by Rami Mahmoud Elsawah
Malcolm X, He didn't pass away early…Allah took him back. From Allah do we originate and to him do we return.
Fear Allah my friends. For if you are one who desires any type of power...think carefully about the consequences which you may incur. Power corrupts...this is undeniably so. So seek refuge from the weakness that makes us desire it...and know that the strongest in faith are sometimes those who are visible the least.
Nicholas, Czar of Russia. The Last of the Bolsheviks, rulers of a proud and mighty empire. His people were abused...starved...murdered...sent to fight never ending wars. Yet even with all this he never even realized what was happening. He did not realize that the pot of a most frigid nation was boiling to such extreme proportions just below his feet. He, his four daughters, his wife and child were all murdered. He was blinded by the power that belongs only truly to Allah.
"The strong man does not desire power, and a weak man is corrupted by it", so said by the late Czar of Russia...so said in the movie of a dead ruler, who treated his people unfairly.
What a most dangerous tool it is…Power. It's ability to good is inconsequential to its far greater capacity to do harm. Yet seek, seek, and seek it is all the sons of Adam do. Unaware that on the day of Truth every soul will be asked about its actions...but the leader wil be asked MUCH more.
Responsibility lies in the hands of each one of us. Yet more is sought...why? I think something needs to be clarified...the difference between dreams and reaity. Everyone is dreaming of a better world, and we all dream of having a meaningful life. The two essentially go hand in hand in the pursuit of power for the purpose of good. We want to make a difference…we want to be known as being great. Then reality slaps us in the face. The ones who were just actually led miserable lives, they suffered greatly, and the responsibilities that they had to bare were immense. Why then was he just? Because he fears Allah and understands that his Book in the hereafter will not only account for him...but for those under him. Whether they are deeds of righteousness or coals of fire rely entirley on the course he took in the life he lived as a ruler.
The Imam leading the prayer is responsible for those he leads. He must concentrate greatly…keep the whispers of Shaytan away. He is leading his people to a meeting with Allah…how will he represent them? It is quite the daunting tasks…how many can claim to not have their thoughts astray at some point in their Salat. Who then thinks he deserves to be them Imam?
The Shura of the Masjid. They will be asked about every dollar of the people which they spent. Nobody owns a Masjid except Allah(SWT). They have only been employed as its custodians. Which one of us can claim to be a very wise spender of our own money. How then will they answer to Allah when they are brought forth on the Final day?
Every role of leadership has it’s potential for an exponentially of deeds. For every good thing he does in which the people follow…his deeds are multiplied by the factor of his followers. Likewise for the bad. It’s a tricky situation.
A few months back a man of short stature named Pooper Elsawah passed away; he was my guinea pig. Yet when he died I couldn’t help but feel an extreme feeling of guilt. I could have done better, I said. I felt as if my job as his caretaker was not good enough…a feeling that almost every human being feels when some creation of Allah they were dear to passes away. This is afterthought…and afterthought is what Allah has given us to keep us from repeating our own wrongs.
Afterthought is that crap feeling in your stomach while you are waiting for your grades to be published…because you knew you didn’t work as hard as you should’ve. Afterthought is that feeling you get when you think about the misdeeds you have done…that feeling of regret…that feeling that makes you stay far away from doing it ever again.
Then on the day when Israfil is given the command to blow the trumpet…and every last one of us will be pooping in his grave. Afterthought will coming rushing back. Then you will begin to think of this and that thing you did…and it will be a most terrifying day. Think back to the anxiety you faced when expecting that borderline grade…think of that day you were pulled over after knowing you sped at 110…think back to the way you felt as a child when you knew your dad was coming home after you had done something wrong. When the punishment is coming, confidence runs straight out the door.
So why then…please someone tell me…is everyone rushing forth to take the great responsibility of leadership upon themselves!?! Fear Allah! For even the Just Ruler is not always just forever. Sometimes Allah has to bestow his mercy on the Just Ruler and take him back to that which he came. At least that is my opinion. I have always said that the only way to know if you were a good ruler is if you were killed by one of your people…if you were assassinated. So think carefully…and look to the example of our great old aging Muslim leaders today.
May Allah grant us Mercy…for the poor old sons of Adam.
Verily your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the throne (of authority), regulating and governing all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His leave (hath been obtained). This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore serve ye: will ye not receive admonition?
To Him will be your return- of all of you. The promise of Allah is true and sure. It is He Who beginneth the process of creation, and repeateth it, that He may reward with justice those who believe and work righteousness; but those who reject Him will have draughts of boiling fluids, and a penalty grievous, because they did reject Him. (Surat Yunus 3,4).
Assalaamu 'alaikum,
Great work as usual Rami. Truly you're so right about us always wanting to lead. It's not something to be so anxious for; thas why I don't understand all these Muslims running campaigns, vote for me, vote for me. Besides the fact that the Prophet (saw) said that whoever asks for leadership should not be selected as a leader, why would anyone want to be held accountable for more people under his or her belt?
Insha'Allah let's pray that Allah helps us realize our true worth in this Earth and help us achieve 'Qurb' to Him.
Wassalaam
Arif
'work in this life as if you'll live forever, prepare for the Hereafter as if you'll die tomorrow'
Salaam: What a great way in exhortation. may Allah bless you. I often think aloud the same question, Why people seek leadership? On the other hand, who then will lead if everyone shy away from leadership? Of course, sincerity cna make good leaders and I do hope people seek leadership based on sincerity and in the end Allah's mercy be with those who lead with sincerity and taqwa.
Thanks.
on April 9, 2004 11:17 AMSahih Bukhari Book 89, Number 264:
Narrated Ma'qil: I heard the Prophet saying, "Any man whom Allah has given the authority of ruling some people and he does not look after them in an honest manner, will never feel even the smell of Paradise."
Sahih Bukhari Book 89, Number 263:
Narrated Abu Musa: Two men from my tribe and I entered upon the Prophet. One of the two men said to the Prophet, "O Messenger of Allah! Appoint me as a governor," and so did the second. The Prophet said, "We do not assign the authority of ruling to those who ask for it, nor to those who are keen to have it."
Masha'Allah, great work.
The Humility Factor makes or breaks a leader.
Humility is inversely proportional to arrogance... as arrogance increases, humility decreases.
on April 10, 2004 12:17 AMAssalam u alaikum Br. Rami,
Mashallah a great article. I am so familiar with all those sinking feelings and anxieties of knowing that you did not do as well as you should have done :)
I had a question though. You know how you said, "I have always said that the only way to know if you were a good ruler is if you were killed by one of your people…if you were assassinated". Why do you think so? I was trying to think about it but I could not come up with any explanatation.
Jazakallah khair
Asalaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatu,
It was an observation I had that whenever a Ruler did any good for his nation he was assasinated.
For some reason nations always seems to kick out or kill those who come to do good...like what happened to all the prophets of the past.
My short list of (Muslim) Just rulers, all of whom assasinated:
1) Umar ib Khattab (R.A.A.)
2) Umar ibn Abd-Aziz (they said if there 5 rightly guided caliphas...he would be it)
3) Malcolm X (a leader rather than a ruler)
4) Anwar Sadat, who fought the Israelis and reclaimed Sinai
Bad Rulers always tend to live forever (check out rulers in the mid-east today) and survive every attempt at assasination. There is a hadith touching on this...although I cannot find it(if any does please post it).
Iy basicilly says that Allah keeps the Unjust Ruler alive so that he may fill his cup of misdeeds to the brim. Therefore after that said ruler returns to Allah...he will have incured the harshest punishment on himself.
Waslaam Warahmatullah Wabarakatu.
on April 10, 2004 11:04 AMAssalamuAlaikum,
I am sorry about Pooper. But I am glad he was a guinea pig and not a human because the kids would have made a lot of fun of him in school.
Innalillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji'oon
WasalaamuAlaikum
(P.S. I can understand your point about just rulers being called to Allah via assassination, but arent there also just as many unjust rulers who were assassinated?)
WasalaamuAlaikum
on April 10, 2004 12:26 PMAs-salamu 'Alaikum,
What about Abu Bakr (ra), what about Prophet Muhammad (saw), the best of all leaders? Infact he survived many assasination attempts. Also there were many corrupt rulers in the past who were assasinated and they deserved it...no use taking names. I don't think we can just generalize.
Ofcourse If there is indeed a hadith, then i shall submit to that.
Also when we talk about leadership or rulers, it doesn't only apply to the imams or presidents. We all are leaders in some way or another, we are all responsible for our flock. The duaa' "wa ja'alna lil muttakeena imama" in surah furqan is referring to families. So if no one else, atleast we are responsible for our families.
While its true that we shouldn't long for leadership, at the same time i've realized we can't shy away from it, rather spend time preparing for it
One of the seven people who will be granted Allah's shade when there will be no shade except His shade,is a "just ruler". May Allah(swt) include us among those people.Ameen
wassalam
Rami, your mention of Pooper Elsawah cracked me up at first and then made me feel sad. It was a sad day when he died but I tried to make his last hours/days as comfortable as possible.
Anyway, you know what I thought of as I read your article? Lord of the Rings. Remember when Gandalf was offered the Ring by Frodo but he vehemently refused? Remember his reply? "I dare not take it! Please understand Frodo that I would take the ring with the intention to do good. But through me the Ring would do great evil...". Or something along those lines (you have my tape so I don't know what was said exactly).
People always seek leadership with the intention of helping the Ummah and doing good, but in truth, in the wise words of Uncle Ben...With great power comes great responsibility. And then there's that famous quote "Power corrupts and absolute powers corrupts absolutely" (or something like that).
So yeah, my comment full of quotes is my way of saying I agree with you. Keep in mind that Husni Mubarak is over 70 years old.
on April 10, 2004 9:07 PMRami,
You forgot Imam Ali (R), he was assasinated by the khwarij.
walaikumsalaam
wajahat gilani
hmmm, and al noor-al-ayn Uthman (RA)...one of the saddest Conquest classes....
on April 11, 2004 4:40 AMAsalaamu `alaikum,
Bint Abbas, you meant Dhun-Noorayn (He of the Two Lights -- i.e., 2 daughters of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him). Noor al-Ayn means light of the eye.
on April 12, 2004 6:23 PMAssalamuAlaikum,
SubhanAllah, I hadnt even noticed that typo. JazakAllah khair ya ameerul durbah.
WasalaamuAlaikum
on April 12, 2004 6:46 PM