Leadership in Islam

Leadership in IslamLeadership in IslamDefinition Lead to achieve an objective and Compete to be ahead of others to seek the pleasure of Allah and success in hereafter.

Why?

ي�ك�ون� و� الن�اس� ع�ل�ى د�اء� ه� ش� ل�ت�ك�ون�وا ط�ا و�س� ة� م�أ� �ع�ل�ن�اك�م ج� ل�ن�ع�ل�م� و�ك�ذ�ل�ك� إ�ال ا ع�ل�ي�ه� ك�ن�ت� ال�ت�ي ب�ل�ة� ال�ق� ع�ل�ن�ا ج� ا و�م� يد�ا ه� ش� �ع�ل�ي�ك�م ول� س� ع�ل�ى الر� إ�ال ة� ل�ك�ب�ير� �ك�ان�ت �إ�ن و� ب�ي�ه� ع�ق� ع�ل�ى ل�ب� ي�ن�ق� �م�م�ن ول� س� الر� ي�ت�ب�ع� �ء�وف4 م�ن ل�ر� ب�الن�اس� الل�ه� إ�ن� �ان�ك�م إ�يم� يع� ل�ي�ض� الل�ه� ك�ان� ا و�م� الل�ه� د�ى ه� ال�ذ�ين�

يم4 ح� ر� Thus, have We made of you an Ummat justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves; and We appointed the Qibla to which thou wast used, only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels (From the Faith). Indeed it was (A change) momentous, except to those guided by Allah. And never would Allah Make your faith of no effect. For Allah is to all people Most surely full of kindness, Most Merciful.

002.143 (Al-Baqara) Levels:PersonalJamaahSocietyGlobal

Part I- Part I- Characteristics of a LeaderCharacteristics of a Leader

DefinitionPre-requisitesQualities/Characteristics

– Personal– Interpersonal

Definition of a LeaderDefinition of a Leader

Achieves set goals

A Leader is one who:

Organizes–Physical assets

–Intellectual assets

Provides guidanceInfluences

–Actions–Behaviors

Quran on leadershipQuran on leadership

�و�ا و�آت الصالة� ق�ام�وا� أ األر�ض� ف�ي اه�م� ن م�ك �ن� إ ذ�ين� ال

ه� �ل و�ل �ر� �ك �م�ن ال ع�ن� �ه�و�ا و�ن وف� �م�ع�ر� �ال ب وا م�ر�� و�أ �اة� ك الز

األم�ور� �ة� ع�اق�ب

(They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establish regular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right and forbid wrong: with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs.

Al-Qur'an, 022.041 (Al-Hajj [The Pilgrimage])

QuranQuran

ف�و�ق� �م� �ع�ض�ك ب ف�ع� و�ر� األر�ض� �ف� خ�الئ �م� �ك ج�ع�ل ذ�ي ال ف�و�ق� و�ه�و� �م� �ع�ض�ك ب ف�ع� و�ر� األر�ض� �ف� خ�الئ �م� �ك ج�ع�ل ذ�ي ال و�ه�و��ع�ق�اب� ال ر�يع� س� ك� ب ر� �ن إ �م� �اك آت م�ا ف�ي �م� �و�ك �ل �ب �ي ل ج�ات> د�ر� �ع�ض> �ع�ق�اب� ب ال ر�يع� س� ك� ب ر� �ن إ �م� �اك آت م�ا ف�ي �م� �و�ك �ل �ب �ي ل ج�ات> د�ر� �ع�ض> ب

ح�يم@ ر� �غ�ف�ور@ ل ه� �ن ح�يم@ و�إ ر� �غ�ف�ور@ ل ه� �ن و�إ

It is He Who hath made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth: It is He Who hath made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth:

He hath raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try He hath raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He hath given you: for thy Lord is quick in you in the gifts He hath given you: for thy Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.punishment: yet He is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

Al-Qur'an, 6.165 (Al-Anaam)Al-Qur'an, 6.165 (Al-Anaam)

Leadership in Qur’anLeadership in Qur’an

�ه�م� ت م�ع�يش� �ه�م� �ن �ي ب �ا م�ن ق�س� �ح�ن� ن Hك� ب ر� ح�م�ة� ر� م�ون� �ق�س� ي ه�م�� أ

ج�ات> د�ر� �ع�ض> ب ف�و�ق� �ع�ض�ه�م� ب �ا ف�ع�ن و�ر� �ا �ي الدIن �اة� ي �ح� ال ف�يم�ما �ر@ ي خ� Hك� ب ر� ح�م�ة� و�ر� Kا خ�ر�ي س� �ع�ضMا ب �ع�ض�ه�م� ب خ�ذ� �ت �ي ل�ج�م�ع�ون� ي

Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of thy Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may command work from others. But the Mercy of thy Lord is better than the (wealth) which they amass. Al-Qur'an, 043.032 (Az-Zukhruf)

Leadership in HadithLeadership in Hadithه� الل ص�لى ه� الل س�ول� ر� م�ع�ت� س� �ق�ول� ي ع�م�ر� �ن� ب ه� الل �د� ع�ب �ن أ

�ه� ت ي ع� ر� ع�ن� �ول@ ئ م�س� �م� Iك �ل و�ك اع> ر� �م� Iك �ل ك �ق�ول� ي م� ل و�س� �ه� �ي ع�ل�ه� �ه�ل أ ف�ي اع> ر� ج�ل� و�الر �ه� ت ي ع� ر� ع�ن� �ول@ ئ و�م�س� اع> ر� �م�ام� اإل�و�ج�ه�ا ز� �ت� �ي ب ف�ي �ة@ ي اع� ر� ة�

� أ �م�ر� و�ال �ه� ت ي ع� ر� ع�ن� �ول@ ئ م�س� و�ه�و�Hد�ه� ي س� م�ال� ف�ي اع> ر� �خ�اد�م� و�ال �ه�ا ت ي ع� ر� ع�ن� �ة@ �ول ئ و�م�س�ج�ل� و�الر ق�ال� ق�د� �ن� أ �ت� ب و�ح�س� ق�ال� �ه� ت ي ع� ر� ع�ن� �ول@ ئ و�م�س�اع> ر� �م� Iك �ل و�ك �ه� ت ي ع� ر� ع�ن� �ول@ ئ و�م�س� �يه� ب

� أ م�ال� ف�ي اع> ر��ه� ت ي ع� ر� ع�ن� �ول@ ئ و�م�س�

“Behold! Everyone of you is a leader and you shall be asked about those you lead. Imam is a leader over the people and shall be asked about them; a man is a leader of the house and shall be asked about his household ; a woman is a leader over her children and she shall be asked about them.”

(Reported Abdullah Ibn Omar in Bukhari and Muslim ).

Hadith – Significance of JamaahHadith – Significance of Jamaah�يه� ب

� أ ع�ن� �يع�ة� ب ر� �ن� اب �ي �ع�ن ي ع�ام�ر> �ن� ب ه� الل �د� ع�ب ع�ن�م�ن� م� ل و�س� �ه� �ي ع�ل ه� الل ص�لى ه� الل س�ول� ر� ق�ال� ق�ال��ن� ف�إ Mة �ي ج�اه�ل Mة� م�يت م�ات� ط�اع�ة@ �ه� �ي ع�ل �س�ت� �ي و�ل م�ات�ك� �ار� �ب ت ه� الل �ق�ي� ل �ق�ه� ع�ن ف�ي ع�ق�د�ه�ا �ع�د� ب م�ن� �ع�ه�ا ل خ�

ة@ ح�ج �ه� ل �س�ت� �ي و�ل �ع�ال�ى و�ت�ه�م�ا �ث �ال ث �ن ف�إ �ه� ل Iح�ل� ت ال� �ة> أ �ام�ر� ب ج�ل@ ر� �و�ن ل �خ� ي ال� �ال� أ

د� �و�اح� ال م�ع� �ط�ان� ي الش �ن ف�إ < م م�ح�ر� �ال إ �ط�ان� ي الش�ع�د� �ب أ �ن� �ي �ن ث اال� م�ن� و�ه�و�م�ؤ�م�ن@ ف�ه�و� �ه� �ت ن ح�س� �ه� ت ر و�س� �ه� �ت Hئ ي س� �ه� اء�ت س� م�ن�

�ق�ه� ع�ن ف�ي اه�ا �ي إ ع�ق�د�ه� �ع�د� ب �ن@ ي ح�س� ق�ال�Musnad Ahmad

Hadith- Best and worst amongst Hadith- Best and worst amongst the leadersthe leadersه� الل ص�لى ه� الل ول� س� ر� ع�ن� م�ال�ك> �ن� ب ع�و�ف� ع�ن�

�ه�م� Iون ب �ح� ت ذ�ين� ال �م� �ك �مت ئ� أ �ار� ي خ� ق�ال� م� ل و�س� �ه� �ي ع�ل

�ه�م� �ي ع�ل �ص�لIون� و�ت �م� �ك �ي ع�ل �ص�لIون� و�ي �م� �ك Iون ب �ح� و�ي�م� �ك �غ�ض�ون �ب و�ي �ه�م� �غ�ض�ون �ب ت ذ�ين� ال �م� �ك �مت ئ

� أ ار� ر� و�ش��ف�ال� أ ه� الل س�ول� ر� �ا ي ق�يل� �م� �ك �ون �ع�ن �ل و�ي �ه�م� �ون �ع�ن �ل و�ت�م� ف�يك ق�ام�وا

� أ م�ا ال� ف�ق�ال� �ف� ي �الس ب �ذ�ه�م� �اب �ن ن�ه� ه�ون �ر� �ك ت Mا �ئ ي ش� �م� �ك ت و�ال� م�ن� �م� �ت ي

� أ ر� �ذ�ا و�إ ة� الصال�ط�اع�ة> م�ن� �دMا ي �ز�ع�وا �ن ت و�ال� �ه� ع�م�ل ه�وا �ر� ف�اك

Muslim: 3447

Hadith- Obedience of AmeerHadith- Obedience of Ameer

ه� الل ص�لى ه� الل س�ول� ر� ق�ال� ق�ال� ع�م�ر� �ن� اب ع�ن�ء� �م�ر� ال ع�ل�ى و�الطاع�ة� م�ع� الس م� ل و�س� �ه� �ي ع�ل�ة> �م�ع�ص�ي ب �ؤ�م�ر� ي �م� ل م�ا �ر�ه� و�ك �ح�ب أ ف�يم�ا � �م ل �م�س� ال

ط�اع�ة� و�ال� �ه� �ي ع�ل م�ع� س� ف�ال� �ة> �م�ع�ص�ي ب م�ر�� أ �ن� ف�إ

Tirmidhi @ن ح�س� ح�د�يث@ و�ه�ذ�اص�ح�يح@

Leadership in HadithLeadership in HadithProphet (SAW) said the following regarding leadership in an Islamic Jamaah: “Whosoever obeyed the leader, he obeyed me and whosoever disobeyed the leader, he

disobeyed me.” (Muslim) “I order you of five things: to be with Al Jamaah, to listen (to the leaders), to obey (the

leader’s orders), Hijrah (migration) and Jihad .” (Ahmad , Tirmizi) “If one dies and there is no ring of Bayah (pledge of allegiance) in his neck, he died in

jahiliyyah ( that is out of Islam.). (Muslim). “Whenever three of you are traveling, you should elect one as your leader.” (Abu

Dawood) “Listening to and obeying ( the commands of the leader) is obligatory upon a Muslim

whether he likes it or not as long as it is not in the disobedience of Allah (SWT).When a command is given in the disobedience of Allah (SWT), then there is no listening and no obedience.”

(Bukhari and Muslim).

Leadership- QuotesLeadership- Quotes

“Leadership: The art of getting someone else to do something you want done by making him believe he wants to do it.”

-Dwight D Eisenhower “If you wish to know what a man is, place him in authority.” – Proverb “The authority of a group is no stronger than the Leader who leads it.” – Unknown

“Real Leadership does not demand allegiance…..it earns it”

“To be a leader one must be trustworthy…to be trustworthy, one must be truthful”

Pre-requisites Pre-requisites

Ta’aluq Billah– Taqwah– No desire

Qualities of effective leadershipQualities of effective leadershipInfluence - Creates a vision of the future - Rational strategy to move to the vision -Enlists the support of workers

–Ability to motivate core group of people Authority

–Clear authority must be given by the people

and/or by the by-laws

Respect & Popularity (due to character and conduct)

The effectiveness of leadership The effectiveness of leadership depends on the following:depends on the following:

Personality and character of the leader.Quality of the workers.Quality and atmosphere of the Jamaah.

The importance of the personality The importance of the personality and characteristics of a leader:and characteristics of a leader:

Leader is the symbol of the organization and represents its nature and quality.

Leader is the center of authority.Leader is the driving force for the Jamaah.

Detailed CharacteristicsDetailed Characteristics

1. Taqwah with excellent conduct and character. This is to be done through a constant struggle to develop:A. close relation with Allah (SWT) B. love of the Prophet (SAW), Sahaba and

Ulama C. concern and fear of the accountability in the

Akhirah.

2. Knowledge and practice of Islam, administrative experience,

and wisdom (hikmah) of leadership. Wisdom (hikmah) includes the following:A. Understanding the specific thinking and situation of individuals and deal with them at their level.B. Knowing how to perform best with the best abilities and talents and deal with the difficulties in the way C. Know the circumstances and makes an appropriate strategy D. In depth understanding of the deen and its application in the changing environment.

3. Establishing Al Islam is the true objective of his life. He must have true love and priority for his mission and the Jamaah. And must be an example of utmost sacrifice for this mission.

4. Honesty , integrity and trustworthiness, with history of selfless service.

5. Competence. He should have the critical skills of leadership, i.e., observation, analysis, coaching,

recognizing the potentials, delegation, feed back.

6. Decision making ability after appropriate consultation and then ability to implement the decision.

7. Ability to motivate and discipline when necessary.

8. He should be flexible in his attitude with Hikmah depending upon the situation but he should be firm

in his decisions and zeal to move to the objectives.

9. Humility and recognition of his limitations.

10. Ability to speak, write and use modern techniques of communication.

11. Good physical health.

Characteristics that should not existCharacteristics that should not exist Pride and arrogance. Seek recognition and notoriety. Desire to seek leadership or other benefits. Considering him perfect or better than others.

This can lead to: a- discouragement of muhasiba b-jealousy c- suspicion about othersd- backbiting e- false accusation and reportingf- evil najwah g- grouping.

Imbalance in thoughts and actions. It leads to:a- looking at one side of the issue b- extremism and unnecessary insistence upon one’s

opinion and condemning other’s viewpoint c-unpleasant argumentation d- grouping.

Weak determination. This leads to: a- lack of interest in the work of the Jamaah. b-

lack of activity c- giving priority to other personal matters d- when asked , gives excuses e- blames weaknesses of the individuals and the Jamaah as the reason for his inactivity

Narrow-mindedness. (Shuh Nafs) .This can express itself as

a-ignoring one’s mistakes but not forgiving other’s b-considers his difficulties important but other’s difficulties are just excuses c-enforcing one’s liking upon others but not give any value to others liking d- unnecessary criticism of others stands e- intolerance to others opinion f- bitterness in the relations and mutual arguments and insights.

In any organization, 20% workers accomplish 80% work and 80% of workers accomplish 20% work.

AtmosphereAtmosphere

In every Jama’t an atmosphere must be developed and/or maintained by its leadership

5 different elements which determine the 5 different elements which determine the atmosphere in a Jamaah.atmosphere in a Jamaah.

Directions and expectations of the higher bodies ( Shura and the General Assembly).

Type of work. – Leadership has to allocate their attention depending

upon the type of work, i.e., regular, emergency, or temporary work.

Culture of the organization. Pressure of time. Traditions established by other leaders in the Jamaah or organizations of similar nature.

3 Basic operational principles of 3 Basic operational principles of Islamic leadershipIslamic leadershipShura Justice and fairness in dealing with

individuals and dispute solving.Freedom of thought and Muhasibah

Responsibilities of LeadershipResponsibilities of Leadership

ParticipationThis includes:

Planning- leader should chalk out a plan answering the what, when, where, how and who questions.

Implementation of plans- This will include assignments and allocation of resources in order to carry out the plan which is meant to accomplish set goals.

Follow up

CommunicationLeader must communicate at three levels:

With higher bodiesWith workersWith experts of different fieldsWith different ages/ethnicities/genders

Problem SolvingLeader must address problems:

By proper place/time/setting/forumWith proper mutual understanding/consultationWith authority when necessary

Develop resources and fulfill needs with those resources

Maintain disciplineThis includes:1. Ways to strengthen Jama’t by strengthening

membership ties 2. Preventative measures3. Implement disciplinary action against violators

appropriately-efficiently and effectively

Understanding of Workersleader must understand:

– Level of understanding

– Level of attachment

– Level of commitment

– Areas of interest

– Productive focuses

– Sensitivities

Points to remember of workersPoints to remember of workers

Some workers need clear guidelines for their assignment.

Workers who have the knowledge and experience like to work with some broad guidelines.

Those who are less active may need motivation. Those who violate the principles may need disciplinary action when appropriate.

Styles of LeadershipStyles of Leadership4 Styles

1. Autocrat- issues orders to be fulfilled with no questions.2. Benevolent Autocrat- listens to others, gives impression of

being democratic and makes his own decisions.3- Democrat- Shares decision making, explains reasons for

personal decisions, objectively communicates criticism and praise.

4- Laissez-faire- has little confidence in himself, sets no goals for the group, minimizes communication and group interaction.

7 Substyles7 Substyles

Styles that are a combination of the above 4 types:

1- Leader makes his decision, announces it and then implements it.2- Leader makes his decision and then tries to convince the workers.3- Leader tells his ideas to the workers and then through discussion implements his decision.4- Leader presents possible decision before the workers and with their consultation, he is willing to make some changes.

5- Leader tells the objective to the workers, gets their opinion and then makes his decision.

6-Leader tells the objective, consults the workers and then makes a collective decision.

7- Leader tells the objective and then leaves up to the workers to discuss and make a decision.

Positive leadership habitsPositive leadership habits

Know where your time goes.Focus on concrete resultsBuild on strengths and not weaknessesConcentrate on few major areas or

priorities where consistent hard work will produce results

Put complete trust in Allah and be afraid of nothing.

Who is not a leader?Who is not a leader?

One who comes to assembly unprepared, has done no home work and says tell me what to do.

One who has no alternative plans or strategy to discuss.

One who is not willing to take any risks, is timid and is intimidated.

One who wants to please everyone. Some “leaders” just follow the followers or a

group of followers.