popsical: What does Islam teach about leadership and authority?
I’m studying Islam at college, I need to write a paragraph answering the following
“What does Islam teach about leadership and authority – local, national and global?”
I’ve done some Google-ing but I’m not really sure how to answer this one – any links or info would be great.
Answers and Views:
Answer by James Y
Something like: “And obey God’s Law and obey God’s Prophet, and obey those in authority amongst you.” – The Qur’an
Erm. Well you see. I’m not so sure. But basically there are Hadiths and the Qur’an, Muslim Scholars and the Muslim Community in general. The Muslim Scholars will study the Hadiths and Qur’an and come up with Fiqh (Islamic Law) and if this accepted in general by the community people will live by these laws (ranging from things like what to do in the bathroom, how to greet other people, manner of prayer etc.).
There are of course debates as to whether or not Hadiths are authority, how to interpret verses of the Qur’an, and of course whether or not Hadiths are authentic.
Answer by ღISLAMღJust Leader/Rulers will go to Paradise:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The just will be with Allaah on thrones of light on the right hand of the Most Merciful, and both His hands are right hands – those who are just in their rulings and are fair with their families and those of whom they are in charge.”(Narrated by Muslim, 1827)
Unjust Rulers will not go to Paradise:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“There is no Muslim ruler who is put in charge of the Muslims’ affairs then he does not strive on their behalf or act sincerely towards them, but he will not enter Paradise with them.” (Narrated by Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaarah, 22).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“There is no person whom Allaah has placed in charge of others, who dies whilst he is insincere towards his people, but Allaah will forbid him Paradise.”(Narrated by Muslim, 142)
I also Google these. I didn’t read them thoroughly but I see that Muslim believe in Muhammad as one of their best leader, followed by his disciples or companions(Rashidun & caliph). In Islam Quran also their main source, so you may look up for any reference about it in that book too. That’s what I understand in general.
https://www.teachislam.com/templates/teachislam_v2/IslamicLeadership.pdf
Answer by AliThere is a lot said about leadership in the Quran, but one that stands out the most to me, is how Satan always tries to find his way to corrupt them. One must be weary of becoming such authority positions if you aren’t stead fast in your faith and morals.Answer by AlMujtaba
God has appointed certain leaders that we must follow and they are the prophets and messengers. After them, God has appointed successors/Imams to be followed and the holy prophet Muhammed (P.) has emphasized on it.
Some hadith from the holy prophet Muhammed regarding this issue:
The Holy Prophet (P) said: “Whoever contests Ali in regard to the khilafah is an unbeliever.”
Ibn al Maghazili in his Manaqib (Tehran), p.45, from Abu Dharr al Ghifari,
Allamah Ayni Hyderabadi in Manaqib Sayyidina Ali (Alam Press, Charminar), p.52, from al Khatib al Khwarazmi and Ibn al Maghazili.
The Holy Prophet (P) said: “Verily, Ali and I are inseparable, and he is the master (wali) of every believer after me.”
Al Tirmidhi, in his Sahih, ii, 297,
Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad, iv, 437, v, 356;
Abu Dawud al Tayalisi in his Musnad, iii, 111, xi, 360;
Al Nasa’i in Khasa’is, 40, reports this tradition on the authority of Abu Said al Khudri: Abu Said al Khudri reports: “We sat waiting for the Messenger of Allah (P) when he came out to meet us. The strap of his sandal was broken and he tossed it to Ali. Then he (P) said: “A man amongst you will fight the people over the tawil (interpretation) of the Quran in the same way as I have fought over its tanzil (revelation).” Thereupon Abu Bakr said, ‘Is that I?’ The Prophet (P) said: “No.” Then Umar asked him, ‘Is that I?’ “No.” said the Prophet (P). “It is the mender of the sandal (i.e. Ali).”
al Hakim in Mustadrak, iii, 122;
Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad, iii, 33, 82;
Abu Nuaym in Hilyat al Awliya’, i, 67;
Ibn al Athir in Usd al Ghabah, iii, 282, iv, 33;
The Prophet said, “ALI is with the Qur’an, and the Qur’an is with Ali.”
(Al-Bukhari, 5/19; Muslim, 2/360; Al-Tirmidhi, 5/304; Ibn Majah, 1/28; Musnad Ahmad, 3/328)
The Prophet said, “ALI and his Partisans are the successful ones.”
(Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 47; Mizan Al-‘Itidal, 2/313)
The Prophet said, “I am the warner, and the guide after me is ALI.”
(Musnad Ahmad, 1/151; Al-Tirmidhi, 2/135; Al-Khasa’is of Al-Nisa’I, 20; Kenz Al-Omal, 1/247)
So the 12 successors of prophet Muhammed (P.) are:
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS)
Imam Hassan Al-Mujtaba (AS)
Imam Hussain As-Shaheed (AS)
Imam Ali Zain-ul-Abideeen (AS)
Imam Muhammed Al-Baqir (AS)
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (AS)
Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (AS)
Imam Ali Ar-Ridha (AS)
Imam Muhammed Al-Jawad (AS)
Imam Ali Al-Hadi (AS)
Imam Hassan Al-Askari (AS)
Imam Muhammed Al-Mahdi (AS)
At this time, the time of occultation of the twelfth leader/Imam, we have to go back to maraji’/fuqaha/most-learned scholars such as Grand Ayatullah Sayed Ali Al-Sistani, Grand Ayatullah Sayed Muhammed Saeed Al-Hakeem, Grand Ayatullah Shaikh Ishaq Fayyadh, Grand Ayatullah Shaikh Basheer Najafi, Grand Ayatullah Shaikh Wahid (Vahid) Khurasani, etc. based on teachings of the Quran and Hadith, till the reappearance of the twelfth Imam, Imam Muhammed Al-Mahdi (A.S.)
“But why should not a party from every section of them (the believers) go forth to become learned in the religion, and to warn their people when they return to them, that they may beware?” (9:124)
It is narrated by Imam Hasan al-`Askari, peace be upon them, he says, “…but if there is anyone among the fuqaha’ who is in control over his own self, protects his religion, suppresses his evil desires and is obedient to the commands of his Master, then the people should follow him.” (Shaykh at-Tabarsi, al-Ihtijaj, vo. 2, Najaf 1966, p. 263.)
A third hadith is from the Present Imam, Muhammed al-Mahdi, peace be upon him, who said in a reply to Ishaq ibn Ya’qub: “As far as newly occurring circumstances are concerned, you should turn (for guidance) to the narrators of our ahadith, for they are my proof over you just as I am Allah’s proof.” (Ibid, p. 283.)
We can understand two things from these verses of the Qur’an and the ahadith of the Imams: 1) there must always be a group of fuqaha’ in every Muslim society; 2) those who are not qualified as fuqaha’ or mujtahids, must follow one, and that to go against his instruction in religious matters is tantamount to polytheism.
That is in short about leadership and authority in Islam.
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