired goals. It is also a dynamic
process, which deserves study; it is a relational process involving
interactions among leaders, members and sometimes outside
constituencies. Good leaders are made not born. If you have the desire
and willpower, you can become an effective leader. Basically, it
involves developing those qualities and attitudes in managers which help
to look into the future and to bring necessary improvement pertaining to
different leadership styles.
Leadership in Islam, Islam, the complete code of life, declares
leadership as a trust (Amanah), and gives a detailed description about
it. According to the Islamic view, leadership is a sacred position that
can solve the problems of humanity and guide them to the eternal
betterment of here and hereafter. It is a person or a group of people
who guide and lead the followers, the humanity from the brink of
destruction to the way of Allah. Giving preference on human welfare
Islam exposes leadership as a psychological contract between a leader
and his followers that he will try his best to guide them, to protect
them and to treat them fairly and with justice.
Hence, the focus of leadership in Islam is on doing good, Great Muslim
scholar Ibn Khaldun in his excellent book Al-Muqaddimah draws a
new dimension of leadership. He says- “leadership is an outcome of
interaction between different social groups.” Al Buraey says-“an
Islamic leadership is the one that seeks happiness for the
individual and society.” In Islamic Shari’ah, leadership is
mentioned specially by the word Khilafa and Imama. Though there remain
other words used as the meaning of a Leader in various Islamic
verses and speeches such as Amir-ul-Muminin, Amir, Ja`eem, Sayyid,
Qa’eed, Malik, Sheikh etc. But yet the words mentioned earlier are the
most famous and most important in describing the state of leadership.
With some differences in practice all of these words are used
interchangeably to indicate a leader. Muslim thinkers of the modern era
differentiate among these synonymous words. A brief discussion about
these may clarify the area of their application. Firstly, Khalifa
(Caliph), derived from the word Khilafa (Caliphate-system of
governance established in Islam), means, literally, the successor, the
vicegerent or the representative while as the term of Islamic literature
it means the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader
of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari’ah. Al
Qur’an, the supreme authoritative source of Islamic Sharia, uses
this term with two different meanings.
Following verse Khalifa refers to Hazrat Adam (s) including whole
mankind and the prophets-Allah says- “And then (after creating
heaven and earth) Allah told the angel that he was about to create a
vicegerent (khalifah) and to assign him to the earth.” In
another verse Allah addressed Hazrat Dawood (s) as both, the role of
the leader of his state and the Prophet. Allah says- “(And it was said
unto him): O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy (Leader) in the
earth; therefore judge aright between mankind, and follow not desire
that it beguile thee from the way of Allah. Lo! Those who wander from
the way of Allah have an awful doom, forasmuch as they forgot the Day of
Reckoning.” However, Khalifa is now a day used to indicate the
position of the head and supreme political leader of the state by the
Muslim thinkers. It is asserted by Muslim historians that the term
Khalifa was first used as the title of “the successor of Muhammad”
by Abu Bakr.
The decision making process of conventional form mainly depends upon the
leader or upon the group of authority. Usually they decide according to
the reference of organizational rules. Islamic concept of leadership
usually does not permit a leader to make decisions without any kind of
consultation. In public affairs a leader must have a general
consultation with all of his followers. And after the consent of the
group he has to justify that decision with the divine law of Islamic
Sharia. Appointment process of a leader is not similar in every
organization in modern formation. Most of the organizations, formal or
informal, have their own criteria to select a leader. Unfortunately,
absence of ethical and moral values is a common feature of conventional
leadership.
Here, a person must submit his candidature for the leadership. In
contrast, Islam has its own preconditions to appoint a leader. Seeking
leadership is considered as a disqualification of the person. According
to the Islamic law, leaders must not seek leadership; it must come to
them. Moral and ethical perfection is badly needed in the selection
process of leaders. Along with personal qualities, the knowledge of
Islamic principles and Sharia is a must for the leadership.
Now, the concept of leadership in conventional and Islamic formation is
totally different by nature, though there are some similarities seen
in the performances of leaders in various occasions. Islam does a
great job in this respective field and shows how followers perform their
responsibilities with the proper direction of revealed law under the
supervision of a competent leader ensuring the humanism and ultimate
satisfaction of almighty Allah. Characteristics of leadership are an
important element to achieve success and to establish peace and
happiness in society. Islam always tries to make sure the rule of the
best on every sphere of life, individual or social.
For this, it elaborately declares the qualities and pre-conditions
needed for an ideal leader. Islamic Sharia composed of the authoritative
source of Al Qur’an and the Sunnah, along with the Islamic Fiqh has
given the direction. The attributes of the righteous caliphs also helps
us to determine the required qualities to select a leader for the Muslim
Ummah. Under a scientific examination throughout these sources Muslim
scholars have find out some essential qualities for an Islamic leader. A
great thinker al Farabi indicates the following characteristics of
leadership- be intelligence, full of wisdom, possess complementary
characters in terms of their physical and abilities, ideal long-sighted
policy makers etc. Hadrat Ali, the fourth khalifah, in discussing the
qualities of a leader said: “O People! You know that it is not fitting
that one who is greedy and parsimonious should attain rule and authority
over the honour, lives and incomes of the Muslims, and the laws and
ordinances enforced among them, and also leadership of them.
Furthermore, he should not be ignorant and unaware of the law, lest in
his ignorance he misleads the people. He must not be unjust and harsh,
causing people to cease all traffic and dealings.
A good leader must do away with his oppressiveness. Nor must he fear
states, so that he seeks the friendship of some and treats others with
enmity. He must refrain from accepting bribes when he sits in judgment,
so that the rights of men are trampled underfoot and the claimant does
not receive his due. He must not leave the Sunnah of the Prophet and the
law in abeyance, so that the community falls into misguidance and peril.
A leader must be a profound knowledge of Sunnah (i.e. Islamic Sharia),
proficiency at reciting the holy Qur’an, must have great consciousness
of Allah (Taqwa), an elderly person these features must be examined to
select a leader respectively.
A person to be qualified as Amir (chief executive of the Islamic state)
shall be: not less than 40 years of age and not more than 63 years of
age, Shall not be qualified for the election as a member of Islamic
State Assembly or Parliament Majlis, Shura shall not have been removed
from the office of the Amir under the constitution, shall not have been
convicted for any criminal offences or an invalid or bankrupt person,
declared by a competent court. Indeed, some modern Islamists identified
some core characteristics for the Islamic managerial leadership, such
as- Allegiance, Global Islamic Goals, Adherence to Sharia and Islamic
Manners, Delegated Trust etc.
More importantly, leadership involves a clear vision, sharing the vision
with others so that they will follow willingly, providing the
information, knowledge and method to realize that vision and
coordinating and balancing the conflicting interests of all members and
stakeholders. Indeed, it is the ability to develop a vision that
motivates others to move with a passion towards a common goal. So,
leadership is a process by which a person influences others to
accomplish an objective and directs the organization or people in a way
that makes it or them more cohesive and coherent.
There are also three qualities that are compulsory for a good leader of
an Islamic background. Those are: Taqwa; Patience and tolerance;
Kindness leadership. Regarding the function of leadership Zafar
Bangash, a modern Islamic scholar, mentions some operational tasks.
According to him a leader must have the technical quality to do those
tasks accurately. These are- 1. Articulate the goal or vision clearly
and demonstrate his personal conviction for it; 2. Inspire a group of
people to follow it; 3. Evaluate the prevailing situation accurately and
devise appropriate strategies for dealing with it, including surmounting
problems, difficulties, etc. 4. Initiate, guide, direct and control
change towards the desired goal; 5. Ensure continuous cooperation of the
movement.
Without these qualifications no one can be eligible to lead the Nation.
Even, for the leader of a small group or organization these are much
more essential. After a thoughtful study on the discussion of the
sources of Sharia regarding Islamic leadership and the thoughts of
Muslim scholars we can mention the core pre-requisites of a good leader
as given below. Iman: The leader must believe in the core Islamic
beliefs, and should be considered as a true Muslim by his words and
deeds. According to Islam, Iman is the very fact on which whole universe
and creations are still alive and every Muslim has the responsibility to
establish Iman and its regulations in all aspects of life. So, if anyone
does not believe in Islamic beliefs and ideology, he must not be
considered as a leader of Muslim as Allah directly declares- “Allah
will judge between you at the Day of Resurrection, and Allah will not
give the disbelievers any way (of success or leadership) against the
believers.
”Allah again says- “O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the
messenger and those of you who are in authority (leaders); and if ye
have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the
messenger if ye are (in truth) believers in Allah and the Last Day. That
is better and more likely in the end.” Maturity: The leader must have
the maturity of age and soundness in mental and physical condition.
Maturity gives him the experiences and patience to face the contemporary
challenges. On the other hand, Mental and physical strength is needed in
every action to do that properly. Al Qur’an declares in this
regard-“Give not unto the foolish (what is in) your (keeping
of their) wealth, which Allah hath given you to maintain; but feed
and clothe them from it, and speak kindly unto them.”
In another verse Allah says- “Their Prophet said unto them: Lo! Allah
hath raised up Saul to be a king for you. They said: How can he have
kingdom over us when we are more deserving of the kingdom than he is,
since he has not been given wealth enough? He said: Lo! Allah hath
chosen him above you, and hath increased him abundantly in
wisdom and stature. Allah bestowed His Sovereignty on whom He will.
Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” So, the concepts of leader and
leadership in Islam, ICIT papers on Muslim political thought, presented
on the International conference on “The Seerah: A power
perspective”, Colombo, Sri Lanka, on June 16 -18,2000, pp. 4-5 26 Al
Qur’an, 4:141 27 Al Qur’an, 4:59 28 Al Qur’an, 4:5 29 Al Qur’an,
2:247.
Akingbade, a public and political affairs commentator, writes from
Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.