Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Who should be our leader?

In the Name of Allah,

All praise is due to Allah.

I can't remember the count, but many many times I have debated with Muslims reagrding our current leaders, and everyone seems to be confused as to who should be selected leader of Muslims. I ask them that what qualities they would like to see in him, and their answer is usually either very bias towards their race, or very vague.

Even our local masjid struggle with this when selecting for shura or Amir. They have selected rich, educated, influencial people hoping to bring success to the community, but thats not the formula for success.


It is not very difficult to decide who should be our leader, or what should be the criteria. We already have the method prescribed by the rightly guided ones. I would like to present some examples, and then a short story to make the point.

Leader should be the most pious person in the community, and he should believe in Islamic Sharia, and follows it in his life. He should be the one with the balance of knowledge and wisdom. He should be selfless in his actions. He should be open to ijtihad for the occassions, when the new matters come up for decision. He should be the one who would punish his family members more severly than others, if they break the law.

He should not interpret Sharia by himself, but refer the matter to the most knowledgable in the area. His family should be happy with him. He keeps his promises. He does not lie.

You never ever select anyone leader who wants to be one. If you want to be one, and get selected, then you are responsible for all the good and bad, and Allah will not help. However, if you don't want to be, and get selected, Allah will help you in every step, given that you follow Allah's will.

I understand that all of these qualities may not exist in one individual, but if some of them exist, then he is the one. My favourite leader was Al Farooq, Umar bin Khatta'b, the poor king, the one who invented the modern government, the one who championed the personal freedom, the one who allowed free speech, the one who worked in ditches himself. Nowadays, Imams wear fancy suites, and will not help in changing the trash, or cleaning dishes in the masjid. They are mere opposite of Umar.

Following story reflects what I have to say.

Caliph Umar Bin Khattab and trencher

Umar ibn Khattab not only known as the Caliph of authoritative, but also simple
and populist. To find out about people, Omar did not hesitate disguised as
ordinary people.

He often strolled into the countryside alone. At that time no one recognized that
he was actually head of government. When he found his subjects was trouble, he was
immediately given assistance.

Umar knew what was in his hands when it was not hers but belongs to the people.
For that Umar strictly prohibits family members spree. He was always thrifty in
the use of daily needs. Because hematnya, to use only lights amirulmukminin family
is very careful. The new oil lamps were lit when there is an important
conversation. If not, better not to use lights.

"My children, we better talk in the dark. Therefore, the oil used to light the
lamp belonged to the people! "Said the caliph when his son wanted to talk in the
middle of the night.

In his life, Umar always uphold the people's mandate to be administered in the
shoulder. Great respect for all people.
Apparently, the story about the greatness of the Caliph Omar was heard also by a
neighboring king. King was interested and wanted to meet with Omar.
So one day dipersiapkanlah troops to escort the royal government came to Umar.


When the king arrived at the gates of the city of Medina, he saw a man were busy
digging trenches and clearing drains on the roadside. Then, the man she called it.


"O my brother!" Cried the king, sitting on the saddle horse greatness.


"Can you show where the palace and the throne Umar?" He said later. The man was
immediately stopped the work. Then he saluted.

"O Master, Which Mr. Umar?" He asked in a ditch digger. "Umar ibn al-Khattab
head of government of the Islamic empire of the famous wise and brave," said the
king. Trencher man smiled. "You guessed wrong. Umar ibn Khattab was the head of
the Islamic government does not have a palace and throne as you
thought. He was an ordinary person like me, "explained the ditch digger,".
"Oh really? How could the head of the Islamic government of the great famous all
over the country had no palace? "King frowned.

"You do not believe it? Okay, follow me, "said the ditch digger.

Then he invited the king's entourage to the "palace" Umar. After walking through
the village halls, markets, and the city, they finally arrived in front of a
modest house. He led the royal guests came in and sat. Ditch
digger went back and change clothes. After the royal guests were met. "Now escort
us to the palace of 'Umar!" Said the king impatiently.

Ditch digger smiled. "Mr. King, I have said earlier that Umar ibn al-Khattab did
not have a palace. You are in the palace of Umar! "

Huh?! "The king and his guards stared. Of course they were shocked. Because the
house was not described masukinya least as a center of the kingdom. Although the
house was clean and neat, but very simple.

Apparently the king did not want to believe it. He also took out his sword. Then
stood up, brandishing his sword.

"Do not try to cheat me! This sword can cut your neck in an instant! "He threatened glaring.

Trencher was still smiling. Then quietly, he stood up. "Here there are no people
who dared to lie. If they do sword had cut his neck. Put the sword back. We did not deserve a fight in court Umar, "said trencher. He calmly took the king and put his sword back in its sheath.
The king was amazed to see the courage and the serenity of the trencher. Between
believing and not, looked at the face ditch digger. Then, he returned to see Umar's 'palace'.

Emerged servants and guards to entertain them with a ceremony greatness. However, the king had not been believed.

"Is this the palace Umar?" he asked the maid-servant.

"Yes, my lord, this is the palace of Umar ibn al-Khattab," said one maid.

"Okay," he said. King had to trust the maid's words.

"But, where is Omar? Show me, I'd love to meet him and shake his hand! "Said the king.
the maid politely pointed to the trencher man who sat in front of the king.

"Seated in front of you is the Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab" replied the maid
"Huh!" King was completely stunned. So did his bodyguards.

"So ... so, you are Caliph Omar ...?" Asked the king with a stutter.
The ditch digger nodded with a friendly smile.

"Since our first meeting at the gate of the city of Medina, in fact you were
dealing with 'Umar ibn al-Khattab!" He said quietly.

Then the king hugged him tightly. He was very touched and even cried to see the simplicity of Umar. He did not think, Caliph whose name revered in the entire country, was willing to dig trenches alone at the edge of town.

Since then, the king always send people to the city of Medina to study the Islamic
religion.

This is who we need to lead us. May Allah provide us a leader like him again.

JazakAllah Khairin
A struggling Muslim
AbuArman (Adnan Jumani)