Factors in Leadership: The Social and the Individual

FACTORS IN LEADERSHIP: THE SOCIAL AND THE INDIVIDUAL The Ulama are eternal guardians of people’s mental fabric, thinking, attitude and behaviour. Their task is to set right the mindset of people of every age, guiding them on to the right path, which is the foundation of society. The political governance is the superstructure that rests on this foundation. I n the chapter on leadership and justice in Mishkat al-Masabih, we find this saying of the Prophet: “As you are, so shall be those appointed to govern you.” (Shuabul Iman, Hadith No. 7006) From this tradition, we learn about two things: first, the issue of the individual human condition in terms of thought, attitude and behaviour; and second, the issue of organisation of collective human affairs. In other words, political leadership. The above tradition of the Prophet tells us that a given society’s political structure will reflect or shape the condition of the people of that society. The Ulama are eternal guardians of people’s way of thinking. Their task is to set right the mindset of people in every age, guiding them on to the right path while leaving the task of governance to the politicians.