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THE IDEAL LEADERSHIP (PART 8)
By Marhum Ahmed H Sheriff
HUMILITY ESSENTIAL FOR
LEADERSHIP
Lest man in his narrow and
secular outlook considers himself big and exalted on attainment of high
position in the society, Imam Ali bin Hussain (as) has in his
supplication of Makarim guided us to pray in these words:
"O'
my Lord! Bless Muhammad (saw) and his progeny, and do not elevate my
status in the eyes of the people but at the same time make me think
lower of myself to the same extent and do not bless me with an outward
honor until You make me inculcate humility in my innerself"
Attainment of an elevated
position of high honor is likely to corrupt the mind of not coupled with
a deep inner sense of humility. A leader, however elevated before his
people he may be, he is not likely to render true and fair service to
them if he does not develop and cherish inner humility. It would not be
out of place to quote herewith some of the words of advice by Sayed
Khomeini at the investiture ceremony of President-elect Mohamedali
Rajaie:
"As
long as a man's outlook and perception is limited and secular, worldly
status is likely to intoxicate him.. Once in our hearts we have been
enlightened with the Divine radiance and submission to Him, such
insignificant worldly status is not likely to impress us. Yesterday you
were a Prime Minister, before that you were a Cabinet Minister, and
before that you were a School Teacher, and further before that you were
a simple student at school. And it is not known when you will depart
from this world. It is likely that immediately after you leave or even
while you are present here, a bomb may explode and liquidate all of us.
If this is a factual possibility, why should one's character change
after he is elected President? After all what is Presidency? What is it
before a person whose heart is lit with the light of Monotheism? What is
the whole of universe compared with the glory and magnificence of the
Blessed and Supreme Lord? The whole of this material universe has no
significant weight compared with the spiritual world,wherefore should
we, as a headman of a village, or a alderman of a city or the head of
the state think that we are now something and look upto ourselves and
down upon others?"
Thus only when a leader
broadens his outlook and deepens his perception into the spiritual world
that he can find that this worldly status is very insignificant and
transient. When he looks down upon himself as nothing in this vast
universe and embarks upon serving mankind with his status that it would
be appreciated in Islam.
Almighty Allah had revealed
upon the Prophet to be humble and gentle before the believers as can be
seen from the following verse of the Holy Qur'an:
"And lower the wing (make yourself gentle) to the believers"
(15:88)
The metaphors is from a bird
who lowers her wing in tender solicitude for the little ones.
Please recite Suratul-Fatiha for the thawaab of Marhum Ahmedbhai H
Sheriff
Released by:
Mulla Mujaheedali Sheriff
mulla@almahdi.org.uk |