LOVE OF LEADERSHIP

By 

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

In an authentic hadith, Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

إنكم ستحرصون على الإمارة وستكون ندامة يوم القيامة فنعم المرضعة وبئست الفاطمة

"You will be keen to have position of authority and will regret it on the Day of Resurrection. What an excellent wet nurse it is, and what a bad weaning one it is!" [This hadith is report in Sahih Bukhari]

On this hadith, Sufyaan ath-Thawriy رحمه الله said,

((من طلب الرياسة قبل مجيئها فرت منه وفاته خير كثير))

"Whoever seeks position of authority before its time, it would escape him and he would loose a lot of goodness"

He رحمه الله also said, 

((لا يطلب أحدكم الرياسة إلا بعد مجاهدة نفسه سبعين سنة))

"None of you should seek for position of authority except after fighting his soul for seventy (70) years" [See Min Akhlaaq as-Salaf, page 34]

In another hadith regarding seeking for leadership, Abu Musa رضي الله عنه reported: two of my cousins and I entered the house of the Prophet. One of them said, “O Messenger of Allah, appoint us as leaders over some lands that Allah the Exalted has entrusted to your care.” The other said something similar. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, 

 إِنَّا وَاللَّهِ لاَ نُوَلِّي عَلَى هَذَا الْعَمَلِ أَحَدًا سَأَلَهُ وَلاَ أَحَدًا حَرَصَ عَلَيْهِ

“Verily, by Allah, we do not appoint anyone to this position who asks for it or is anxious for it.” [Sahih Muslim, 1733]

So, who is your role model in politics? If we all see leadership positions as represented above, the best of us would emerge as leaders at the end of the day, and not those who would take away people's common wealth, and even their faith at the same time. Democracy does not even give room for this kind of arrangement because it is a direct opposite of the shari'ah. Allah's guidance is sought against the evils of our heart.