Superiority Complex Leads to Evil CONTENTS

tell his opinion on this matter. Uthman replied that it was right that “he was stern in character but his inner self was better than his outer self.” (Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 3, p. 428) From this we learn that those who opposed the leadership of Umar Farooq were applying a wrong criterion in support of their opinion. For a believer, whether he was stern and severe or gentle was not the issue. The real criterion was that he should be wellintentioned; he should be God-fearing and should have the power of insight. He should have the ability to discriminate between truth and untruth. If we look at the matter in terms of the right criterion, we will find that the appointment of Umar Farooq to the caliphate was 100 per cent right, because the most important quality of a caliph was being farsighted and he had this quality par excellence. On the contrary, if this matter is judged by a wrong criterion, it could be said that the selection of Umar Farooq for caliphate was not right, because he was of a very harsh temperament. But this criterion is not right in itself. The ability that is required must be in accordance with the task to be performed.