Leadership Through Example
(Based on the research paper by Dr Adalat Khan, of Mina Management Institute,
Malaysia and the Khutba “Leadership through Example” from fridaykhutbas.com)
‫قال هللا تعالى‬
Allah swt says in Surah Al-Anam- v165: “And it is He who has
made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you
above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through
what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but
indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful."
Brothers in Islam: Allah swt created Prophet Adam (pbuh) as His
vicegerent and a leader in this world. He was also equipped with
knowledge to assume that role. The prophets and messengers
after him were also tasked to lead humankind to the path of God.
Imam Bukhari has reported in a hadith that the Prophet (pbuh)
said: “Each one of you is a leader, and each leader will be held
accountable for who he has led.” In another Hadith the Prophet
(pbuh) said “Each of you is a shepherd, and all of you are
responsible for your flocks.”
Leadership is a great quality and every great nation’s success
besides other factors owes its credit to the leader who led it to
glory. Small groups such as families, organisations, states,
empires and even the world at large need good leaders who can
lead their respective followers to success.
Every human endeavour needs a unifying and driving force for
success and that driving force is ultimately traced to good
leadership. It is also worth noting that every one of us in some
capacity, sometimes, or somewhere is a leader. Leadership
should not be confused with the role of only those who make
headlines but in essence almost everyone have sometimes
somewhere, somehow played this role. However to be good
leaders one needs to follow certain principles and tools which are
also known as leadership principles. Islamic leadership principles
are primarily derived from the Holy Quran, our beloved Prophet
(pbuh), the guided Caliphs and the pious followers.
The Holy Qur’an is the primary source of Islamic leadership. Allah
swt says in the surah al-Maida v15 - "There has come to you
from Allah a light and a clear Book." Revealed by the Supreme
author, Allah swt, its message has universal and eternal
relevance. It is a complete Code of Life which contains guidelines
on spiritual, social, economic and political aspects of human life.
It teaches the leadership principles which can guide life towards
success and highest attainment.
‫ أيها المؤمنون‬: Let us reflect upon the life of greatest leader of all
times, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the second source of
leadership principles. Allah swt says in the Qur’an - "There has
certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent
pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and
[who] remembers Allah often (33:21). The life of our beloved
Prophet (pbuh) is the best example for the development of a
perfect leader’s qualities. It is through the study of Prophet’s
(pbuh) life, his deeds, his sayings and his personal qualities that
valuable leadership lessons can be derived.
How was his leadership in his family life, within the Muslim
ummah and even beyond Muslims? He was a good
communicator at all levels, respectable clansman, kind and
caring father and a loving husband, brilliant war strategist, good
planner and organiser, noble Leader and statesman, great orator,
extremely generous and forgiving, caring and kind to orphans
and widows, truthful and trustworthy, dedicated preacher and
propagator, always smiling and polite and the list is endless. It is
enough for us to say that he was always loved and needed by
others because of his excellent character and his merciful
dealings with each and every creation of Allah. He (pbuh) fulfilled
the natural needs of humankind through his excellent attributes.
According to Islamic history, even before Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) got the Prophethood, leaders of the Quraish tribe had
already called the Prophet as “The Trustworthy” and “al-Amin”
because of his integrity when offering his services and
contributions to his society. The Prophet had created love and
trust of others towards him. The Prophet earned the title because
he placed his community before himself, and he was a selfless
leader who only sought Allah’s pleasure for all that he did.
After the Holy Quran and the Prophet (pbuh), we derive our
leadership principles from the first four rightly guided Caliphs and
thereafter from many more companions of our Prophet (pbut)
who were wonderful leaders and people of great wisdom, who
practiced the wisdom-based principles of Islam and followed the
teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) very sincerely.
Leadership in Islam is considered as an amanah (a trust) and a
responsibility. A leader is required to meet his obligations to
Allah, the Supreme Power as well as to discharge his duties
towards His people (Makhluq) or his followers to the best of his
ability. Failure in any one of the aspects will be a total failure in
both the leadership and followership. And both the leader as well
as the followers will be held responsible and answerable for it.
There are many laws and guiding principles and models to groom
good leaders. Grouped together we can classify them into the
following important principles and values:
1. Faith and belief.
2. Knowledge and Wisdom.
3. Courage and determination.
4. Mutual consultation and Unity. (fraternity and brotherhood.)
5. Morality and Piety. (honesty and trust.)
6. Superior communication.
7. Justice and compassion.
8. Patience and Endurance.
9. Commitment and Sacrifice.
10. Lifelong Endeavour.
11. Gratitude and Prayers.
We must be aware that real leadership takes place through our
own actions and behaviours. Our actions are being watched by
all those around us, for example, by the children in our families,
who take lessons and model themselves after us, more than what
we preach and say to them.
In our working life and in society, an effective leader is one who
leads by example; the example of our acts and contributions. In
fact, we may be an ordinary employee or worker, and we may not
have many people reporting to us. Yet, if we are the most diligent
and industrious, we will become an example to others, and with
that, indirectly, we have become a very effective leader.
Brothers in Islam: So let us reflect upon ourselves and ask how
have we carried out our leadership role, whether at home, or at
our work places, among friends or society? Do we hold on firmly
and strongly to principles and pursue Allah’s pleasure and
blessings, or do we place ourselves and our self-interests/desires
above everything else when we make decisions? Do we only
criticise others, yet do not offer alternatives? Do we only order
and command, but we do not give a helping hand to those under
our charge? Have we strived to become a good example for
others? In other words, do we lead through example? Let’s think
about it, dear blessed congregation.
Leadership is a great quality and every group of people,
organisation, family, a company, or a country needs able and
good leaders. On the global scene too there is a need for good
leaders as today the world is mired by international conflicts,
wars and mutual suspicions which if not corrected can demolish
the whole world.
The Islamic Leadership Model and the principles associated with
it offer an exemplary leadership which can open the door of
excellence and achievement. The principles are gleaned from the
Quran the words of Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise; the
practice and sayings of Prophet Muhammad, the character and
deeds of the Caliphs and other great Muslim leaders who with
meagre means and enormous hurdles reached the zenith of
excellence. These principles and their application are equally
useful for every leader, be they Muslim or non-Muslim as they
transcend racial, religious, and temporal boundaries.
Understanding, acquiring, and application of these mega
principles can open up the doors to success and progress in
every human endeavour.
Therefore, let us pray to Allah swt to grant us continued
guidance; and may there rise from this Ummah, good leaders
who could perform their roles and responsibilities successfully in
the light of the Quran and Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (pbuh).
Ameen.