17 rules of leadership in Islam below will explain that being a leader must have the following four conditions; Shidiq (honest), Amanah (responsible), Fathonah (intelligence), and Tabligh (accountability and transparency). These four conditions are the four qualities of a leader possessed by the prophets and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) as the leader of his people.
- Choose a leader figure
Islam is very concerned with leadership issues. In the following hadith here proves that in the smallest group (Muslim), the Prophet Muhammad commanded a friend (Muslim) to choose and appointed one of them to be a leader. Like Abu Bakr, he was the first leader after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Below here is the complete hadith. See also Rules Of Qurban In Islam
“If there are three people traveling, they should appoint one of them to be a leader.”
(Abu Dawud and Abu Hurairah)
2. The prohibition of choosing Non-Muslim leaders
Allah Almighty has said in the Quran that to choose the figure of a leader of the Muslims must be right. In a verse, Allah Almighty speaks emphatically about the prohibition of choosing a non-Muslim to be a leader. Below here Allah Almighty says in the Quran.
“Let not believers take disbelievers as allies rather than believers. And whoever (of you) does that has nothing with Allah, except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the (final) destination.” (Verse 3:28)
3. The punishment of Allah Almighty
In an environment, Muslims want to choose a non-Muslim to be a leader, then Allah Almighty will give punishment in the Hereafter for the Hypocrites. Below here Allah Almighty says in the Quran. See also Rules Of Mourning In Islam
“Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment. Those who do take disbelieve as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor (through power)? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah entirely.” (Verse 4:138-139)
4. The purpose of leadership in Islam
Allah SWT decided His mercy on man to uphold the leadership on earth with the aim of rejecting oppression and defending the weak. With leadership on earth, all human life will be safe. Below here Allah Almighty says in the Quran.
“So they defeated them by the permission of Allah, and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him the kingship and prophethood and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allah checking (some) people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of bounty to the worlds.” (Verse 2:251)
5. The figure of a leader in Islam
The figure of a leader according to a good Islam is a leader who wants to share with his people. In here, all of the people will surely get the same share of justice. A good and just leader is the important rule in searching for a leader in Islam. Below here Allah Almighty says in Quran. See also Rules of Trading In Islam
“Who spend (in the cause of Allah) during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people and Allah loves the doers of good.”(Verse 3:134)
[AdSense-B]
6. A leader must be honest
First, in Islam, a leader must have an honest nature. Be honest in speaking and acting in performing their duties. You need to know that indeed those who lie are unbelievers of Allah Almighty and they are liars. Below here Allah Almighty says in the Quran.
“They only invent falsehood who do not believe in the verse of Allah, and it is those who are the liars.”
(Verse 16: 105)
7. Leadership is not a position to be contested
Second, leadership in Islam is not something that is demanded, pursued and contested. To be a leader is should trustworthy and responsible for serving the people. The higher the power of a leader is the higher the service of a leader against his people. Below here Rasulullah (PBUH) said in hadith. See also Rules of Waqf In Islam
“You are weak, and this is a trust and can be a cause of contempt and regret in the future (if wasted).” (Muslim)
8. A leader must be reliable and intelligent
[AdSense-A] Third, choose a leader who is intelligent, capable and reliable who can cope with emerging issues. It is important to choose a leader who has intelligence, with leaders who have the ability this will be an example for the people. For that, choose a leader who can provide advice, which has a broad knowledge and can be a good example. Below here Rasulullah (PBUH) said in hadith.
“The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Nobody is entitled to give lectures except a leader, or a person who gets permission for it (ma’mur), or indeed an arrogant and thirsty person.” (Muslim)
9. responsible leader
The last of the requirements to be a leader in Islam is a leader in its delivery must be honest, open, and responsible for all actions taken. A leader should do a good deliberation to the people about the vision, mission, government programs, and regulations. Below here Rasulullah (PBUH) said in hadith. See also Rules of Remarriage in Islam
“Abu Hunaidah bin Hadjur R.A. said; Salamah bin Jazid asked the Messenger of Allah: yes Rasulullah, what if lifted above us heads who only clever claimed his rights and held back our rights, then how do you make us do? At first, the Messenger of Allah ignored the question, until asked a second time, the Messenger of Allah said: listen and obey, it is true for each of their own duties to them there is responsibility and responsibility for you.” (Muslim)
10. A leader should justice
A leader must also be able to do justice, and this justice must be felt by all parties and community groups regardless of religion, ethnicity, culture, and their background. Below here Allah Almighty says in the Quran.
“When they enter upon David and he was alarmed by them? They said, ‘Fear not. (We are) two adversaries, one of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed (it) and guide us to the sound path.” (Verse 38:22)
11. A leader must have a loving nature
Prophet Muhammad SAW, he said that people who have the right to become leaders are those who have a loving nature. The best leader should also be an example and guidance for all his people. Below here Rasulullah (PBUH) said in the hadith. See also Rules for Eating in Islam
“Love the people of the earth, surely Allah Almighty in heaven will love you.” (Tirmidhi)
12. He should have faith
A chosen leader must have faith, he must be a Muslim, and pious. These three basic things must be owned by a leader. A leader who has these three things will certainly lead to a peaceful life. Bellow here Allah Almighty says in the Quran.
“O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are (in fact) allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you then indeed, he is (one) of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.”(Verse 5:51)
13. A leader should have a straight intention
A prospective leader who has bad intentions and aims to fool the people, mischieve the people, and oppress the people these are not allowed in Islam. So, a leader in Islam he must have a righteous intent, clean, holy and sincere. Below here Rasulullah explains this in his hadith. See also Rules of Shaving in Islam
“Indeed every deed of the deed depends on its intent. And indeed everyone (will be rewarded) according to his intentions … “(Bukhari and Muslim)
14. Hold on to the law of Allah Almighty
A leader who believes should in carrying out his duties as a leader must hold on to the law of Allah Almighty. In deciding a case, a leader should hold on to the law of Allah Almighty and please do not follow your lust, because the lust is Satan. Below here Allah Almighty says in the Quran.
“And a judge, (O Muhammad), between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you. And if they turn away then know that Allah only intends to afflict them with some of their (own) sins. And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient.”(Verse 5:49)
15. A leader must be firm
In Islam, a leader must be firm and he is not a dubious person. This firmly here still holds to the law of Allah SWT. Firmly here it is not because he is a leader he becomes a man who dares to oppress the people. Below here is the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said in the hadith. See also Rules of Drinking Water in Islam
“If a leader spreads doubts in society, he will destroy them.” (Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Al-Hakim)
16. Choosing the gender of leaders in Islam
Choosing a leader’s gender in Islam as well as possible is a man. Allah Almighty has mentioned in one verse, explained there that a man is a leader of women. However, if the group is all of the women, then it is permissible to choose a woman to be a leader. Below here Allah Almighty says in the Quran.
“Men are in charge of women by (right of) what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend (for maintenance) from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard…..”(Verse 4:34)
17. The bad leader
Notice this, a bad leader is a misleading leader. A leader must have a good religion so that people’s religion all be good. When the religion of the leader is messy, it will be messy among of the people too. Below here Rasulullah (PBUH) said in hadith. See also Islamic Rules for New Born Baby
“The thing I am most concerned about you is the misleading leaders (Imam)” (Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi)
Hopefully, the 17 rules of leadership in Islam above can increase the knowledge for Muslims about the importance of rules of leadership in Islam. Leadership in Islam is not a position that to be contested, sought or demanded. A leader must be a good example for society and he must be a servant to his community.