SOME THOUGHTS ON LEADERSHIP IN ISLAM - BY M.Z.M.NAZIM
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST MERCIFUL THE COMPASSIONATE.
One of the main subjects on which the dailies, our newspapers these days present to us - fresh news for our morning reading - is the ever-increasing cases of fraud and corruption. Be they committed by individuals or by those in high positions in public institutions, the news are indeed sickening for honest readers. It makes one wonder if in our midst a generation of thugs and crooks is being allowed to flourish. So daring have those involved become that the amounts of funds or properties disappearing run into millions. This subject would appear more appalling and tragic when one observes that those involved are men in high public positions, those relied upon and entrusted with the job of safe-guarding public properties. Let us view this question in the light of past Islamic history and may be we get an idea of the causes behind this scourge and possible solution for it.
This was the time of the fourth Caliph of Islam. Hazrat 'Ali -ibn-Abi Talib. He was implored upon the Muslim Ummah, to accept the caliphate and when he reluctantly did so, there had existed a state of widespread corrupt practices. Even some of the governors and commissioners in the Islamic state had succumbed to temptations of misuse of public properties. Hazrath 'Ali embarked upon eradicating all sorts of corrupt practices in his administration as he strived day and night to establish an Islamic rule of social justice free of frauds and nepotism. In his letter to a commissioner of an area he wrote:
'..I have been given to understand that you have taken possession of state lands and that you have not only brought them under personal use but have also misappropriated government money. Will you immediately send detailed accounts (about both the items)> Remember the reckoning of the Lord on the Day of Judgment is far more severe than any audit which man can carry out."
How imperative it is for leaders and heads of institutions to keep a look out for cases of frauds and misappropriation and be ready to demand accounts and explanation from those responsible is what we learn from foregoing historical situation.
This could be done effectively by only those who have clean hands and maintain straight records themselves. In the eyes of the Caliph Hazrat 'Ali (A) more than the human audit and scrutiny is the fear of Allah and His reckoning and chastisement in the after life that is very effective in checking human misdeeds. Hence his repeated mention of this in his sayings, sermons and letters to his officers and people. The fact is that unless man is made to inculcate in his mind the fear of his Lord and conviction about the severe accounting before Him one day to come, he could hardly be expected to exercise self-control over his actions.
Again, to one of his provincial governors who ran away with public treasury, he wrote this: "....You have invaded the public treasury and you looted as much as was possible the money which was reserved for old, widows, orphans and the poor. In this plunder, your action was so quick, so nimble and so effective that it resembled the action of a very active and wary wolf attacking and snatching away a wounded and helpless goat. You have with pleasure sent this looted wealth to Hijaz...."
From this it is evident, that Hazrath 'Ali (A) was drawing attention of those in high public positions, that they should not lose sight of the fact that any misuse of public funds is in fact directly or indirectly from funds reserved for the upliftment of the poor of whom some could be orphans and widows as well.. How would they like others to misappropriate properties belonging to their own widows or orphans when they were no more alive in this mortal world? Again in expressing the resemblance of such people with a wolf snatching away a wounded helpless goat, Imam 'Ali was in fact exposing their extreme cruelty and lack of sense of humanity and sympathy over the weak and the poor.
Thus we see that the scourge of misuse of positions and frauds in one form or the other to have been in existence even in olden times. Man is so greedy and hasty in his desire to grow rich overnight, as if it were, his main aim of life. Unless he is provided with high moral education and his mind is effectively inculcated with the fear of Allah with conviction of his having to account for his deeds and misdeeds, no other method could be more effective to check his actions. Those engaged in fraudulent practices for amassing wealth forget that in the end they are the losers. Yes in order to achieve ill-gotten wealth, it is imperative, that he indulges in scandal mongering and back-biting, telling others about others so as bring the others down in the eyes of the people. All this is done for the purpose of acquiring wealth. The Holy Quran says in Chapter 104 "WOE TO EVERY KIND OF SCANDAL-MONGER AND BACKBITER. WHO PILES UP WEALTH AND LAYS IT BY. THINKING THAT HIS WEALTH WOULD MAKE HIM LAST FOR EVER. BY NO MEANS HE WILL BE SURE TO BE THROWN INTO THAT WHICH SHATTERS TO SMITHEREENS. WHAT WILL EXPLAIN TO THEE THAT WHICH SHATTERS TO SMITHEREENS, IT IS THE FIRE OF THE WRATH OF ALLAH KINDLED TO A BLAZE - THAT MOUNTS RIGHT UP TO THE HEARTS - IT SHALL BE MADE INTO A VAULT OVER THEM IN THICK COLUMNS OUTSTRETCHED."
What is essentially needed is effective moral education.
In Islam, leadership mainly rests upon two things - knowledge and justice. It is obvious, that without sufficient knowledge about the people whom he is to lead, their conditions and requirements, a leader would not be able to guide them aright. For this a leader needs not only right informants and information but also to remain personally in closer and constant touch with his people and be concerned about their affairs.
The older past history of Persia prior to the advent of Islam has recorded Nawsherwan as the most just and fair-minded person having ever lived in the world. So strict was his sense of justice over the people over whom he ruled that his name became synonymous with Justice. During his days of childhood, Nawsherwan had a teacher who was exceedingly farsighted and conscious of practical ways of training his students. Once the teacher without any reason suddenly embarked upon scolding and even caning Nawsherwan, the prince. The beating was harsh that Nawsherwan cried loudly and the hatred and prejudice for this remained in his heart. When Nawsherwan grew up, he became the king of Persia and he thought of taking revenge. He called upon that teacher and inquired to know the reasons for that undue punishment and beating during his childhood. The teacher replied:
"I noticed that you were paying exceedingly good attention in doing your lessons. I was confident of your ability in the future and that you were going to inherit the kingdom after your father had passed away. I preferred to see you taste before-hand, the pang of oppression and injustice so that you do no injustice to anyone when you become the king."
On hearing this Nawsherwan was amused and he smiled. Now it was the turn of the teacher to ask Nawsherwan : as to wherefrom he learnt the strict and deep sense of justice - to which Nawsherwan replied:
Once during the early days, I had gone out to the woods for hunting accompanied by my soldiers. I witnessed a strange incident. I saw someone hitting a dog with a stone and break its leg. After a short while, I saw a horse galloping by and kicking that man thereby breaking his leg. And hardly a few steps had that horse run when suddenly its legs ran into a ditch fracturing one of its legs.
On watching this sequence of events and the balance of justice I learnt a lesson that oppression and injustice in this world is swiftly repaid in the same coin. Hence I resolved to rule and tolerate no injustice whatsoever in my kingdom."
So famous did he become as Nawsherwan 'Aadil _ Nawsherwan the Just that even the Prophet (S) said:
I was born during the times of the just king.
Let us too, therefore, learn a lesson from these incidents and pray to Allah to guide us all along the right path Aameen.