Leadership Qualities

Ehsan Khalid

Muharram 21, 1440 2018-10-01

Letters To The Editor

by Ehsan Khalid (Letters To The Editor, Crescent International Vol. 47, No. 8, Muharram, 1440)

Thank you for outlining the qualities of Islamic leadership (CI, 9-2018). It is useful to be reminded of these important Islamic concepts to enable us to distinguish rulers from leaders. For Muslims, the prophetic model of leadership is the best example as stated in the noble Qur’an (33:21). True, we cannot reach his lofty position but Allah (swt) has set the standard for us. It is for us to achieve as close a proximity to it as possible.

Committed Muslims can use this criterion to distinguish genuine leaders from the pretenders. When we glance at the Muslim world, we see kings, tyrants, and an assortment of criminals masquerading as leaders. Almost all of them are also subservient to imperialism and Zionism. That alone disqualifies them from leading. Leaders are by definition only the servants of Allah (swt), no one else!

Ehsan Khalid
Montreal, PQ, Canada