Workshops at the 15th International Leadership Training programme Islamabad Pakistan 01-31st October 1998 by Prof Dr Omar Hasan Kasule, International Islamic University, Malaysia
GUIDELINES:
1. This module assumes the concept of performance gap which is the difference between the ideal and the actual in organizational performance. The performance gap is the difference between the potential and actual performance of organizations and individuals. Many individuals and communities all over the world are experiencing phenomena of revival and renewal. There is a new reawakening and a determination to make tomorrow better than yesterday. However the zeal, commitment and efforts of the revival have not been perfectly or completely translated into practical results that everyone can see in the society. The practical achievements fall far short of the potential. Success in building and managing institutions, the backbone of real and sustained change, has been limited in several communities and countries. The gap between aspirations and achievements is due to a relative deficiency of practical skills in leadership and management. These skills are not in-born. They can be taught or developed through experience on the job. Individuals and organizations pay a high price in terms of lost opportunities for the continued existence of the performance gap.
2. There is no one fixed system of Islamic leadership or management. As with many similar social phenomena, Islam defines the broad principles and leaves it to the people of each place and era to define the system most suited to their circumstances. The system must therefore change with changes of time and space. There is no utopia. Any human system will have strengths and weaknesses. The aim should be to decrease the weaknesses and increase the strengths. The best system are those based on empirical experience and that are open to changes if empirical evidence shows that they are not working well. The empirical experience must be within the moral context of Islam for it to bear fruits.
3. This module consists of 12 workshops each covering a leadership/management skill or issue. Each workshop requires 3-5 hours distributed as follows: pre-workshop preparation (30 minutes), facilitator presentation (30 minutes), group discussions (1-2 hours) and a plenary concluding session (1-2 hour). You have to prepare by reading the material before the day of the workshop. Start by studying the outline of the session. Then read the background and text. Scan through the discussion questions. On the appointed day, the workshop facilitator makes a presentation followed by a question and answer session. For discussion, groups made up of no more than 5 persons in each are formed. The discussion covers the background reading, analysis of the text, and the discussion questions at the end. Relate everything you read or discuss to your practical experience. In some cases the group has to undertake an exercise or a case-study analysis. Each discussion group presents a summary of its discussion to the plenary session. It is recommended that you supplement the material given by readings in books and other sources on the subject. Write down your all discussions, observations and conclusions
4. The following conceptual tools. Technical terms will be useful in your discussion: leadership (attributes, functions, skills, values, attitudes, authority, influence), model leaders, evaluation of leaders
WORKSHOP #1
LEADERSHIP: ESSENCE AND NATURE
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
· Definition of leadership
· Importance of leadership
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
Importance of leadership
Understanding leadership
Everybody undertakes some leadership functions
Empowering followers
Leaders vs Managers
Selection, change or renewal of leaders
Problems faced by leaders
Problems faced by leaders
TEXT ANALYSIS
Leadership after trial
Good leader wants good followers
Leader to be given some privacy
Necessity/obligation of having leaders
Personal ambition for leadership discouraged
Everybody exercises leadership responsibility
Leadership authority in incompetent hands is a sign of doom
Disobedient followers
DISCUSSION
Leadership after trial
Good leader wants good followers
Leader to be given some privacy
Necessity/obligation of having leaders
Personal ambition for leadership discouraged
Everybody exercises leadership responsibility
Leadership authority in incompetent hands is a sign of doom
Disobedient followers
Incompetent leaders condemned
Omar was a great leader
Leader serves community
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
Importance of leadership: Leadership is a pre-condition for civilized existence. Absence of recognized leadership means chaos to the detriment of all. Any group of 3 or more must have a leader. Leadership is the single most important determinant of organizational success. Good leadership leads to success; bad leadership leads to frustration and failure. All members, supporters, and sympathizers of the organization are stakeholders who are concerned about success and failure of leadership. One of the harbingers of doom is to place leadership authority in the wrong hands.
Understanding leadership: Leadership is the process of influencing people and making them do certain things. It is both an art and a science. It may be formal and legalistic or informal. It has rational, emotional, intuitive and instinctive dimensions. Leadership involves moving followers in a certain direction mostly by non-coercive methods. Successful leaders get voluntary cooperation from followers. Good leaders persuade and do not command. Fear and authority are not leadership. Leaders who depend only on authority and coercion do not go very far. Poor leaders by contrast manipulate their followers. Manipulation is getting a person to do what they are not aware of or do not want to do. A few leadership skills are innate but most are acquired by experience and education. There is a dynamic interaction between the leader, the followers, and the situation. A leader of one group of followers may not be able to lead a different group. A leader in one situation may fail in another one. Roles of leaders and followers can be interchanged. A leader may be a follower of a more powerful leader. A good leader must therefore also be a good follower. True leadership is more service than domination. The leader is the servant (sayyid al qawm khadimuhum). Good and effective leadership is a source of greatness (ab'qariyyah). Great movements and changes in history are always associated with great leaders. Intended here is real, genuine, moral, and competent leadership based on character and integrity and not the phoney leadership that thrives on propaganda, deceit, and manipulation. Bad leaders are motivated by power alone. They just like the exercise of power. Good leaders have higher motivation. They want to use leadership power to improve and make a change.
Everybody undertakes some leadership functions: Leadership is a function exercised by almost everybody each in his or her own sphere; you are at least leaders of yourself or leader of your family. Leadership can be in the community, the work place, and in public organizations. Since everybody has some leadership roles, each one can become a more effective leader by formal training or gaining experience on the job. Not everyone wants to be a public leader. There are many people who are just not prepared to invest the energy necessaru to shoulder the responsibilities of public leadership. Leadership involves the following specific functions: setting and communicating visions, goals, and objectives; representing followers; directing, coordinating, and integrating; influencing, mobilizing, motivating, creating enthusiasm and optimism; providing services and making a difference.
Empowering followers: There is no leadership without followership. The quality of the followers determines the quality of the leaders. A good leader may fail with bad followers. An average leader may succeed if he has good followers. In the long run it is follower quality that determines the nature of a particular leadership situation. "The way you are is the way of your leaders". Followers get the leaders they deserve. Incongruence between followers and leaders is usually temporary and hardly exceeds a generation. Successful leadership requires that followers obey the leader. There are, however, limitations and conditions for that obedience as will be discussed later. Good leaders teach leadership, they pull and do not push. Good leadership involves empowering followers by coaching them and then sharing leadership power with them through delegation. Followers must be given real authority, information and resources but must be held accountable for what they do. Empowered followers have heightened self-efficacy and self-confidence. They will have higher performance, exhibit more cooperation, achieve higher personal growth, and in the end all ensure the survival of the organization.
Leaders vs Managers: Leadership calls for different skills from management. Managers are not necessarily leaders. The reverse is also true. An organization may be well led but poorly managed and vice versa. In practice, management and leadership functions overlap. An individual can exercises both leadership and management functions in varying proportions. You have to know when to lead and when to manage. Leaders are concerned with effectiveness; they are intuitive and visionary; they like change, innovation, challenging the status quo, and development; they are original; they focus on vision and its importance; they have a long-term view and inspire others to achieve and excel. Managers are rational problem-solvers whose concern is efficiency, process, and mechanics of achieving objectives. They administer for maintenance of stability, harmony, and the status quo. They follow and do not innovate. Their view is generally short-term.
Selection, change or renewal of leaders: Successful public leadership is always directly or indirectly dependent on the consent of the followers. Good selection of public leaders requires participation of the followers. Leaders can not be imposed. Imposition of leaders can work for only a short time or is associated with unsuccessful leader-follower situations. The exact method of expressing the follower's view varies according to the circumstances of each group. Follower input whatever its nature can not be ignored. There is no correct answer to the question how long should one individual stay in leadership? It is better to leave this matter open and decide according to circumstances. Staying too long discourages the emergence of younger leaders and infusing new blood and new ideas into the organization. It may also result into inefficiency as the leader loses effectiveness with time. Frequent changes of leaders may on the other hand result in lack of continuity and instability. There are situations in which one long-serving leader is the only one with the skills and charisma to hold the organization together. In such a case you should not insist on change for the sake of change.
Problems faced by leaders: Leaders experience problems. Being at the top can be lonely. They take responsibility for failures. Followers may be disloyal to the leaders or the organization. Subordinates may have poor values that the leaders can not stand. There may be dissent. The leaders may be ahead of the followers in vision and thinking. External threats are always looming on the horizon. A leader is a public figure and has to accept more invasion of his privacy than an ordinary person. It is important that people know enough about leaders' private life to be assured that they are not involved in any activity that is incompatible with their leadership position. The leader must be accessible at all times and can not claim privacy as a reason for not carrying out leadership functions. The followers must however have some consideration for the leader and his family. They must give him some privacy so that he can lead an ordinary life
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
Leadership after trial: And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain Commands, which he fulfilled: He said: " I will make you An Imam to the Nations. He pleaded: " And also ( Imams ) from my offspring!" He answered: " But My promise is not within the reach of evildoers. Qur'an 2:124
Good leader wants good followers: And those who pray, Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) To lead the righteous. Qur'an 25:74
Leader to be given some privacy: O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet's houses until leave is given you for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation: but when you are invited, enter; And when you have taken your meal, disperse, without seeking familiar talk. Such (behavior) annoys the Prophet: he is ashamed to dismiss you, but Allah is not ashamed (to tell you) the truth. Qur'an 33:53
Necessity/obligation of having leaders: “Abu Said al Khudri reported the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: When three are on a journey, they should appoint one of them as their commander." Abu Daud 2:721, Chapter 933, hadith # 2602 …. "Salamah daughter of al Hurr and sister of Kharshah b. al Hurr al Fazari said 'I heard the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) say one of the signs of the last hour will be that people in mosques will refuse to act as imam and will not find an imam to lead them in prayer." Abu Daud 1:153, Chapter 153, Hadith # 581
Personal ambition for leadership discouraged: "Abd al Rahman b Samurah said: The Apostle of Allah ( may peace be upon him) said to me: Abd al-Rahman b. Samurah, do not ask for the position of commander, for if you are given it after asking you will be left to discharge it yourself, but if you are given it without asking you will be helped to discharge it." Abu Daud 2:827, Chapter 1090, hadith # 2923
Everybody exercises leadership responsibility: “Abdullah b Umar reported the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible of his flock. The amir (ruler) who is over the people is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock; a man is a shepherd in charge of the inhabitants of his household and he is responsible for his flock; a woman is a shepherdess in charge of her husband's house and children and she is responsible for them; and a man's slave is a shepherd in charge of his master's property and he is responsible for it. So each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock". Abu Daud 2:827, Chapter 1089, hadith # 2922 …. "It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar that the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him ) said: Beware, every one of you is a shepherd and every one is answerable with regard to his flock. The Caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs ). A man is a guardian over the members of his family and shall be questioned about them (as how he looked after their physical and moral well-being) A woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children). A slave is a guardian over the property of his master and shall be questioned about it ( as to how he safeguarded his trust ). Beware, every one of you is a guardian and every one of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust." Muslim 3: 1017, Chapter 758, Hadith # 4496
Leadership authority in incompetent hands is a sign of doom: "Narrated Abu Huraira: While the Prophet was saying something in a gathering, a Bedouin came and asked him " When would the Hour (Doomsday) take place?" Allah's Apostle continued his talk, so some people said that Allah's Apostle had heard the question, but did not like what that Bedouin has asked. Some of them said that Allah's Apostle had not heard it. When the Prophet finished his speech, he said, " Where is the questioner, who enquired about the Hour (Doomsday)?" The Bedouin said, " I am here, O Allah's Apostle " Then the Prophet said, " When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday). The Bedouin said, " How will that be lost?" The Prophet said, " When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (doomsday)". Bukhari 1;50-51, hadith # 56
Disobedient followers: Musa and Isaelites: Qur'an 2:51-61, 5:22-29, 7:148-156, 7:159-162 Talut, Daud, and Banu Israil.
Incompetent leaders condemned: "It is narrated on the authority of Abu Malih that Ubaidullah b. Ziyad visited Maqil b. Yasar in his illness. Maqil said to him: I am narrating to you hadith which I would have never narrated to you had I not been in death bed. I heard Allah's Apostle ( may peace be upon him ) say: A ruler who has been entrusted with the affairs of the Muslims, but he makes no endeavors ( for the material and moral uplift ) and does not sincerely mean ( their welfare ) would not enter Paradise along with them"
Muslim 1: 82, Chapter 44, Hadith # 264
Omar was a great leader: The Prophet said, “In a dream I saw myself drawing water from a well with a bucket. Abu Bakr came and drew a bucker or two weakly. May Allah forgive him. Then Umar bin Al Khattab came and the bucket turned into a very large one in his hands. I had never seen such a might person as he in doing such hard work till all the people drank to their satisfaction and watered their camels that knelt down there. Bukhari 5:23 Hadith #31, Bukhari 5:24 end of Hadith.
Leader serves community: I heard Abu Hurayrah say, “God have mercy on Ibn Hantamah. I saw him in the Year of the Destruction carrying on his back two provision bags with a skin of olive oil in his hand. He and Aslam were taking it in turns. When he saw me, he said, ‘Where are you coming from, Abu Hurayrah?’ I told him from near at hand, and I began to take my turn to carry. So we all eventually came to Sirar where there were abut twenty isolated tents of Muharib. ‘Umar said, ‘What has brought you here?” They replied it was exhaustion. They brought out for us some broiled carrion skin that they were eating and some powdered old bones that they were scooping into their mouths with their hands. I saw ‘Umar throw his upper garment [over his shoulder], then adjust his waist wrapper. He continued cooking for them until they were satisfied. Then he sent aslam to Medina and he brought some stallion camels on which he counted them and set them down in al-Jabbanah. HE then gave them clothes, visiting them and others [in similar circumstances] frequently until God relieved the people of this drought”. Tabari 14 : 119
DISCUSSION:
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS
Read texts of the events of the 2nd and 10th years of Hegira. Identify 2 actions of the Prophet that were leadership functions and 2 that were management functions in the second year of hijra. Do the same for the 10th year of hijra. Complete the following table.
A. SECOND YEAR OF HIJRA
Function, event, or decision | leadership? | Managerial? |
B. TENTH YEAR OF HIJRA
Function, event, or decision | leadership? | Managerial? |
LEADERSHIP SITUATIONS
Describe the following leadership situations. Make sure to identify the leader(s), the followers, the leadership activities, and the relation between the leader(s) and the followers
Musa and bani Israel
Talut and bani Israel
David and bani Israel
Sulaiman and animals
YOUR NOTES:
Workshop-2
LEADERSHIP POWER
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
· Types and use of leadership power
· Misuse of leadership power
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
Leaders defined by actions
Definition of power
Types of power
Use of leadership power
Credibility
TEXT ANALYSIS
Leadership power
Being gradual in obtaining compliance
Omar was feared
Omar’s sensitivity
Toughness and softness
DISCUSSION
Comparing types of power
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
Leaders defined by actions: Leaders and followers are better defined by what they do than what they are or what they say. Actions can not deceive over time; reputation and nice words often do. Every leader has to expose himself through his actions since there is no leadership without activity.
Definition of power: Power is capability or potential to get something done. Influence is exercise of power to get something done. Authority is formal power that a leader has as a virtue of the position. Power and leadership are interdependent but are not interchangeable. A leader needs power to succeed and influence others but power alone does not make an effective leader.
Types of power: There are 2 types of leadership power: personal and positional. Both are used in varying proportions depending on the leadership situation. Personal power is based on character, expertise, charisma, and personal relations. Positional power is based on formal authority that includes decision-making, reward, punishment, and control of information and organizational resources.
Use of leadership power: The leader has to make a correct judgement of which source of power to use in a particular leadership situation. Influence is exercise of leadership power. Powerful leaders have more influence. They have credibility and can get more compliance from their followers. Leaders can get follower compliance by rational persuasion, appeal, pressue, promise of rewards, negotiations (win-win, compromise). Leader get followers to do things either by making small demands followed by big ines, or by starting with big demands followed by small ones of the big ones are not possible
Credibility: A leader gains more power and influence by building credibility. Credibility is based on competence (experience, knowledge, skills), character (honesty, kindness, sympathy), self-confidence, activity and drive, boldness and assertiveness. The followers must trust the leader if he is to lead them well. Building credibility starts with self-assessment to know your strengths and use them, to identify your weaknesses and compensate for them. You have to listen to and learn from the followers. Keeping promises and being predictable are very important for credibility.
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
Leadership power: Sulaiman Qur'an 27:15-44
Being gradual in obtaining compliance: Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: Allah's Apostle said to Mu'adh bin Jabal when he sent him to Yemen. "You will come to the people of scripture, and when you reach them, invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle. And if they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers to be performed every day and night. And if they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) to be taken from the rich amongst them and given to the poor amongst them. And if they obey you in that, then be cautious! Don't take their best properties (as Zakat) and be afraid of the curse of an oppressed person as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah. Bukhari:
Omar was feared : “Narrated Saad bin abi Waqqas Umar bin Al Khattab asked permission of Allah’s Apostle to see him while some Quraishi women were sitting with him, talking to him and asking him for more expenses, raising their voices over the voice of Allah’s Apostle, when Umar asked for the permission to enter, the women quickly put on their veils. Allah’s Apostle allowed him to enter and Umar came in while Allah’s Apostle was smiling, Umar said, O Allah’s Apostle ! may Allah always keep you smiling. The Prophet said, These women who have been here, roused my wonder, for as soon as the heard your voice, they quickly put on their veils. Umar said, O Allah’s Apostle ! You have more right to be feared by them than I”. Then Umar addressed the women saying. O enemies of yourselves ! Your fear me more than you do Allah’s Apostle? They said, Yes, for you are harsher and sterner than Allah’s you going on a way, but he takes another way other than your”. Bukhari 5:23 - 24, Hadith # 32
Omar’s sensitivity: According to Ahmad b. Umar : Umar b. al-Khattab passed through the market carrying his whip. He death me a blow with it and caught the edge of my garment, saying “Get out of the way”, the following year he met me and said, “Are you intending to go on the pilgrimage, Salamah? When I told him that I was, he took me by the hand to his house and gave me 600 dirhams, saying, use them to make your pilgrimage, and you should know that they are by way of compensation for the lash that I gave you. “I replied, But I had not remembered it” Commander of the Faithful. “But I had not forgotten it! “exclaimed”.Tabari 14 : 138 - 139
Toughness and softness : Abu Ja’far [al-Tabari] said : (‘Umar) was hard on those dubious reputations and severe in [seeking out] God’s truth until he extracted it, but easygoing in what was owed to him until it was handed over to him and compassionate and full of pity for the weak. …. According to ‘Ubaydallah b. Sa’d al-Zuhri-his paternal uncle-his father-al-Walid b. Kathir-Muhammad b. ‘Ijlan-Zayd b. Aslam-his father: Some Muslims had a word with ‘Abd. al-Rahman b. ‘Awf and said, “Speak to ‘Umar b. al-Khattab, for he has inspired so much fear in us that indeed we cannot look him in the face”. ‘Abd. al-Rahman b. ‘Awf mentioned this to ‘Umar and he said, “Did they really say this? ! I was indeed lenient with them to such as extent that I was afraid of God. I became severe with them to such an extent that I was afraid of God. I swear an oath in God’s name that I am more afraid of them than they are of me!”. Tabari 14: 111 - 112
DISCUSSION:
COMPARING TYPES OF POWER
Fill the following table comparing types of leadership power. Write down 1-3 advantages/disadvantages for each type of power
TYPE OF POWER | ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
REWARD | ||
PUNISHMENT | ||
EXPERT | ||
PERSONAL RELATIONS |
YOUR NOTES:
WORKSHOP #3
TYPES OF LEADERS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
· Classification of leaders according to various criteria
· Behavioral patterns of different types of leaders
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
Model leaders
Types and styles of Leaders
Classification based on decision-making style
Classification based on orientation: people vs task
Transformational and transactional leaders
Charismatic leaders
Assessment of leaders
TEXT ANALYSIS
The 5 rightly-guided khulafa: a model
Omar brought dignity and strength to Islam
Ali Ibn Ali Talib on Omar’s honesty
DISCUSSION
Comparing types of leaders
Comparing leader and follower roles in various leadership styles
Characteristics of charismatic leaders
Comparing advantages and disadvantages of charismatic leadership
Comparing charismatic and non-charismatic leadership
Leadership styles
Choice of leadership style for different situations
Comparing task vs people-oriented leaders
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
Model leaders: The Prophet Muhammad and the 5 rightly-guided khulafaha after him as well as other illustrious leaders in history are a model of ideal leadership. They led according to the dictates of the noble teachings, maintained justice, avoided oppression and promoted the welfare of their immediate followers and generations to come. The Prophet's character was patience and perseverence, wisdom and foresight, kindness and empathy, concern and care for others, honesty and truthfulness, justice and fairness, courage and firmness, love and mercy, forgiveness, simplicity and humility, and good humor. Abubakr is remembered for his piety, wisdom, gentle character, honesty, principled behavior, and justice. Abubakr was gentle and kind in most cases but when the need arose he would be very firm and decisive. Omar Ibn al Khattab is remembered for his courage, justice, hard-work, seriousness, and generosity. Uthman b Affan is remembered for his piety, gentle character, modesty and benevolence. Ali b Abi Talib is remembered for his bravery, scholarship, learning and justice. Khalid Ibn al Walid is remembered for his bravery and his military strategy. Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz is remembered for his righteousness and piety. Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah led a great reform movement. Salahuddin al Ayyubi liberated al Quds. Muhammad al Fatih liberated Constantinolople and renamed it Istanbul
Types and styles of Leaders: Leadership is highly individualized and is very specific for the situation and the type of followers. Each circumstance calls for different skills and style of leadership. The only constant un-varying dimension is that whatever style or skills are employed, they must conform to the leader's basic personality, values, and attitudes otherwise there will be inconsistencies that will eventually lead to leadership failure. Several types of leaders and styles of leadership can be described: autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. Leaders can be transactional, transformational, or charismatic. Some leaders are task oriented whilst others are people-oriented. Choice of type or style must be flexible. The choice is determined by: the situation, leader personality, follower personality, type of organization, and type of work carried out. Some situations call for use of a combination of leadership styles.
Classification based on decision-making style. Leaders can be autocratic, democratic, or laissez-faire: Autocratic leaders are dictatorial. They set goals, make all the decisions and just give followers orders to carry out. They personally direct tasks. There is very little follower feed back. Democratic leaders on the other hand involve followers in decision-making, listen to them, and give them a chance to participate. There is feed back from both the leaders and the followers. Laisser-faire leaders neglect their role. They have little interaction with the followers. They do not care about what the followers do. The followers ae free to do what they want, how and when they want. Laisser-faire leaders exercise hands-off management.
Classification based on orientation: people vs task: Leadership may be task-oriented or people-oriented. A good leader has the right mixture of the two for the particular leadership situation he may find himself in. The correct synthesis is to concentrate first on the people, make them believe in themselves, trust them, train and nurture them and then let them produce superior results. Task-oriented leaders are mainly interested in production and results. They often have poor interpersonal skills. Some leaders perform well with structured tasks whereas others are best with unstructured tasks. People-oriented leaders are interested in the welfare of the followers and try to make them happy and contented. It this is take to the extreme productivity, quality, and results may be forgotten.
Transformational and transactional leaders: Transformational leaders empower, inspire, innovate, and raise passions. They have a vision and communicate it effectively. They raise followers to higher levels of motivation and morality. They give their followers a feeling of well being and imbue new confidence and blow a new spirit in them. There is an emotional bond between the leaders and the followers. Their power is person-centered. Transactional leaders fulfil the followers' current material and psychological needs in return for performance. Their outlook is managerial. Transformational leadership is a type of transaction leadership that focuses on higher goals instead of immediate material rewards for followers.
Charismatic leaders: Charismatic leaders arise in certain circumstances and are not selected. They are characterized by their commitment to values, enthusiasm and energy. They have person-centered authority which ends with their exit from the stage. They are revered and followers are devoted to them. They are invariably dynamic public speakers. They evoke strong emotions, display self-confidence and competence, serve as role models, communicate high expectations with transcendental goals, and embody in their person the hopes, aspirations, and frustrations of the followers. Positive charismatic leaders use their authority to improve society. Wise leaders are never fooled by the charisma. Negative charismatic leaders use that authority for their own self-aggrandizement. Charismatic leaders have a tendency to think of themselves as indispensable and to know all. They may develop egoistic and dictatorial tendencies. They can easily misuse their great authority and power. They usually do not prepare others to take their place. When they disappear from the stage they leave behind a void and instability.
Assessment of leaders: Leaders, being human, are not always perfect. They have strengths and weaknesses. A correct assessment of a particular leadership situation requires looking at both strengths and weaknesses. Expectations generate a power and a momentum of their own and are a very powerful motivator. A leader who effectively communicates expectations gets what he expects. Only self-confident leaders can communicate expectations effectively. Practical life tests leaders in various ways; the strongest emerge successful from the tests. A leader must be able to stand up to emotional and psychological pressures, must maintain his calm and objectivity in face of personal insults and abuse directed at him or what he stands for and loves. He must be able to deal fairly with people he is not emotionally comfortable with: opposers, those who abuse, and disparage him.
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
The 5 rightly-guided khulafa: a model: "Sufyan al Thawri said: The Caliphs are four: Abu Bakr, Umar Uthman, Ali and Umar Ibn Abd al Aziz". Abu Daud 3:1300, Chapter 1684, hadith # 4614
Omar brought dignity and strength to Islam: “Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas’ud : We have been powerful since Umar embraced Islam” Bukhari 5:24, Hadith #24 … Abdullah Ibn Masu’d said: kaana Islam Umar fatihan, kaanat hijratuhu nasran, wa kaanat imaratuhu rahmat.
Ali Ibn Ali Talib on Omar’s honesty: Innaka afafta fa affat raiyatuka wa law rata’ta la rata’at.
DISCUSSION:
COMPARING TYPES OF LEADERS
Fill the following table defining different types of leaders. Score each criterion as high, medium, or low.
ACTIVITY | TRANSACTIONAL | TRANSFORMATIONAL |
Creativity | ||
Communication | ||
Vision | ||
Empowering followers | ||
Passion | ||
Task-achievement |
COMPARING LEADER AND FOLLOWER ROLES IN VARIOUS LEADERSHIP STYLES
Complete the following table showing the roles of leaders and followers under 3 styles of leadership (autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire) and by function (goal setting, debates, decision-making, feed-back, implementation). For each function write ‘L’ if if it is done mostly by the leader, ‘F’ if it is done by the follower and “L&F’ if it is done by both.
Autocratic (directive) | Democratic (participative) | Laissez-faire (Not involved) | |
Goal setting | |||
Debates | |||
Decision | |||
Feed-back | |||
Implementation |
CHARACTERISTICS OF CHARISMATIC LEADERS
Think of a charismatic leader that you have known and score the following characteristics as high, medium, and low.
CHARACTERISTICS | SCORE | |
Personalized leadership | ||
Followers identify with leader | ||
Followers willing subordinates | ||
Followers feel empowered | ||
Leader articulates future vision | ||
Leader has rhetorical skills | ||
Leader projects positive image of success | ||
Emotional bond between leader and followers | ||
Crises help emergence of charisma |
COMPARING ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP
Think of a particular charismatic leader you know or have read about. For a specific context of time, place, and circumstances score the advantages and disadvantages as high, medium, or low
Score example
Advantages
transform
empower
Disadvantages
irrational behavior
emotional manipulation
havoc or destruction
COMPARING CHARISMATIC AND NON-CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP
Complete the following table comparing a charismatic and non-charismatic leader. Think of two leaders you have read about or have known, one charismatic and the other non-charismatic. Score each criterion as high or low.
CRITERION CHARISMATIC NON-CHARISMATIC
Accept status quo
Personal popularity
Sensitivity to environment
Articulation of goal/vision
Use of personal power
Use of positional power
Change people
LEADERSHIP STYLES
Fill in the following table comparing directive, participative, and laissez-faire leadership on various performance criteria (indicate high, average,low)
Directive Participative Laissez-faire
Quantity
Quality
Innovation
Group cohesion
Conflict in group
Satisfaction
CHOICE OF LEADERSHIP STYLE FOR DIFFERENT SITUATIONS
Fill in the following table about choice of leadership styles in given situations
Directive Participative Laissez-faire
Crisis/emergency
Leader has superior knowledge
Followers mature and knowledgeable
Time is of essence
Tasks requiring creativity
COMPARING TASK VS PEOPLE-ORIENTED LEADERS
Fill the following table comparing task-oriented to people-oriented leaders
Task-oriented People-oriented
Productivity
Sharing information
Accepting follower ideas
Open informal communication
Listening to others
Facts and data
Feelings, emotions, and attitudes
YOUR NOTES:
WORKSHOP # 4
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES OF LEADERS & FOLLOWERS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
· Attitudes and values
· Personality
· Behaviour
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
Leadership attributes
Leadership values and attitudes
Drive, energy, and self-motivation
Personality
Simple life, honesty and financial integrity
Attributes of followers
TEXT ANALYSIS
Justice, objectivity, and honesty in Leadership
Allah's guidance for leaders
Prophet lived in poverty
Qualities of followers and advisors
Personality: strength and patience
Avoiding appearance of impropriety
Omar’s courage : about the black stoneomar at home : simple eating
Omar refuses personal gift
Omar careful with public funds
Omar careful about public property
Forgiving the foolish
DISCUSSION
Personal attributes of leaders
Relation between attributes and skills of leader with the level of leadership
Positive leadership values
Negative leadership values
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
Leadership attributes: Very few attributes necessary for successful leadership are in-born. Most are acquired early in life in the home and community environment or are learned in adult life. Those who are associated with good leaders for a long-time (friends, offspring, friends, and followers) are likely to be good leaders by learning and imitation. Children of good leaders, if well brought up, can be good leaders not because of genetic endowment but because of early environmental influence. Effective leaders have personal attributes, conceptual, practical and human skills that enable them to succeed. Attributes are what leaders are. Skills are what leaders do. Personal attributes are basic character and personality: drive, values, attitude,.bravery, strength of personality, humility, simple life, honesty, integrity, commitment. Practical skills are needed for performance of technical activities: communication, decision making, problem solving, execution. Human skills are needed to understand and motivate followers: understanding followers. Conceptual skills are intellectual functions involving planning, coordination and integration of activities. They include analytic, rational, and intuitive abilities. Examples are: setting goals, knowledge, ummatic view, learning from mistakes. In any given situation there may be several highly qualified people available for leadership. Allah gives authority to whomever He wants. Not everybody can become a leader. Everybody must be prepared to be a good follower. The best leaders are those who have no ambition to lead. They lead when called upon but will equally be happy as followers.
Leadership values and attitudes: Effective leaders have positive moral values and attitudes. Values: A leader must have positive and moral values such as honesty, ethics, social responsibility. These values are taught by religion, the family, peers, and life experience. Values can be inculcated by habit. A leader with no values is very dangerous. Islamic leadership values are derived from three main concepts: tauhid, khilafat, and adl. These values are universal and do not change by time and place. Attitudes: Attitudes are enduring or permanent feelings, opinions, or beliefs about self and others. They may be positive or negative. Attitudes start with ideas, wrong ideas are associated with negative attitudes whereas good ideas are associated with good and positive attitudes. Ideas determine behavior and feelings. A good leader has positive attitudes toward others. He will keep away from negative attitudes such as racism or prejudice in any of its forms. An optimistic attitude to life is needed. Pessimistic leaders discourage their followers.
Drive, energy, and self-motivation: The most important trait of successful leaders is drive which includes a strong desire for achievement, high ambition, high energy levels, tenacity and initiative. Drive combined with high motivation, honesty, integrity, self-confidence, emotional stability, and intelligence distinguish leaders from non-leaders. Both genetics and environmental influence contribute to drive; the relative contribution of each is not known. Successful leaders have a high level of motivation to lead. They want to make a change, to improve, to influence, to exercise power for achieving definite goals. They take charge. Effective leaders have the mental and physical stamina as well as aptitude to take responsibility and to be accountable.
Personality: A leader must have a strong personality. Strength of personality does not mean violence, roughness or stubbornness. It is strength of character, sticking to moral values and attitudes at all times, and avoiding whatever is immoral even if it is expedient and is attractive. A leader must be brave. In times of danger followers will be firm if their leader is firm. There is a mutual psychological dependency. A brave leader will have reassured followers around him. When the followers are reassures and are firm, the leader is also encouraged even more to be firm and face crises. The leader must be objective and not confuse personal and organizational interests. The credit for whatever he does should go to the organization. He must not overestimate his importance as an individual. He must have a healthy mixture of confidence (for organization) and humility (for himself). He must focus on the organization and not his person. A leader must have a dignified physical appearance but must not be extravagant. The leader is a spokesman and representative of the followers. His appearance is a reflection on all. Successful leaders have the ability to learn from previous mistakes. They readily accept mistakes once they are apparent. Poor leaders do not even acknowledge their mistakes and will hate anyone who points them out.
Simple life, honesty and financial integrity: A good leader leads a simple life. Extravagance and materialism weaken and destroy the spirit eventually leading to corruption and evil. Too much materialism destroys the spirit of the leader and eventually that of the followers. A leader must not distinguish himself from the followers. He must actively discourage the development of a personality cult around himself. He should never think he is special. It was only Allah's wish that he was selected among many capable people to be a leader. Simple living and avoiding luxuries are necessary for integrity. The leader must be a model of honesty. Honesty in public and private affairs in a crucial test for a leader. Honesty is required in seemingly small or trivial things. Dishonesty is a habit, once acquired is difficult to shake off. Small dishonesties will one day become big ones. Good leaders deal with their followers honestly and are up front. Financial integrity: A successful leader has financial integrity in dealing with public property. It is not enough to be honest; you must be seen to be so and you must avoid any suspicious behavior. The only way to ensure this is complete transparency in financial matters. Followers must know what is going on so that they are assured that had there been any discrepancies they could have seen them. A leader and his immediate or extended family should never gain materially from his position. Taking public property is clearly theft. There are other situations that are not so clear to which moral and not legal tests have to be applied. A leader or his family can, like all citizens, sell or buy legally. However those dealing with them may give him preferential treatment because of the position. Such treatment would not have been possible before assumption of leadership. In such a case there is unacceptable gain from the leadership position.
Attributes of followers: Attributes of followers closely parallel those of their leaders if the leadership situation lasts a fairly long time. Followers may be lazy or hardworking. Some followers accept and take responsibility; others shun it. Some followers are sheep and are 'yes people' they will follow whatever is moving. Some are survivors who will do whatever is necessary to stay out of trouble. Other followers are alienated and do not care about what is going on around them. Some followers are obedient others are not. Many will not obey until they are promised a reward or are threatened with punishment. Followers differ in intelligence, education, experience, honesty, respect for leaders, and gratitude
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
Justice, objectivity, and honesty in Leadership: David! We did indeed Make you a vicegerent on earth: so judge you between men in truth (and justice): Nor follow you the lusts (of you heart) for they will mislead you from the Path of Allah: for those who wander astray from the Path of Allah, is a Penalty Grievous, for that they forget The Day of Account. Qur'an 38:26 … "Al Hasan said, Allah has enjoined an obligation on all the rulers that they should not follow the lust of their hearts and should not be afraid of the people and should not sell Allah's Verses for a low price". Bukhari 9:206 … Narrated Maqil : I heard the Prophet saying, " Any man whom Allah has given the authority of ruling some people and he does not look after them in an honest manner, will never feel even the smell of Paradise." . Bukhari 9:197 (hadith # 264-265) … Buraidah reported the Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) as saying: When we appoint someone to an...dealing". Abu Daud 2:831, Chapter 1098, Hadith # 2937
Allah's guidance for leaders: And remember David and Solomon, when they give judgement in the matter of the field into which The sheep of certain people had strayed by night: We did witness their judgement. To Solomon We inspired the (right) understanding of the matter: to each (of them) we gave Judgement and Knowledge; it was our power that made the hills and the birds celebrate our praises with David: it was We who did (all these things). Qur'an 21:78-79 … "Narrated Abdu Rahman! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand them you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking ( for it) then you will be helped ( by Allah ) in it. If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then you should expiate your oath and do what is better.". Bukhari 9:194-195, hadith # 260 … "It has been reported on the authority of Abd al-Rahman b. Samura who said: The Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) said to me: Abd al-Rahman do not ask for a position of authority, for if you are granted this position as a result of your asking for it, you will be left alone (without Allah's help to discharge the responsibilities attendant thereon), and if you are granted it without making any request for it you will be helped (by Allah in the discharge of you duties". Muslim 3: 1014, Chapter 756, Hadith # 4487
Prophet lived in poverty: "Narrated Abu Huraira : The family of Muhammad did not eat their fill for three successive days till he died". Bukhari 7:220, hadith # 287
Qualities of followers and advisors: "kama takuunu yuwalla alaikum" … "The statement of Prophet ( may peace be upon him): Religion is to be sincere and true to Allah (i.e. obeying Him, attributing to him what He deserves and doing Jihad for His sake); to Allah's Apostle ( i.e. t respect him greatly and to fight on his behalf both in his lifetime and after his death and to follow his traditions); to the rulers of the Muslims ( i.e. to help them in their job of leading Muslims to the right path and alarm them if they are heedless ) and to the Muslim commons (i.e. to be merciful to them". Bukhari 1:48, chapter 43…"Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: The Prophet said. " Allah never sends a prophet or gives the Caliphate the a Caliph but that he ( the prophet or the Caliph) has two groups of advisors: A group advising him to do good and exhorts him to do it, and the other group advising him to do evil and exhorts him to do it. But the protected person (against such evil advisors) is the one protected by Allah". Bukhari 9:235, hadith # 306.
Personality: strength and patience: "It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr who said: I said to the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him): Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me to a public office? He stroked my shoulder with his hand and said: Abu Dharr, you are weak and authority is a trust, and on the Day of Judgment it is a cause of humiliation and repentance except for one who fulfills its obligations and (properly discharges the duties attendant thereon". Muslim 3: 1015-1016, Chapter 758, Hadith # 4491… "Narrated Abdulla: The Prophet divided and distributed something as he used to do some of his distributions. A man from the Ansar said, " By Allah, in this division the pleasure of Allah has not been intended." I said, " I will definitely tell this to him while he was sitting with his companions and told him of it secretly. That was hard upon the Prophet and the color of his face changed, and he became so angry that I wished I had not told him. The Prophet then said, " Moses was harmed with more than this, yet he remained patient.". Bukhari 8:78, hadith #122
Avoiding appearance of impropriety: "Abu Huraira reported that Hasan b. Ali took one of the dates of the sadaqa and put it in his mouth, whereupon the Prophet ( may peace be upon him) said: Leave it, leave it , throw it; don't you know that we do not eat the sadaqa". Muslim 2: 517, Chapter 400, Hadith # 2339 … "Abdul Muttalib b. Rabia b. al Harith reported that Rabia b. al Harith and Abbas b. Abd al Muttalib gathered together and said. By Allah, if we had sent these two young boys ( i.e. I and Fadi b Abbas ) to the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) and they had spoken to him he would have appointed them ( as the collectors ) of these sadaqat and they would ( collect them ) and pay ( to the Holy Prophet ) as other people ( collectors ) paid and would get a share as other people got it, As they were talking about it there came Ali b. Abu Talib and stood before the, and they made a mention of it to him. Ali b. Abu Talib said: Don't do that; by Allah he ( the Holy Prophet ) would not do that ( would not accept your request ). Rabi b. Harith turned to him and said: By Allah, you are not doing so but out of jealousy that you nurse against us By Allah, you became the son in law of the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) but we felt no jealousy against you ( for this great privilege of yours )/ A;; then said. Send them ( if you like ). They set out and Ali lay on the bed. While the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) offered the noon prayer, we went ahead of him to his apartment and stood near it till he came out. He took hold of our ears ( out of love and affection ) and then said: give out what you have kept in you hearts. He then entered ( the apartment ) and we also went in and he ( the Holy Prophet ) was on that day ( in the house of ) Zainab b. Jahsh. We urged each ( of us ) to speak. Then one of us thus spoke: Messenger of Allah, you are the best of humanity and the best to cement the ties of blood-relations. We have reached the marriageable age.We have come ( to you ) so that you may appoint us ( as collectors ) of these sadaqat, and we would pay you just as the people ( other collectors ) pay you, and get our share as others get it. He ( the Holy Prophet ) kept silence for a long time till we wished that we should speak with him ( again ) and Zainab pointed to us from behind the curtain not to talk ( any more ). He ( the Holy Prophet ) said: It does not become the family of Muhammad ( to accept ) sadaqat for they are the impurities of people. You call to me Mahmiya ( and he was in charge of khums, i.e. of the one fifth part that goes to the treasury out of the spoils of war.) and Naufal b., Harith b. Abd al-Muttalib. They both came to hi, and he ( the Holy Prophet ) said, to Mahmiya: Marry you daughter to this young man ( i.e. Fadi b. Abbas ) and he married her to me, and he said, to Naufal b. Harith: marry your daughter to this young man ( i.e.Abd al Muttalib b. Rabia the narrator of this hadith ) and he married he to me, and he said, to Mahmiy: Pay so much mahr on behalf of both of them from this khums. Zuhri, however, said: He did not determine ( the amount of mahr)". Muslim 2:518-519, Chapter 401, Hadith # 2347…..According to the narrator : Umm Kulthum, the daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib (and wife of Umar, sent to the Empress of the Byzantines perfume, drinking vessels, and cheap receptacles used for women’s things. She inserted this into the official post (al-Barid), which conveyed it to her. (This material) having been taken from the post, the wife of Heraclius came and assembled her women, saying :” This is a gift from the wife of the King of the Arabs and the daughter of their prophet”. She entered into correspondence with (Umm Kulthum) and requited her in Kind by sending her gifts, among them a superb necklace. Now when the official post brought (these gifts) to Umar, he ordered them to be seized and summoned (the people) together to pray. When they had assembled, he prayed two rak’ahs with them, and then said, “There is no good in any affair of mine that is decided without consultation. What about a gift that Umm Kulthum sent to the wife of the Byzantine Emperor, who then sent a gift to her?” Some said,” It is Umm Kulthum’s along with what she already possesses. The Emperor’s wife is neither under a pact of protection (dhimmah) so that she should try to conciliate (you) with (this gift) nor is she under you authority so that she should fear you”. Other said, “We used to send garments as a gift in order to get something in return; we would send them to be sold and to obtain a (certain) price”. Then Umar said, “But the envoy was the envoy of the Muslims, and the postal service was theirs. The Muslims are vexed (to see) the necklace on her breast”. Thus, he ordered it to be returned to the public treasury, while he paid Umm Kulthum the amount of her expenses. Tabari 15 : 28 …. “Malik related ... profit”Muwatta 32:3111, hadith # 1
Omar’s courage: about the black stone: Narrated ‘Abis bin Rabi’a: ‘Umar, came near the Black Stone and kissed it and Said, “No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah’s apostle kissing you I would not have kissed you”. Bukhari 2 : 390 - 391, hadith #667
Omar at home: simple eating: I did this and came to the commander of the Fateful as he was feeding lunch to the people, leaning on a stick, as a shepherd does, and walking round the huge bowls, saying, “Some more meat for this lot, Yarfa’ some more bread for these; some more soup for these. “When I was pushed [through the crowd] into his presence, he told me to sit down. I did so among those people nearest (to him]. There was some rough food -- even the food I had with me was better.! When the people had finished, he told Yarfa’ to take away his bowls, then he tuned away. I followed and he entered the room of a house. I asked permission to enter and gave my greetings. He gave me permission, and I entered to where he was. He was sitting on a hair cloth leaning against two leather cushions stuffed with palm fibers. He threw one over to me and I sat down on it, [finding myself] in a space inside a vestibule in which there was a compartment with a small curtain. [‘Umar] asked [his wife], Umn Kulthum [to bring us] our lunch. She brought out to him a piece of bread with some olive oil by the side of which was some underground salt. (‘Umar) asked Umm Kulthum to join us and eat some of this [food] with us. She replied, however, that she could hear the voice of a man with (‘Umar). He confirmed that this was true, [adding that] he did not think he was a local. The (messenger) added that this was when he realized that (‘Umar) did not know him. (Umm Kulthum) said, “if you had intended me to come out to join the men, you would have dressed me up, as Ibn Ja’far does his wife, as al-Zubayr does his wife, and as Talhah does his wife!” “Is it not enough for you”, replied (‘Umar), “that you are called Umm Kulthum, daughter of ‘Ali b. Abi Talib and wife of the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar?!” [Tome] he said, “Eat if she were willing [to join us], she would have given you better food than this!” (The messenger) continued: So I ate a little, but the food I had with me was better than this! he ate, and I have never seen a heartier eater than he. No food stuck to his hand or his mouth! Then he asked for drink, and they brought a bowl of a barley-meal drink. “Give the man a drink”, said (‘Umar). (The messenger) continued: So I drank a little -- the barley-meal drink I had with me was better than this ! Then he took hold of it and drank down to the dregs, saying, “Praise be to God who has filled us up with food and quenched our thirst!”. Tabari 14: 85 - 86
Omar refuses personal gift: Salamah spotted an ornament among the spoils and said to the men, “You are not interested in this. Are you willing to send it to the Commander of the Faithful?” They replied that they were [... missing ...]” I took out my casket. But when he saw the gems, red, yellow and green, he leapt up, put his hand on his waist and said, “May God never, (if I were to accept this,],fill ‘Umar’s belly again!” (the messenger) continued: The womenfolk thought I was intending to assassinate him, so they came to the curtain. He said (to the messenger), “keep what you brought. Yarfa’, strike him on the neck!” So I was [rearranging my casket, while he was striking me on the neck. I said, “Commander of the Faithful, my camels are exhausted. I need replacements”. He replied, “Yarfa’, give him two baggage camels from the alms. If you meet anyone who has a greater need of them than you, hand them over to him”. I said I would obey his orders. He added, “ I swear that, if the Muslims disperse to their winter quarters before this is distributed among them, I shall certainly bring about calamity for you and your master!” (The messenger) continued: “So I left and came to Salamah and said, May God not grant His blessing for what you have done to me in this particular case! Distribute this among the men before some calamity befalls us both”. So he did A gem was sold at 5 and 6 dirhams, although it was worth more then 20,000 ! Tabari 14 : 87
Omar careful with public funds and property: According to al-Harith-Ibn Saud-Muslim b. Ibrahim-Sallam b. Miskin-’Imran When ‘Umar b. al-Khattab was in need, he would go to the treasurer and ask him for a loan. Sometimes he was short of money, and the treasurer would come to (‘Umar) and demand payment of his debt and would insist on its payment. So ‘Umar would use his wiles against him. At other times his stipend was disbursed (to him), so he paid back (the debt). Tabari 14: 113 … According to Abu ‘Amir al-’Aqadi-’Aqadi-’Isa b. Hafs-a man of Banu Salimah-Ibn al-Bara’ b. Ma’rur : ‘Umar went out one day to go to the minbar. He complained of being sick and some honey was prescribed for him, there being a skin receptacle [full of it] in the treasury. He said, “If you give me permission [to take] it, I shall do so; otherwise it is forbidden to me”. Tabari 14: 118
Forgiving the foolish: Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: Uyaina bin Hisn bin Hudhaifa came and stayed with his nephew Al-Hurr bin Qais who was one of those whom ‘Umar used to keep near hi, as the Qurra (learned men knowing Qu’ran by heart) were the people of ‘Umar’s meetings and his advisors whether they were old or young. ‘Uyaina said to his nephew, ‘O son of my brother! You have an approach to this chief, so get for me the permission to see him”. Al-Hurr said, “I will the permission for you to see him”. So Al-Hurr asked the permission for ‘Uyaina and ‘Umar admitted him. When ‘Uyaina entered upon him, he said, “Beware O the son of Al-Khattab! By Allah, you neither give us sufficient provision nor judge among us with justice”. Thereupon ‘Umar became so furious that he intended to harm, but Al-Hurr said, ‘O chief of the Believers! Allah said to His Prophet:- ‘Hold to forgiveness: command what is right; and leave (don't punish) the foolish (7:199) and this (i.e. ‘Uyaina) is one of the foolish”. By Allah, ‘Umar did not overlook that Verse when Al-Hurr recited it before him: he observed (the orders of) Allah’s Book strictly. Bukhari 6:132, Hadith #166
DISCUSSION:
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES OF LEADERS
Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by each of the following attributes of good leaders:
(a) Religious dimension:
Taqwa, deep spirituality, Islamic and refined personal manners, adherence to the sharia
(b) Intelligence and wisdom:
Intuition, intelligence, flexibility, clear mission and goals, master of detail
(c) Strong, genuine and likeable personality:
Will-power & decisiveness, stamina, deep belief in principles, acting on principle, not following the crowd, decision stickability, knows and uses strengths, accepting and compensating for weaknesses, courage, a sense of humor, ability to keep secrets, genuine personality, simplicity, good listener, honesty, credibility
(d) Commitment, motivation and responsibility:
Sacrifice, participation, commitment and dedication, a high sense of personal responsibility and accountability, assuming responsibility for mistakes, dependability, high and self- motivation, enthusiasm, positive attitude, optimism, risk taking, truthfulness
(e) Physical and emotional well-being:
Good health (physical and mental), emotional balance & security, energy, hard work, energy, positive attitude
(f) Self-control and balance:
Self-discipline, self-control, non impulsiveness, firmness in crises and under stress, perseverance & patience, self-leadership, self-sufficiency, action-oriented, being always prepared
(g) Knowledge:
Basic knowledge of Islam, history, current affairs, specialized knowledge as needed
RELATION BETWEEN ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS OF LEADER WITH THE LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP
LOWER MIDDLE UPPER
Personal
Conceptual
Practical
Human
POSITIVE LEADERSHIP VALUES
The following list contains items that may not fit the label of values. Some values are repeated. Please scrutinize the list and draw up one correct list by eliminating some items or combining others. Write 1-3 sentences about what you understand by each item. You may give examples or explain how they help make the leadership process more effective:
Authority
Security
Stability
Competitiveness
Cost-effectiveness
Selflessness
Ethics
Honesty
Quity
Justice
Social responsibility-
Intention(niyyat)
Itqan
Ihsan (efficiency)
Ikhlas (sincerity)
Passion for excellence
Continous self-evaluation
Always mindful of the almighty
Justice
Truthfulness
Trustworthiness
Patience
Moderation
Keeping promises
Accountability
Dedication
Gratefulness
Consistency
Cleaniliness
Discipline
Cooperation
NEGATIVE LEADERSHIP VALUES
Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by each of the following. You may give examples or explain how they help make the leadership process more effective:
Excessive love of the world
Excessive love of wealth
Miserliness
Excessive love of influence
Pride
WORKSHOP #5
LEADERS: CONCEPTUAL SKILLS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Intellecxtual/conceptual attributes
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
Vision
Setting goals
Caution and prudence
Knowledge
Commitment
Ummatic view
Unity in diversity
TEXT ANALYSIS
Knowledge before leadership
Knowledge is basis for selection of leaders
Learning from mistakes and not repeating them
Admitting ignorance and accepting correction
Omar and fore-sight, wisdom, and judgment:
Omar khalifah and not king
Omar doing manual labor
DISCUSSION
Knowledge is basis for selection of leaders
Learning from mistakes and not repeating them
Admitting ignorance and accepting correction
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
Vision: A leader must have a vision. The vision is developed from wide consultation and is refined by practical application. The vision must be maintained in easy and difficult situations. The followers must be convinced about the vision. The vision must be focussed and in conformity with organizational culture. A good vision must be backed up by positive values. A distinguishing characteristic of great leaders is ability to see farther than the followers and to see the big picture. The bigger the vision, the greater the leader.
Setting goals: An effective leader sets goals and is an example to the followers on how to reach those goals. The best leaders lead by example.
Caution and prudence: A good leader will avoid too much speculation and will know the difference between taking a risk by an individual and by an organization. An individual may take more risks because if things go wrong the damage is limited. A leader in charge of a group will be more prudent because an error will have more consequences.
Knowledge: Knowledge both basic and specialized is necessary for leadership. No one should become a leader without the basic knowledge needed to carry out responsibilities in the particular leadership situation. A religious leader must know at least the basics of the religion. A business leader must know the fundamentals of business. A leader however need not be a specialist. He can always employ people with specialized knowledge for particular tasks. The leader must be honest with himself and know the limits of his knowledge. Some deficiencies can be corrected by more education. Others can only be compensated for by relying on people who have the necessary knowledge.
Commitment: A leader must be committed to the organization he is leading and the followers. He must be committed to certain values and to a vision. He must respect his promises and decisions and must be committed to carrying them out.
Ummatic view: An ummatic view is needed so that the leader is not parochial or provincial. Local issues should be been in a wholistic context of the whole ummah if they are to be understood well. However when it comes to solutions the leader should be more local in approach in order to succeed. The only precaution needed here is not to create problems on the macro level while solving problems on the micro level
Unity in diversity: A leader must accept diversity. Try to get consensus only on a few really strategic issues and then allow people to exercise their initiatives. You however must continuously monitor the trends in opinions to be able to detect serious deviations from the overall strategy. The vision and unity of purpose must be maintained at all costs despite the diversity.
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
Knowledge is basis for selection of leaders: "Omar said...chief" bukhari 1:82, hadith # 16 … "Amir b. Wathila reported that Nafi b. Abd al-Harith met Umar at Usfan and Umar had employed him as collector in Mecca. He ( hadrat Umar) said to him ( Nafi ): Whom have you appointed as collector over the people of the valley? He said Ibn Abza. He said: Who is Ibn Abza? He said: He is one of our freed slaves. He ( Hadrat Umar ) said: So you have appointed a freed slave over them. He said: He is well versed in the Book of Allah, the Exalted and Great, and he is well versed in the commandments and injunctions ( of the Shariah). Umar said: So the Holy Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) said: By this book, Allah exalts some peoples and degrades others." Muslim 1: 389, Chapter 288, Hadith # 1780 …. "Amr b. Salamah reported on the authority of his father ( Salamah ) that they visited the Prophet ( may peace be upon him ). When they intended to return, they said: Apostle of Allah, who will lead us in prayer? He said: The one of you who knows most of the Qur'an, or memorizes most of the Qur'an ( should act as your imam). There was none in the clan who knew more of the Qur'an than I did. They therefore, put me in front of them and I was only a boy. And I wore a mantle, whenever I was present in the gathering of Jarm ( name of his clan ), I would act as their imam, and I lead them in their funeral prayers until today". Abu Daud 1:155, hadith # 587
Learning from mistakes and not repeating them: "Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger ( may peace be upon him ) said: The believer does not allow to be stung twice from one ( and the same ) hole. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Haraira through another chain of transmitters". Muslim 4: 1541, Chapter 1238, Hadith # 7137
Admitting ignorance and accepting correction: "Narrated Ubaid b Umair. Abu Musa asked Umar to admit him but he was not admitted as Umar was busy, so Abu Musa went back. When Umar finished his job he said, "Didn't I hear the voice of 'Abdullah bin Qais? Let in come in." Umar was told that he had left. So, he sent for him and on his arrival, he (Abu Musa) said, "We were ordered to do so (i.e. to leave if not admitted after asking permission thrice). Umar told him, "Bring witness in proof of your statement." Abu Musa went to the Ansar's meeting places and asked them. They said, "None amongst us will give this witness except the youngest of us, Abu Sa'id Al Khudri. Abu Musa then took Abu Sa'id Al Khudri (to Umar) and Umar said, surprisingly 'Has this order of Allah's apostle been hidden from me?' (Then he added), "I used to be busy trading in markets.". Bukhari 3:158-159, hadith #277… "Narrated Abdulla : The Prophet prayed ( and the subnarrator Ibrahim said, " I do not know whether he prayed more or less than usual " and when he had finished the prayers he was asked, " O Allah's Apostle ! has there been any change in the prayers? He said, " What is it? The people said, " You have prayed so much and so much." So the Prophet bent his legs. faced the Qibla and performed two prostrations ( of Sahu ) and finished his prayers with Taslim ( by turning his face to right and left saying; As-Salamu Alaikum - Warahmat-ullah " When he turned his face to us he said, " If there had been anything changed in the prayer, surely I would have informed you but I am a human being like you and liable to forget like you. So if I forget remind me and if anyone of you is doubtful about his prayer, he should follow what he thinks to be correct and complete his prayer accordingly and finish it and do two prostrations of Sahu". Bukhari 1;238-239, hadith # 394
Omar and fore-sight, wisdom, and judgment: “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Amongst the people preceding you there used to be Muhaddithun (i.e. persons who can guess things that come true later on, as if those persons have been inspired by a diving power) and if there are any such person amongst my followers, it is Umar bin Al-Khattab”. Bukhari 4:449, Hadith # 675 …. Narrated ‘Umar (bin Al-Khattab) My Lord agreed with me in three things: (1) I said, “O Allah’s Apostle, I wish we took the station of Abraham as our praying place (for some of our prayers). So came the Divine Inspiration: And take you (people) the station of Abraham as a place of prayer (for some of your prayers e.g. two Rak’at of Tawaf of Ka’ba(. (2:125) #2 And as regards the (verse of) the veiling of the women, I said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle ! I wish you ordered your wives to cover themselves from the men because good and bad ones talk to them’. So the verse of the veiling of the women was revealed. #3 Once the wives of the Prophet made a united front against the Prophet and I said to them, it may be if he (the Prophet) divorced you, (all) that his Lord (Allah) will give him instead of you wives better than you’. So this verse (the same as I had said) was revealed”. (66 : 5) Bukhari 1 : 239 - 240, Hadith # 395. …. “Ja’ala llaahu al haqq ala lisaan Umar wa qalbahu”.
Omar khalifah and not king : According to Al Harith Ibn Sad Muhammad b. Umar Qays b. al-Rabi Ata b. al-Saib Zadhan Salman : Umar said to him, Am I a king or a caliph ? Salman replied, If you collect from Muslim territory dirham or less or more then you put it to use other than for what it is by right intended, you are a king, not a caliph. Omar wept”. Tabari 14 : 118
Omar doing manual labor : “According to khallad b. Aslan a client of Uthman b. Affan : I was riding behind Uthman b. Affan one hot day when there was an extremely hot wind blowing and he came to the alms-animal pen. There was a man wearing a waist wrapper and an upper garment with another wrapped around his head. He was driving camels into the pen; that is, the alms-camel pen. Uthman said, Who do you think this is? We finally reached him and he was Umar b. al-Khattab (Uthman) said, He is indeed the strong, the trustworthy one”.
DISCUSSION:
Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by each of the following conceptual attributes of leaders:
(a) Vision:
Ummatic outlook, ability to see the whole picture, positive vision, thinking big, broad perspective, long-term vision and ability to articulate it, understanding maqasid al sharia, belief in success, set high standards
(b) Goals and objectives:
ability to identify and focus on specific goals and objectives, not being distracted by daily problems, consistency, sense of direction, identification with organizational goals
(c) Objectivity and reality:
reality, realism, accept change, living in the present, correct sense of timing, learning from failures
(d) Creativity:
originality in thought and action, initiative, resourcefulness, Understanding and using synergistic relationships
YOUR NOTES:
WORKSHOP #6
PRACTICAL SKILLS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
Communication
Decision-making
Planning and execution
Leading teams
People skills
TEXT ANALYSIS
DISCUSSION
Practical skills of leaders
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
Communication: Communication is an important skill for a leader to convey his vision and plans to the followers.
Decision-making: Decision making and problem solving are primary managerial functions that every leader must undertake. Failure to make correct decisions on time or solving problems timely will lead to leadership failure
Planning and execution: Leaders undertake managerial functions of planning, setting goals & objectives, clarification of the vision, and evaluation,
Leading teams: Leaders form and lead work groups. They cooridinate their work and make decisions on tasking.
People skills: Dealing with people involves: conflict resolution, motivation, maintaining relations with superiors and subordinates.
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
Omar and Hormuzan: [Hormuzan w as a persian noble who had been defeated in war, was captured and was brought to Madina where he accepted Islam and stayed] Abu Sabrah dispatched a delegation (to Medina) among whom were Anas ibn Malik and al-Ahnaf ibn Qays, and he sent al-Hurmuzan with them. They arrived in al-Basrah in the company O Abu Musa: then they (alone) sent out for Medina). when they were about to enter the city they arrayed al-Humuzan in his own finery, dressing him in his brocaded garment stitched through with gold thread. On his head they placed a crown that was called al-Adhin and that was encrusted with rubies. They put on his jewelry so that Umar and the Muslim would see him in his regalia. Then they paraded him in front of the people on their way too Umar’s house. But they did not find him there, so they inquired after his whereabouts. They were told, “just now he was sitting in the mosque to receive a delegation that had come to him from al-Kufah”. So they left to look for him in the mosque, but they did not find him there either. When leaving, they passed by some local boys who were at play and who asked them”, What are you walking in and out for? If you want to speak to the Commander of the Faithful, he is asleep in the right part of the mosque with his cloak folded under his head for a pillow”. Umar had sat there to receive the delegation from the inhabitants of al-Kufah dressed in hooded cloak. When he had finished talking to them and they had risen from the audience and left him alone, he took off his had risen from the audience and left him alone, he took off his cloak, folded it to make a pillow and went to sleep. So the people from al-Basrah, together with the bystanders, went to look for him. Then, when they spotted Umar they sat down at a little distance from him. No one else, asleep or awake, was in the mosque (at the time). His whip was dangling from his hand Al-Hurmuzan asked, “Where is Umar? “There he is,” they said, whereupon they gave a sign to the people to keep quiet. Heeding their order, al-Hurmuzan nonetheless asked, “But where are his guards and attendants?” “He has neither,” they answered, “Nor clerks, nor a chancellery for that matter”. Then he must be a prophet, “al-Hurmuzan exclaimed”. No, he is not, but he does the things prophets do, “was the reply, Meanwhile, the number of onlookers had greatly increased and Umar awoke because of the din that they made. He sat upright, spotted al-Hurmuzan and asked, “Is that man al-Hurmuzan” “Yes, was the answer. Umar looked closely at him and at what he was wearing, and then he said, “I seek my refuge with God from Hellfire and Him I ask for succor. Praise be to God,” he went on, “who has humbled this man and his followers through Islam. Hold on this religion, my fellow Muslims, and be guided by the guidance that your Prophet has given you. Let this material world not make your reckless, for it is a treacherous world”. Then the delegation said.” This is the king of al-Ahwaz, speak to him”. “No” Umar answered,” not as long as there remains a single item of finery in his body”. So they stripped him of everything he was dressed up in apart from some piece of clothing that covered his nakedness and they made him put on a coarse garment. Tabari 13: 137 - 140.
Death of omar and appointment of an electoral council: That morning Umar went out to prayers; he used to assign certain men to ... [missing] the lines [of those praying]and when they were straight, he would come and proclaim. “God is great!” Abu Lu’lu’ah slipped in among the people carrying in his hand a dagger with-two blades and its heft in the middle. He struck Umar six blows, one of which was below his navel, and this was the one which killed him. (Abu Lu’lu’ah) also killed Kulayb b. Abi al-Bukayr al-Laythi, who was behind (‘Umar). When (‘Umar) felt the heat of the weapon, he fell and said, “Is ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Awf among the crowd?” They said, “Yes, Commander of the Faithful, he is here”. (‘Umar) said [to ‘Abd al-Rahman], “Come forward and lead the people in prayer”. So ‘Abd al-Rahman led the people in prayer, while ‘Umar lay prostrate. Then he was carried away and brought into his house. He called for ‘Abd. al- Rahman b. ‘Awf and said, “I want to appoint you my successor; ‘ He replied “Indeed, Commander of the Faithful, I accept. If you order me, I shall accept [the appointment] from you. “(‘Umar) said, “What do you want?” I’Abd al-Rahman) said, “I beseech you by God. Do you order me to accept his (appointment)?” (‘Umar) replied, “No, indeed”. (‘Abd al-Rahman) said, “I shall never have anything to do with [accepting] (the appointment)” (‘Umar) said, “Give me some peace and quiet so that I can appoint those who still met with the Messenger of God’s approval when he died. Call ‘Ali for me, ‘Uthman, al-Zubayr, and Sa’d”. [When they had arrived, he said], “Wait for your brother Talhah for three [nights]. If he does not come, do what you have to do. If you should take authority over the people, ‘Ali, I implore you not to bring them under the power of banu Hashim. If you should take authority over the people, ‘Uthman, I implore you not to bring them under the power of Banu Al-Mu’ayt. If you should take authority over the people, Sa’d, I implore you not to bring them under the power of your relatives. Of you go! Consult together, then do what you have to do. Let Suhayb lead the people in prayer”.
Then he called for Abu Talhah al-Ansari and said, “Stand at their door and do not let anyone enter into their presence. I commend to the caliph after my death the Helpers, ‘Who have made their abode in the city [of the Prophet] and in the Faith,’ that he do good to him who does good among them and forgive him who does evil among them. I commend to the caliph after my death the Arabs-- for they are the very substance of Islam -- that what is their due of alms be taken and assigned to their poor. I commend to the caliph after my death the covenant of the Messenger of God that (non-Muslims) be given a compact faithfully fulfilled. O God, have I done what I ought to do?! I leave the caliph after my death in a cleaner [condition] than the palm of the hand. ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar, go and find out who has murdered me”. He replied, “Commander of the Faithful, you have been murdered by Abu Lu’lu’ah, slave of al-Mughirah b. Shu’bah (‘Umar) exclaimed, “Praise be to God who has never put my fate into the hands of someone who has bowed down to Him on one single occasion! Go to ‘A’ishah, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar, and ask her to permit me to be buried with the Prophet and Abu Bakr. If the council is divided. ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar, you should vote with the majority. If they are [split] three against three, follow the action that ‘Abd. al-Rahman supports. Allow the people to enter, ‘Abdallah.” So the Emigrants and the Helpers came in to see him, offering him their greetings. He would ask them if the [assassination] was the result of some conspiracy among them and they would reply, “God protect us!
Tabari 14 : 91 - 92
DISCUSSION:
Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by each of the following practical attributes of leaders:
(a) Planning and goal-setting:
Goal-orientation, prgamatism, orientation to detail
(b) Communication:
Communicating goals effectively, good communication, active listening,
(c) Team-work, motivation, coaching:
Understanding and appreciating the different natures of human beings, effective meeting management, teaching and coaching others, management of conflict within the group and between groups, seeking and using advice
(d) Decision-making and problem-solving:
Soundness of judgement, rational thought, quick but not hasty decisions, consultation and involvement of others
(e) Organizing and managing:
Ability to prioritize, effective time management, ability to follow through,
YOUR NOTES:
WORKSHOP #7
HUMAN SKILLS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
· Human skills in leader-follower interaction
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
Respecting and understanding followers
Humane behaviour
Representing followers
Love by followers
TEXT ANALYSIS
Empathy and respect for followers
Leniency, good treatment, and forgiveness
Leader's consideration
Leader must be liked by followers
Love by people is indication leader is good
Leader must be accessible
DISCUSSION
Human skills of leaders
Attributes of followers
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
Respecting and understanding followers: Good leaders show concern, respect, and consideration for followers. Followers reciprocate by showing loyalty. Good and mutually-beneficial leader-follower relationships can not be sustained without loyalty. Good leaders have well developed human skills. They understands those below him as unique individuals and not in a generic sense. They will deal with each person in an individualized and unique way. The great secret of leadership is to be able to tap into the potential of each individual and make him a peak performer, each in his individual and unique way. You must realize that individuals are unique and have God-given talents and potentials to make them productive and useful contributors to the organization. They respect followers each in his uniqueness. Good and effective leaders have a firm belief in people.
Humane behaviour. They have compassion and empathy. They have high consideration for others. They have no pride and are like their followers not seeking to be different or superior to them. They are lenient and forgiving. They treat their followers well. They protect the followers from both physical and emotional hurt
Representing followers: Representing followers and their interests infront of others takes a lot of the leader’s time. It is however a mistake for the leader to consider himself a mouthpiece for the followers just transmitting their messages without checking and making sure that the message is appropriate. The leader must lead and help the followers articulate their interests and then represent them. In a symbolic way a leader represents followers and has to be careful about his image and behavior because all these reflect on the followers.
Love by followers: A leader will succeed if loved by the followers. Love by followers is like an emotional savings account. The better the leader treats followers, the more the deposit into the account. Sometimes the leader may make mistakes or things may not work out well. That is when the savings account comes into use. Withdrawals can be made from it to cover the defect. If the account is big, a big withdrawal will not lead to immediate bankruptcy. A small account will be overdrawn quickly exposing both the leader and followers to an ugly confrontation. In most cases love by followers indicates good leadership. In exceptional cases bad leaders who do not set standards may be loved by lazy followers who just want to be left alone.
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
Empathy and respect for followers: Strain not thine eyes, ( Wistfully ) at what We have bestowed on certain classes. Of them, nor grieve over them: But lower your wings ( in gentleness ) to the believers. Qur'an 5:88 … And lower your wing to the believers who follow you. Qur'an 26:215 … Now has come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that you should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful.Qur'an 9:128 … 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar said that he was sent with a detachment of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him). The people wheeled round in flight. He said: I was one of those who wheeled round in flight. When we stopped, we said (i.e. thought): How should we do ? We have run away from the battlefield and deserve Allah's wrath. They we said (thought): Let us enter Medina, stay there, and go there while no one sees us. So we entered (Medina) and thought: If we present our ourselves before the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), and if there is a chance of repentance for us, we shall stay; if there is something else, we shall go away. So we sat down (waiting) for the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) before the dawn prayer. When he came out, we stood up to him and said: We are the ones who have fled. He turned to us and said: No, you are the ones who return to fight after wheeling away. We then approached and kissed hiss hand, and he said: I am the main body of the Muslims. Abu Daud 2:731-732, Chapter 952, Hadith # 2641
Leniency, good treatment, and forgiveness: "The messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) has been reported by Anas b. Malik to have said: show leniency; do not be jealous; give solace and do not create aversion". Muslim 3: 944, Chapter 706, Hadith # 4300 …. The prophet said "Aisha be lenient for leniency makes a thing decorated and when it is removed from a thing it makes it defective". Abu Daud 2:685, Chapter 848, Hadith # 2471 … “Narrated Anas : The Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) said, " Facilitate things to people ( concerning religious matters ) and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings and do not make them run away from Islam". Bukhari 1:60, hadith # 69 …. "Rafi b Makith who accompanied the Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) at al-Hudaibiyyah reported the Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) as saying: Treating those under one's authority well produces prosperity, but an evil nature produces evil fortune". Abu Daud 3:1426, Chapter 1842, Hadith # 5143 … "Narrated Abu Burda that his father said, The Prophet sent Muadh and Abu Musa to Yemen telling them, Treat the people with ease and don't be hard on them; give them glad tidings and don't fill them with aversion, love each other, and don't differ". Bukhari 4:171, hadith # 275 …. "Anas said : I served the Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) at Medina for ten years. I was a boy. Every work that I did was not according to the desire of my master, but he never said to me: Fie, nor did he say to me: Why did you do this? or Why did you not do this". Abu Daud 3:1338, Chapter 1709, hadith # 4756 …. "Abd Allah b Umar said: A man came to the Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) and asked: Apostle of Allah! how often shall I forgive a servant? He gave no reply, so the man repeated what he had said, but he still kept silence. When he asked a third time, he replied: Forgive him seventy times daily.". Abu Daud 3:1427, Chapter 1847, Hadith #5145 …. "It has been reported on the authority of Abd al-Rahman b. Shumasa who said: I came to Aisha to inquire something from her. She said: From which people are you? I said: I am from the people of Egypt. She said: What was the behavior of your governor towards you in this war of yours? I said: We did not experience anything bad from him. If the camel of a man from us died, he would bestow on him a camel. If any one of us lost his slave, he would give him a slave. If anybody was in need of the basic necessities of life, he would provide them with provisions. She said: Behold! the treatment that was meted out to my brother, Muhammad b. Abu Bakr, does not prevent me from telling you what I heard from the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ). He said in this house of mine: O God, who ( happens to ) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is hard upon them be you hard upon him, and who ( happens to ) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is kind to them be you kind to him". Muslim 3: 1016, Chapter 758, Hadith # 4494 … "Narrated Abdullah: I saw the Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) talking about one of the prophets whose nation had beaten him and caused him to bleed, while he was cleaning the blood off his face and saying, " O Allah! forgive my nation, for they have no knowledge". Bukhari 4:454, hadith # 683
Leader's consideration: shorten prayer for the weak: "Narrated Abu Masud: A man came and said, " O Allah's Apostle ! By Allah, I keep away from the morning prayer only because so and so prolongs the prayer when he leads us in." The narrator said, " I never saw Allah's Apostle more furious in giving advice than he was at that time. He then said, " some of you make people dislike good deeds ( the prayer ). So whoever among you leads the people in prayer should shorten it because among them are the weak, the old and the needy". Bukhari 1:379, hadith # 670 … Narrated Abu Burda that the Prophet sent his (i.e. Abu Burda's) grand father,'Abu Musa and Mu'adh to Yemen and said to both of them "Facilitate things for the people (be kind and lenient) and do not make things difficult (for people), and give them good tidings, and do not repulse them and both of you should obey each other.". Bukhari 5:443, hadith # 632 ….Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari: Once a man was driving two Nadihas (camels used for agricultural purposes) and night had fallen. He found Mu'adh praying so he made his camel kneel and joined Mu'adh in the prayer. The latter recited Surat "Al-Baqara" or Surat "AnNisa", (so) the man left the prayer and went away. When he came to know that Mu'adh had criticized him, he went to the Prophet and complained against Mu'adh. The Prophet said thrice "O Mu'adh! Are you putting the people to trial?" It would have been better if you had recited "sabbih isma rabbika al a'la", wa al shamshi wa dhuhaha', or "wa al lail idha yaghsha", for the old, the weak and the needy pray behind you.". Bukhari 1:380, hadith # 673
Leader must be liked by followers: "Ibn Umar reported the Apostle of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) as saying" There are three types of people whose prayer is not accepted by Allah: One who goes in front of people when they do not like him; a man who comes dibaran, which means that he comes to it too late; and a man who takes into slavery on emancipated male or female slave". Abu Daud 1:156, Hadith #593
Love by people is indication leader is good: Suhail b. Abi Salih reported: We were in Arafa that there happened to pass Umar b. Abd al Aziz and he was the Amir of Hajj. People stood up in order to catch a glimpse of him. I said to my father: Father, I think that Allah loves Umar b. Abd al-Aziz. He said: How is it? I said: It is because of the love in people's heart for him. Thereupon he said: By One who created your father, I heard Abu Huraira narrating from Allah's messenger ( may peace be upon him ) a hadith like one transmitted on the authority of Suhail". Muslim 4: 1386, Chapter 1097, Hadith # 6375
Leader must be accessible: “Abu Maryam al Azdi said: When I entered upon Muawiyah, he said: How good your visit is to us, O father of so and so. This is an idiom used by Arabs ( on such occasions ). I said: I tell you a tradition which I heard ( from the Prophet ). I heard the Apostle of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) say: If Allah puts anyone in the position of authority over the affairs of the Muslims, and he secludes himself ( from them ) not fulfilling their needs, wants, and poverty, Allah will keep Himself away from him, not fulfilling his need, want and poverty. He said: He ( Muawiyah ) appointed a man to fulfil the needs of the people". Abu Daud 2:832-833, Chapter 1101, hadith # 2942
DISCUSSION:
HUMAN SKILLS OF LEADERS
Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by each of the following human attributes of leaders:
Interest in people, tact, compassion, empathy, enthusiasm, showing concern, tolerance, being supportive, keeping good company, trusting others, loyalty, helpfulness, impartiality, inspiring others, charisma, accessibility, respect for others, gentility, ability to inspire other, ability to motivate, ability to encourage, ability to direct, equitable, praising success, confronting failure, thanking people for good work, politeness.
ATTRIBUTES OF FOLLOWERS
Quote from the Qur'an and sunnah illustrations of the following follower attributes:
Lazy/hard work
Take/avoid responsibility
Obedient/disobedient
Motivated by reward/punishment
Intelligence/stupidity
Trust/suspicion
Respect/contempt
Gratitude/ingratitude
YOUR NOTES:
WORKSHOP #8
FUNCTIONS & ACTIVITIES OF LEADERS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
Active leadership
Leadership functions
Problem-solving
Communication of the leader with followers
Communication with the public
Intra-organisational communication
Communication technology
Motivation
Learning from the environment
Delegation and coaching
Teams
Time management
Followers part of leadership situation
Obedience
Advice and correction
Feed-back
Reliance on followers
Loyalty
Praise and personality cult
Public and private spheres
TEXT ANALYSIS
Leader is protector
Obedience of leaders
Limits to obedience
Leader has responsibility
Respect for authority
Leader comforts followers in times of despair:
Leader must maintain public moral standards
Potentially disloyal people not to be appointed
Leader should not be cruel
Duties of followers
Omar accessible
DISCUSSION
Leadership Functions
Functions Of Leaders
Functions Of Followers
Leadership Activities
Obedience Of Leaders:
Communication Styles Of Various Types Of Leaders
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
Active leadership: A leader must lead. The leadership function can not be 100% delegated. The leader should not turn into a follower of the followers, that would be abdicating responsibility.
Leadership functions: Depending on the situation a leader may play one of the following roles/functions: (a) Clarification of vision, goals, objectives for the organization and the followers (b) Making decisions without which there is no movement (c) Strategic and tactical Planning (d) Training, coaching, and delegating (e) Solving problems so that they do not remain as a time-bomb (f) Coordinating and integration to ensure unity of command, of purpose, and of direction (g) Representation of the organization and followers outside and protecting their interests (h) Managing and resolving conflicts so that the group may hold together (i) Motivation of followers to be productive (j) Tasking by determining who will do what when and how (k) Maintaining positive and smooth working relationships with peers, superiors, and followers (l) Participation and not being aloof (m) Evaluation of self and of followers so that renewal and correction may be possible (n) Forming groups, coaching and delegating (o) Communication, the most important function of leadership.
Problem-solving: You should be able to identify and resolve organizational problems. Look at each situation from different vantage points. A management solution may contradict an equally valid leadership solution. Reconciliation between the two requires much understanding and wisdom.
Communication of the leader with followers: Communication competence is an essential leadership skill because leadership is human interaction. Leaders must have the capacity to use symbols to create reality. These symbols are necessary to move followers to strive toward a vision, reach goals and purposes. The leader must have an agenda to lead well. Parts of the agenda must be communicated whereas some should be kept confidential. Since leaders are by definition able to see visions farther than followers, they must have the twin ability to communicate those visions effectively to motivate the followers. The vision communicated outside must be the same as that communicated internally. A leader could communicate a baseline of low expectations at the start. This will enhance the impact of later achievements. care must be taken not to make the expectations so low that there is demotivation. Leader communication must be sincere and high on the moral scale. Communicating false images and boosting the leader's ego are not acceptable. It is better for the leader to produce quality work before trying to get media attention.
Communication with the public: Try to get into the right publications and to educate the reporters about your organization. The leader should use the mass media to get goodwill for the organization. All credit should be for the organization and not the leader. The leader should be humble but should not confuse his personal humility with that of the organization. The organization should have a high profile. In dealing with the media, a decision should be made whether a high or a low profile will be maintained. Each has advantages and disadvantages. A leader may have to be silent sometimes in order to buy time and get the chance to reconsider issues. You may also want to let the heat of the moment pass before committing yourself. A leader should be a good and motivating public speaker. If too busy use a speech writer. Choose speaking opportunities actively and initiate the invitation process. Do not wait to be invited. Whenever you speak make sure there is solid content.
Intra-organisational communication: A leader can hold a group together as long as intra-group communication is efficient. There should ideally exist no communication gap between the top leadership and the rank-and file. Group failure starts with communication failure. Communication problems are complicated in a decentralized organization. The leader must read widely to be able to know what is going on inside and outside the organization. He must be able to identify micro and mega trends. He must know what followers know and what they are thinking about.
Communication technology: Modern communication technology has placed new challenges on leaders. There is too much information and it is transmitted too rapidly. Information overload is a real problem. An effective leader will rise above the information clutter. He knows how to reach the people he wants despite the clutter. Clutter can be made use of when the leader deliberately wants to be vague. It is however unethical for the leader to create such clutter. He can only benefit from it when it exists. Communication technology has greatly increased the speed of events by compressing time. If you do not handle your communication well, efficiently and effectively, you will be overtaken by events. One way to manage is to be pro-active. Get your message out quickly. Control the information agenda. Have contingency plans. The leader's communication competence is put to a severe test in a crisis. A crisis presents both a danger and an opportunity as far as communication is concerned. The atmosphere of heightened tension increases receptivity of messages. Swift response and giving information builds credibility and demonstrates mastery over the situation.
Motivation: Effective leaders motivate followers to excel. Motivation reduces the need for close control and supervision. Motivation in a decentralized organization requires special and advanced communication skills. Positive motivation is more effective than negative one. The leader will motivate his followers if he treats them equally. He should not show any favoritism.
Learning from the environment: Effective leaders monitor and learn from the environment. They benefit from opportunities that exist and try to avoid dangers. A leader must have a good sense of timing so that actions and interventions have maximum impact and advantage.
Delegation and coaching: Effective leaders delegate work to others. They will motivate, coach and monitor because delegation is not abdication.
Teams: Effective leaders know how to form work-teams and coordinate their activities for maximum productivity. They will anticipate and resolve intra-group and inter-group conflicts.
Time management: The leader must manage time well. He should focus on issues. He must balance commitments taking into account the long-term and short term interests of the organization. Time management must be flexible and do not become a slave of your calendar. Always leave flex time as a blank in your calendar.
Followers part of leadership situation: Followers play an important functions in a leadership situation. It is a mistake to consider them passive spectators. It is unfortunate that books of history record only what the leaders did and ignore the more important contributions of the followers.
Obedience: Leaders must be obeyed otherwise there is no point in leadership. It is better to replace a leader than to disobey his commands. There are limits and conditions to the obedience. The leader can not compel followers to do evil. The followers can not withhold obedience to a just order just because they have a different opinion.
Advice and correction: Followers must advise and correct the leader. It is incumbent on the leader to listen and accept advice. Advice from followers is facilitated by creating an atmosphere devoid of fear. The leader must give the followers license to question. This enhances their creativity.
Feed-back: Good, genuine and continous feed-back is required of both leaders and followers. The following are characteristics of good effective feed-back: direct, specific, descriptive, timely, and flexible. Feed-back should include both the negative and the positive. Neither the leader or the follower should use feed-back for blaming or embarassing others.
Reliance on followers: Leader must rely on and use staff work
Loyalty: Follower loyalty is very important for success of leadership. This is loyalty to the position and not the person of the leader. The leader must reciprocate this loyalty by being committed to the followers and not abandoning them or exposing them to danger.
Praise and personality cult: Followers may make false praise. A good leader sees through this and avoids it. He discourages praise and development of a personality cult.
Public and private spheres: A leader in the exercise of his functions must distinguish between the personal and official roles. Acting in the official role may involve doing things contrary to what you would do in private and vice versa. However no immoral acts can be accepted on the excuse that they are required by the official position. It is better in such a case to resign than compromise your values.
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
Leader is protector: "Narrated Abu Huraira that he heard Allah's Apostle saying, We are the last but will be the foremost ( to enter Paradise ). The Prophet added, He who obeys me, obeys Allah, and he who disobeys me, disobeys Allah. He who obeys the chief, obeys me, and he who disobeys the chief, disobeys me. The Imam is like a shelter for whose safety the Muslims should fight and where they should seek protection. If the Imam orders people with righteousness and rules justly, them he will be rewarded for that, and if he does the opposite, he will be responsible for that". Bukhari 4:128-129, hadith # 204
Obedience of leaders: O ou who believe ! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and his Messenger, If you do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is the best, and most suitable for final determination. Qur'an 4:59 … Say: Obey Allah and His Messenger": but if they turn back Allah loves not those who reject Faith. Qur'an 3:32 … And obey Allah and the Messenger; that you may obtain mercy. Qur'an 3:132 …O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best, and most suitable for final determination. Qur'an 4:59 … The Prophet said, " Listen and obey ( your chief ) even if an Ethiopian whose head is like a raisin were made your chief"
Bukhari 1:375, hadith #662 … "It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) said: It is obligatory for you to listen to the ruler and obey him adversity and prosperity, in pleasure and displeasure, and even when another person is given ( rather undue ) preference over you". Muslim 3:1021, Chapter 761, Hadith # 4524 … "Abu Hurairah reported.the Apostle of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) as saying: a man who prevents a traveller from the excess water which he has with him; and a man who swears for the goods ( for sale ) after the afternoon prayer, that is, ( he swears ) falsely; and a man who takes the oath of allegiance to a ruler ( imam ); if he gives him ( something ), he fulfills ( the oath of allegiance ) to him; if he does not give him ( anything ) he does not fulfil it.". Abu Daud 2:989, Chapter 1307, Hadith # 3467 … "Narrated Ibn Abbas : The Verse:- Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those of you ( Muslims ) who are in authority;...(4:59) was revealed in connection with Abdullah bin Hudafa bin Qais bin Adi when the Prophet appointed him as the commander of a Sariyya ( army detachments)". Bukhari 6:89, hadith # 108
Limits to obedience: "Narrated Ibn Umar : The Prophet said, " It is obligatory for one to listen to and obey (the ruler's orders) unless these orders involve one in Disobedience ( to Allah ): but if an act of Disobedience (to Allah) is imposed, one should not listen to or obey it" Bukhari 4:128, hadith # 203 …. "There is no obedience in matters involving disobedience to Allah; obedience is in matters which are good and are universally recognized" Abu Daud 2:726 Chapter 942, Hadith # 2619 … It has been narrated on the authority of 'Ali who said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sent an expedition and appointed over the Mujahids a man from the Ansar. (While making the appointment), he ordered that his word should be listened to and obeyed. They made him angry in a matter. He said: Collect for me dry wood. They collected it for him. Then he said: Kindle a fire. They kindled (the fire). Then he said: Didn't the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) order you to listen to me and obey (my orders)? They said: Yes. He said: Enter the fire. The narrator says: (At this), they began to look at one another and said: We fled from The fire to (find refuge with) the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) (and now you order us to enter it). They stood quiet until his anger cooled down and the fire went out. When they returned, they Related the incident to the Messenger of Allah (may Pease be upon him). He said: If they had entered it, they would not have come out. Obedience (to the commander) is obligatory only in what it good". Muslim 3:1022, Chapter 761, Hadith # 4536 … Narrated 'Ali: The Prophet sent a Sariya under the command of a man from the Ansar and ordered the soldiers to obey him. He (i.e. the commander) became angry and said, "Didn't the Prophet order you to obey me" They replied, "Yes." He said, "Collect fire wood for me." So they collected it. He said, "Make a fire." When they made it, he said, "Enter it (i.e. the fire)." So they intended to do that and started holding each other and saying," We have run towards (i.e. taken refuge with) the Prophet from the fire." They kept on saying that till the fire was extinguished and the anger of the commander abated. When that news reached the Prophet he said, "If they had entered it (i.e the fire), they would not have come out of it till the Day of Resurrection. Obedience (to some body) is required when he enjoins what is good.". Bukhari 5:441, hadith # 629
Leader has responsibility: "Abu Huraira reported the Apostle of Allah ( may peace be upon him) as saying: The imam is responsible and the muaddhin is trusted. O Allah, guide the imams and forgive the muaddhins". Abu Daud 1:136, Hadith # 517
Respect for authority: "Hazrat Abu Badr...dishonored by Allah(Tirmizi). Riyadh 1:371, hadith # 673
Leader comforts followers in times of despair: "Omar said to the defeated remnants from the Jisr debacle ( Do not grieve O Muslims I am your party and you have only retreated to me". Tabari 11:194
Leader must maintain public moral standards: Hadrat Abu Bakr ( Rad ) said, " When the people commit sinful acts openly and the people have means and power of checking them and still do not check them, then Allah sends calamities upon them and does not remove those calamities." . Hayat 2:721
Potentially disloyal people not to be appointed: Abu Ja'far-Ibn Humayd-Salamah-Ibn Ishaq-'Abdallah b. Abu Bakr. The reason for Abu Bakr's removal of Khalid b. Sa'id was that Khalid b. Said, on coming from Yemen after the death of the Messenger of God, held back for two months from rendering the oath of allegiance to him. Khalid would say, "The Messenger of Gods gave me a command and did not remove me after that until God took him." Khalid had met 'Ali b. Al Talib and 'Uthman b. 'Affan and said, "O Banu 'Abd Manaf, you have willingly renounced your [right to] command; others have taken it up." As for Abu Bakr, he did not hold it against him, but, as for Umar, he harbored a secret grudge against him on account of it. Then Abu Bakr sent the troops forth to Syria. The first man he put in command of a division of them was Khalid b. Said. But Umar took to saying, "Are you in to put him in command even though he has done what he has done and has said what he has said? " He kept on about it with Abu Bakr until the latter dismissed him and appointed Yazid b. Abi Sufyan to command. Tabari 11:74-75
Leader encourages followers to correct him: "Ibn Umar said: The Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) prayed and recited the Qur'an in it. He was then confused in it ( in his recitation ). When he finished ( his prayer ) he said to Ubayy ( b. Kaab ): Did you pray along with us ? He said: Yes. He said: What prevented you ( from correcting me)." Abu Daud 1:231, Chapter 315, Hadith # 907
Leader should not be cruel: "It has been narrated on the authority of Hasan that Aidh b. Amr who was one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) called on Ubaidullah b. Ziyad and said ( to him ): O my son, I have heard the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) say; The worst of guardians is the cruel ruler. Beware of being one of them. Ubaidullah said ( to him out of arrogance ): Sit you down. You are from the chaff of the Companions of Muhammad ( may peace be upon him ). Aidh said: Was there worthless chaff among them? Such worthless chaff appeared after them and among other people". Muslim 3:1018, Chapter 759, Hadith # 4504
Duties of followers: "It has been narrated on the authority of Ubada who learnt the tradition from his father who in turn, learned it from his own father. Ubada's grandfather said The Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) took an oath of allegiance from us on our listening to and obeying the orders of our commander in adversity and prosperity, in pleasure and displeasure ( and even when somebody is given preference over us, on our avoiding to dispute the delegation of powers to a person deemed to be a fit recipient hereof ( in the eye of one who delegates it and on our telling the truth in whatever position we be without fearing in the matter of Allah the reproach of the reproacher.". Muslim 3:1023, Chapter 761, Hadith # 4538 … Followers obliged according to capacity: "It has been narrated on the authority of Abdullah b. Umar who said: We used to take oath to the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) that we would listen to and obey his orders. He would tell us ( to say in the oath): As far as it lies in my power" Muslim 3: 1040, Chapter 775, Hadith # 4604
Omar accessible: “According to Muhammad : I stayed with a man called Malik who was under the protection of Umar b. al-Khattab, I asked him how one could get access to the Commander of the Faithful. He replied that there was no door barring the way to Umar or any obstacle, that he would say his prayers, would then sit down and anyone who wished could talk to him”. Tabari 14 : 104 - 105
DISCUSSION:
LEADERSHIP FUNCTIONS
Using yourself as an example or a particular leader you know very well and complete the following table (O=Occasionally, F=Frequently, S=Seldom)
Decision
Problem-solving
Implementation
Planning
Punishment
Reward
Represent/spokesman
Conflict resolution
Role model
Group symbol
Parental figure
Ideologist
Task achievement/push for increased achievement
FUNCTIONS OF LEADERS
Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by each of the following leadership functions:
Decision-making
Planning
Training
Problem-solving
Goal, objectives, vision clarification,
Coordinating
Representation
Conflict management
Motivation
Task
Maintaining relationships: superiors, peers, subordinates
Participation
Evaluation
Forming and leading groups
Communication
FUNCTIONS OF FOLLOWERS
Write 1-3 sentences about what you understand by each of the following follower functions:
Obedience
Advice
Loyal following
LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES
Using yourself as an example or a particular leader you know very well and complete the following table (O=Occasionally, F=Frequently, S=Seldom)
ACT AS GROUP SPOKESMAN
Allow followers complete freedom in work
Encourage uniform procedures
Permit followers to use their judgement in solving problems
Permit followers to perform as they think best
Settle conflicts
Make decision: what and how
Push for increased achievements
Wiling to make changes
Do not explain actions
OBEDIENCE OF LEADERS:
(a) Write down verses of the Qur'an on obedience of leaders and explain your understanding of them
(b) Write down and explain 2 hadiths on obedience of leaders
(c) List 5 advantages of follower obedience
(d) List 5 situations when follower obedience is a disadvantage
(e) What are the limitations that the Sharia puts on leader obedience
(f) Do you think a leader should also obey the followers? If yes give examples and support your stand from Qur'an and sunnah. Do the same if your answer is no.
COMMUNICATION STYLES OF VARIOUS TYPES OF LEADERS
Explain in your own words how you think the following types of leaders communicate with their followers:
Autocratic
democratic
laissez-faire
YOUR NOTES:
WORKSHOP #9
DISEASES OF LEADERS AND FOLLOWERS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
Human imperfections
Socialization
Diseases
Deviant personality
Pride and Vanity
Uncompensated weaknesses
Ignorance
Excessive veneration
Oppression
Petty-mindedness
Manipulation
Seeking false reputation
Abandoning followers
Unequal treatment of followers
Deviant values
Diseases of followers
Causes of leadership failure
Responsibility and accountability
Results/bottom line
Arrogance and feeling indispensable
Putting people down
Mistrust and disloyalty
Lack of creativity
Inaccessibility
Poor human relations
Following the crowd
Consequences of hatred by followers
Causes of hatred of followers for leader
TEXT ANALYSIS
Ignorant leaders misguide
Oppression and petty-mindedness
Oppressor is finally punished
Do not despair
Leader who deceives followers
Searching for follower faults
Torment for no genuine reason
Disappearance of honesty
Leader should not have pride/vanity
Cruelty
Arrogance
Dishonesty
Taking bribes
DISCUSSION
Diseases Fatal For Leaders
Manifestations Of Leadership Failure
Manipulative Leaders
Disease Of Followers
What To Do With A Bad Leader
What To Do With Bad Followers
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
Human imperfections: With the exception of Prophets, no leaders or followers can claim being perfect. Any leader will have diseases (hopefully few). Followers also have diseases. The diseases of leaders and followers could be synergistic. The aim of good leadership is to minimize or compensate for them. This requires maturity and balance. The leader must be able to look at himself in a mirror or listen to trusted advisors to know and acknowledge weaknesses. Only the greatest can do this.
Socialization: Bad leadership is learned from poor role models in the home, the general society, and the work-place. Societies or organizations that depended on authoritarianism, no delegation, no participation produced the worst leaders in history.
Diseases: Good leaders have attributes and skills that have been discussed. Bad leaders are not necessarily those with opposite attributes and skills. Bad leaders have definite diseases that could exist alongside some of the good qualities. In the extreme some bad leaders have only diseases and none of the good qualities.
Deviant personality: Psychological disorders eg megalomania, antisocial personality. Many bad leaders are actually psychologically sick: sadists, megalomaniacs, jealous, immature, or psychopathic personalities. Organizations and societies that allow such individuals to rise to the top pay a heavy price.
Pride and Vanity: Pride and vanity have destroyed many leaders. They are from the SHAITAN and eventually lead to mutual hatred between leaders and followers. They may also become a disease of both the leader and his followers in which case there is mutual hatred between groups,organizations, and even nations.
Uncompensated weaknesses: A leader is a human being and can not be perfect. There will be weaknesses. The way to deal with them is to compensate for them by relying on strong people who have the skills that the leader may lack. The careful leader will also avoid acitivities that he lacks the ability to do well.
Ignorance: Some bad leaders are sincere and are committing mistakes without being aware of them. Some commit mistakes because of basic inner limitations. Ignorance of a leader that is not acknowledged or compensated for spells disaster for the organization. Wrong decisions will be made and will be defended by the leader.
Excessive veneration: Bad leaders with weak egos seek excessive veneration from their followers. These are inadequate persons who are not sure of themselves.
Oppression: Bad leaders who lack legitimacy, personal authority, and self-confidence tend to be oppressive. They try to use force to impose their will. Those who oppose this are dealt with badly.
Petty-mindedness: Petty-mindedness is a sign of an immature personality and lack of vision. Small things become big while big things are not even recognized. The self becomes more important than the public interest.
Manipulation: Bad leaders are manipulative. They control and do not build or develop their followers.
Seeking false reputation: Bad leaders concentrate on building false reputations, appearances, and images. They neglect the hard work that produces real results. Such leaders who deceive themselves and their followers will not hide their weaknesses for long. False leaders are exposed sooner or later. If not exposed in their lifetime or period of tenure, history will expose them in unflattering terms. The Qur'an recounts stories of such leaders in bygone eras as a lesson to all of us.
Abandoning followers: Bad leaders will abandon their followers in times of crisis or danger. They will not stand to share the pain with them or lead them to a solution.
Unequal treatment of followers: Bad leaders treat followers unequally. There is favoritism. Those who praise the leader and pander to his ego are preferred over the more principled ones. Syncopaths are brought near while the productive and hard-working are kept away. Favoritism may also manifest as nepotism, appointments or promotions based on family relationships and not merit. Injustice of a bad leader may be in attitude, actions, judgements, decisions, and communication. All what deviates from the truth and fair and equitable treatment is injustice.
Deviant values: It is an irony of human experience that the best and the worst leaders can share some of the same practical and conceptual skills. They differ in the underlying values, personality, goals, and how the skills are used. Good moral leaders serve humanity while the bad ones cause suffering and harm.
Diseases of followers: Followers, like leaders, have diseases: hypocrisy, insincerity, bad advice to leader, disloyalty, disobedience, and excessive veneration of the leader. Followers show hypocrisy when they say something in front of the leader and the opposite when away from him. They may outwardly show loyalty and obedience when they are secretly plotting against him. Insincerity is all forms of dishonesty and lies to the leader and fellow followers. It also includes doing things for selfish individual interests while hurting the interests of the group. Some followers may give advice to a leader that they know is bad either for some selfish personal gain, or to hurt someone else, or to hurt the leader by making him commit mistakes. Disloyalty in all its forms is bad. Followers must obey the leader as long as he is ordering them to do good. Disobedience rapidly results into chaos and break down of the civil order. Violence by the ruler against followers or among followers rapidly ensues in a situation of anarchy. It is for this reason that obedience should not be withheld even if the leader commits some minor mistakes. Some followers may spoil the leader by pandering to his ego and showing him excessive veneration. When all of this gets to his head he may start behaving like a dictator, develop vanity and pride and eventually fail in leadership.
Causes of leadership failure: Leadership failure is a consequence of a series of mistakes. An organization can survive a few leadership mistakes. When the mistakes are consecutive and cumulate, the death certificate for the organization is sealed. Leadership failure has several often inter-related causes: (a) refusal to admit mistakes and blaming them on others (b) belief of the leader that he is indispensable and behaving as a dictator (c) fear for position and neglecting training or developing replacements (d) disloyalty to superiors, peers, followers and the organization (e) lack of creativity: hating new ideas, persisting in unproductive but tested ways, and being too bureaucratic (f) lack of common sense, being away from reality and being theoretical (g) Lack of human skills and handling followers well and equitably (h) lack of a sense of bottom-line that you have to produce results (i) failure to lead and following the crowd (j) condone or tolerate incompetence (k) failure to recognize and reward good work (l) followers hating the leader.
Responsibility and accountability: A leader is accountable for all what goes on. He should have the courage to admit his mistakes so that he may correct them. he must also take ultimate responsibility for mistakes committed by subordinates although he is not personally directly culpable. He was supposed to select only the best and most competent, train them, and supervise them so that they make no mistakes. Bad leaders do not take personal responsibilities. They are not accountable for mistakes in their organization. They look for excuses (even valid ones) or shift responsibility to others. It is a sign of personal weakness and emotional immaturity for a leader to pretend to be all-knowing and perfect all the time.
Results/bottom line: A leader is judged by results. Lack of a sense of a bottom line is a sure way to leadership failure. Such leaders may tolerate or even condone incompetence in the organization because success and results do not matter to them. They will fail to recognize and reward good work. A leader must achieve results. If he fails, even if he worked hard and sincerely and even if he has valid excuses, he is considered to have failed and he must accept responsibility. Accepting responsibility is the first positive step toward looking for a solution.
Arrogance and feeling indispensable: When a leader starts thinking that he is special and that there is nobody else who can be in his position he is already on the way to being lost. He will soon become a dictator and will suppress all dissent and refuse to listen to advice. He will not develop his followers. Shaitan will encourage him to become increasingly arrogant until he eventually fails. An insecure leader fears for his position and tries to oppress or suppress people with leadership ability in the organization. This is an insincere person who should not have been leader in the first place. A mark of a good leader is not coveting positions.
Putting people down: Poor leaders, actually leaders by default, put down people and are only manifesting their own lack of self-confidence and a feeling of low self-worth. They assume that everybody else must be like them. Such leaders either do not last long or continue leading failing organizations.
Mistrust and disloyalty: A bad leader does not trust others and is not trusted. He will be disloyal to his superiors, his peers, and his subordinates. He will even betray the organization in pursuit of his selfish interests.
Lack of creativity: When a leader starts thinking he knows all and is perfect in all what he is doing, he closes his mind to new ideas. He suppresses creativity and innovation and persists in old ways even if they are unproductive. Some of such leaders realize the futility of their stand and tend to hide behind bureaucratic policies, rules, and regulations.
Inaccessibility: A leader who is not accessible soon loses touch with realities in the organizations. He can not know what is going on at the grass-roots level. He lives in an ivory tower and his decisions and actions lack the common sense that is expected.
Poor human relations: Poor leaders are poor in human relations. They demotivate followers, harass them and make them loathe the organization. Many followers will leave at the first opportunity. Some leaders develop this people incompetence into an art. They are aware of their inadequacy and inability to change so they make sure no follower stays too long with them. They know the follower will eventually get fed up with them and may confront them one day. They make sure he leaves before that breaking point. High turnover thus becomes a normal way with dire consequences for the organization.
Following the crowd: Some leaders abdicate their responsibilities. They fail to lead and follow the crowd. Some could justify this by saying that they are 'listening' to their followers.
Consequences of hatred by followers: No person should insist on continuing in a leadership position if he/she is hated by the followers. Leadership can not succeed if there is no good relation between the leader and the followers.
Causes of hatred of followers for leader: Leader does not respect followers: impersonal behavior, not listening, and being self importance. Wrong decisions . Take followers' credit . Blame followers for leader's mistakes . Secretive; withhold information . Not protecting followers from external attacks . Public criticism of followers . Not consulting followers . Over-working followers.
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
Ignorant leaders misguide: "Narrated Abdullah b Amr bin Al As : I heard Allah's Apostle saying, Allah does not take away knowledge, by taking it away from ( the hearts of ) the people, but takes it away by the death of the religious learned men till when none of the ( religious learned men ) remains, people will take as their leaders ignorant persons who when consulted will give their verdict without knowledge. So they will go astray and will lead the people astray". Bukhari 1:80, hadith # 100
Oppression and petty-mindedness: "Jabir b Abdullah reported that Allah's Messenger ( may peace be upon him ) said: Be on your guard against committing oppression, for oppression is a darkness on the Day of Resurrection, and be on your guard against petty mindedness for petty mindedness destroyed tho who were before you. as it incited the to shed blood and make lawful what was unlawful for them"
Muslim 4: 1366, Chapter 1065, Hadith # 6248
Oppressor is finally punished: "Narrated Abu Musa : Allah's Apostle said, Allah gives respite to the oppressor, but when He takes him over, He never releases him. Bukhari 6:171, hadith # 208
Do not despair: "Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger ( may peace be upon him ) as saying: When a person says that people are ruined he is he is himself ruined" Muslim 3: 1382, Chapter 1091, Hadith # 6352
Leader who deceives followers: "Narrated Maqil : Allah's Apostle said, If any ruler having the authority to rule Muslim subjects dies while he is deceiving them, Allah will forbid Paradise for him" Bukhari 9:197, hadith # 265
Searching for follower faults: "Jubair b. Nufair, Kathir b. Murrah, Amr b. al-Aswad, Miqdam b. Madikarib, and Abu Umamah reported the Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) as saying: When a ruler seeks to make imputations against the people, he corrupts them" Abu Daud 3:1362, Chapter 1752, Hadith # 4870
Torment for no genuine reason: "Hisham reported on the authority of his father that Hisham b. Hakin b. Hizam happened to pass by people, the farmers of Syria, who had been made to stand in the sun. He said: What is the matter with them?. They said: They have been detained for Jizya. Thereupon Hisham said: I bear testimony to the fact that I heard Allah's Messenger ( may peace be upon him ) as saying" Allah would torment those who torment people in the world" Muslim 3: 1378, Chapter 1083, Hadith # 6328
Disappearance of honesty: "Narrated Abu Huraira : Allah's Apostle said, When honesty is lost. then wait for the Hour. It was asked, How will honesty be lost, O Allah's Apostle? He said. When authority is given to those who do not deserve it, then wait for the Hour." Bukhari 8:332, hadith # 503
Leader should not have pride/vanity: " Hadrat Amir ibn Rabiah says that once he accompanied the Prophet ( p.b.h. ) up to the mosque. The thong or strap of his shoe got broken, Hadrat Amir took it so as to mend it. said, " This thing smells pride, and I dislike vanity or pride." Hayat 2:611
Cruelty: pharaoh Qur:an 2:49, NIMOROD Qur'an 21:66-70, DHU NUWAS
Buruj: 1-8
Arrogance: Pharaoh: Qur'an 28:38-39, Qur'an 79:21-24
Dishonesty: "Narrated Hudhaifa : Allah's Apostle narrated to us two narrations, one of which I have seen ( happening ) and I am waiting for the other. He narrated that honesty was preserved in the roots of the hearts of men ( in the beginning ) and then they learnt it ( honesty ) from the Qur'an and then they learnt it from the ( Prophet's ) Sunna ( tradition )> He also told us about its disappearance. saying. " A man will go to sleep whereupon honesty will be taken away from his heart, and only its trace will remain, resembling the traces of fire. He then will sleep whereupon the remainder of the honesty will also be taken away ( from his heart ) and its trace will resemble a blister which is raised over the surface of skin when an ember touches one's foot: and in fact, this blister does not contain anything, So there will come a day when people will deal in business with each other but there will hardly be any trustworthy persons among them. Then it will be said that in such and such a tribe there is such and such person who is honest, and a man will be admired for his intelligence, good manners and strength, though indeed he will not have belief equal to a mustard seed in his heart. The narrator added: there came upon me a time when I did not mind dealing with anyone of you, for if he was a Muslim; his religion would prevent him from cheating, and if he was a Christian, his muslim ruler would prevent him from cheating; but today I cannot deal except with so and so and so and so" Bukhari 8:332-333, hadith # 504
Taking bribes: "Malik....earth" Muwatta 33:321, hadith # 1
DISCUSSION:
DISEASES FATAL FOR LEADERS
Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by the following diseases of leaders: Give examples from your experience
Psychological/personality illnesses:
MANIFESTATIONS OF LEADERSHIP FAILURE
Give examples from your experience of the following manifestations of leadership failure:
Refusal to admit/accept mistakes
Believing they are indispensable:
Dictatorial and egoistic
Refusal to traindevelop replacements
Fear for position
Disloyalty: to superiors, peers, followers, organization
Fear of competition from outside and inside
Lack of creativity: hate new ideas,
Prefer unprodctive tested ways
Too bureaucratic
Lack of common sense: aloof; far from reality,theoretical
Lack of a 'people sense:
Use positional and not personal power
Disrespect and demotivate followers: fault-finding,name calling, attacks, blame manage different people in the same way
Manipulative behavior
Self-centered-ness
Lack sense of 'bottom-line': not know you are judged by results - failure to pay attention to detail
Failure to see endresults
Failure to set standards & making sure standards are respected
Failure to lead: being part of the crowd and not leading
Not taking hard decisions involving people
Interference in followers' privacy
Condone/ignore incompetence
Desire to be loved by followers
Lack of will-power wish problems will disappear on their own
Fear confrontation
Failure to recognize and reward good work
Hatred of followers for leader:
MANIPULATIVE LEADERS
Fill the following table comparing manipulators and people builders. Indicate your choices as high/low:
MANIPULATORS BUILDERS
Sincere concern for people
Self-oriented
Supportive
Power hungry
Trainer/coach
Threat/fear
Consistent
Disciplined
Oppressive
Uses and dumps people
Uses power for self gain
Patient
Praises success
Intuitive
Empathetic
Close-minded
Flexible
Embraces change
Long-term perspective
Secure
Jealous
DISEASE OF FOLLOWERS
Give examples of the following follower diseases from your personal experience
WHAT TO DO WITH A BAD LEADER
Imagine you are a follower and your leader has one of the following diseases. Write down preventive and curative measures you would take to deal with the situation. Leaving the organisation is not one of the options
Superiority complex,
Feeling of invincibility or invulnerability
Intolerance of other views and opinions
Authoritarian and dictatorial disposition
Manipulation of people
Complacence and lack of courage
Denying or avoiding responsibility
Giving false impressions of achievement not backed by actual work
Obsessive fear of failure
Inability to focus
Search for cheap popularity
Feeling threatened.
Sadism
Jealousy
Selfishness
Egocentricity
Power hungry,
Tunnel vision,
Exploitation
Oppression
Resenting accomplishments of others
Insensitivity to followers
Disclosing secrets,
WHAT TO DO WITH BAD FOLLOWERS
Imagine you are a leader and you have followers with the following diseases. Write down preventive and curative measures you would undertake to deal with the situation. Throwing them out of the organization is not one of the options
YOUR NOTES:
WORKSHOP #10
ABUBAKR AL SIDDIQ
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
TEXT ANALYSIS
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
What is special about Abubakr: Companion of the cave. Prophet chose him to lead salat. First believer. Firm iman that knew no doubts (siddiq). Wisdom, far vision. Focus of unity of state after death of prophet. Firm stand in riddat wars preserved religion and unity. Laid foundation for empire in byzantine and Persian lands. Collected Qur’an
Abubakar in makka before Islam: Good manners and loved personality. Leader in his tribe in charge of settling blood feuds. Successful cloth merchant in makka due to his good personality
Good morals, did not drink alcohol. Did not participate in jahiliyyah worship. Did not hesitate to accept Islam. Called others in Islam. Used his wealth to help poor muslims. Got title al siddiq. Not angry except for Allah: bet on byantine-persia war. Companion of the Prophet. Planned hijra. Companion of the cave: fear for Prophet not himself
Abubakr in madina: Started as farmer. Never got angry except for Allah : story of finhas. Always with Prophet. Abubakr and Omar 2 ministers of the Prophet. Kind to badr prisoners of war. Abubakr agreed with prophet at hudaybiyyah. Led pilgrimage after hudaybiyyah. Led salt when prophet was sick (9) firm stand at death of prophet. Firm and wise stand at saqifa averted civil war
Abubakr on ascension to khilafat: Abubakr did not oppress opposers. Riddat wars: usually soft Abubakr was tough for truth - stabilized state in his reign by courageous stands - endorsed khalid’s killing those who killed muslim - forgave prisoners brought to madina - did not forgive others. Firm stand on regfusers of zakat. Firm stand on pretenders to prophethood. Firm stand on despatching usamah’s army. Initiated Palestine and Iraq campaigns
Abubakras a leader: Full-time leader. Aware of his limitations. Asked for obedience if he obeyed Allah. Governed by shura. Did not develop bureaucracy: reign too short - busy with military activity for administration
Administrative division: Abubakr divided the peninsula into 13 districts: hejazi (makka, madina, taif) - yaman (sana, hadharamawt, khawla, zubyd, jand, najran, jarsh) and bahrain
Death of Abubakr: Pre-occupied with ummatic welfare in last 2 weeks. Consulted people before appointing Omar. Self criticism on his activities. Returned salary to bait al maal. Died with no wealth. Buried in his old clothes; the living need new ones. Ordered his funeral not distract from state affairs. He reigned for 27 months. He died on Monday 21 Jumada I 12 ah and was buried the same night. He was aged 63.
Main Lessons: Simple life. Honest. Polite. Firm. Caution. Against self-admiration. Self criticism. Accept criticism. Accountability. Gentle nature. Avoid fitna
name and family: Abubakr’s name was Abdullah bin Othman bin Amer (Abu Quhafa).
Basic philosophy of leadership: Abubakr followed and did not innovate. his reign was too short for a lot of administrative developments.
Abubakr’s ijtihad: Fighting refusers of zakat. Fighting refusers of zakat. Fighting the murtadd. Collecting the Qur’an.
Manin achievements: Unity of ummah / arabian peninsula. Riddat. Zakat. Start of the futuhat. Collecting Qur’an.
Abubakr the companion in the cave :
“If you help not (your leader) (It is no matter): for Allah did indeed help him when the unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion: The two were in the Cave and he said to his companion “have no fear for Allah is with us” then Allah sent down his peace upon him and strengthened him with force which you saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the unbelievers. But the word of Allah is exalted to the heights: For Allah is Exalted in might wise.
Called Siddiq in the Qur’an: “wa llathi ja’a bi sidq wa saddaqa bihi”
Prophet praised him: “law kuntu mutakhidha khalila l itakhadhtu Aba Bakr”
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
Abubakr tells Muslims to correct him: “If I am upright then follow me; but if I deviate straighten me out”
Tabari 10:11
Abubakr’s letter to Khalid Ibn Al Walid Warning about self-admiration: “Abu Jafar his authorities: The letter of Abu Bakr came to Khalid at al-Hirah when he had just returned from his pilgrimage. It said, Go until you reach the Muslim armies at al Yarmuk, for they are distressed and causing distress. Do not by any means return to the like of what you have done, for your worry will not, with God’s help, worry the masses of the troops, and your method of removing the people’s distress will never remove it. May your intention and your favored position gladden you, Abu Sulayman! Therefore complete your work so that God may make it complete for you. Do not by any means let self admiration enter you, so that you lose and fail. See that you do not rely upon any work of yours for God controls the bestowal of favor, and He is the owner of reward”. Tabari 11:69
Characteristics of a leader: Abu Bukar’s speech on his election: “O Men! Here I have been assigned the job of being a ruler over you while I am not the best among you. If I do well in my job, help me. If I do wrong, redress me. Truthfulness is fidelity, and lying is treason. The weak shall be strong in my eyes until I restore to them their lost rights, and the strong shall be weak in my eye until I have restored the rights of the weak from them. No people give up fighting for the cause of God but God inflicts upon them abject subjection; and no people give themselves to lewdness but God envelops them with misery. Obey me as long as I obey god and His Prophet. But if I disobey God’s command or His Prophet’s, then no obedience is incumbent upon you. Rise to your prayer, that God may bless you” (Muhammad pp 508-511)
Abubakr Khalifat Rasulillah: “Lamma buyi’a Abu Bakr khatabhu rajulu min al muslimiin biqawlihi ya khalifat llaah falam yad’uhu abubakr yamdhi fi hadithihi bal qala lahu lastu bi khalifat llaah wa lakitnni khalifat rasulillaah”.
Attributes of abubakr’s : simple life: “Aisha reported my father’s dwelling was at al-Sunh with his wife Habibah bt. Kharijah b. Zayd b. abi Zuhayr of the Banu al-Harith b. al-Khazraj. He had built himself a room from palm leaves. He did not add to that up to the time he moved to his dwelling in Medina. He continued to reside there at al-Sunh for six months after he had received the oath of allegiance, He would go by foot to Medina. Occasionally, he would ride on a horse he had, wearing a waist wrapper and a worn-out cloak. He would come to Medina to lead the people in public worship. When he finished the evening worship (isha) he would return to his family at al-Sunh. When he was present, he would lead the people in their worship; when he was not present, Umar would lead them in it. He would spend Friday morning at al-Sunh dyeing his head and his beard, then he would go forth according to the time of the Friday worship, in which he would lead the people. He was a man of commerce. He would go forth early every day to the market, where he would sell and buy. He had a flock of sheep that would go home to him. Sometimes he would go forth with it himself; sometime, it would be taken care of, so that it was pastured for him. He also would milk the sheep for the community. When he was rendered the oath of allegiance as caliph, a girl from the community said to him, “Now the ewes of our house will not be milked for us” Abubakr heard her and said, “On the contrary. By my life I will most definitely milk them for you. I certainly hope that what I have entered into will not turn me away from my previous habit. “When he would milk for them, he sometimes would say to a girl from the community, “O girls, would you like me to tend (your sheep) for you, or to leave them to pasture by themselves?” Sometimes she would say, “Tend (them); other times she would say, “Leave (them)”. Whichever of those she said, he would do. He remained like that at al-Sunh for six months, them he came down to Medina to reside in it and look after his responsibilities. He said, “No, by God, trading will not set right the affairs of the people. Only my devoting myself exclusively to them and looking after their business will set them aright. My dependents must have what will make them prosper”. Thus, he abandoned trade and expended of the Muslim’ money enough to make him prosper and make his dependents prosper day by day. [....] That which they had allocated for him every year was six thousand dirhams. When death came to him, he said, “Give back what we have of the Muslims money, for I will not acquire anything of this property. My land which is in such-and-such a place is given to the Muslims as compensation for what I have acquired of their property”. He transferred that to Umar along with milch camels, a slave who was a bed wetter, and velvet worth five dirhams. Umar said, “He has caused troubles for those after him”. Tabari 11: 151 - 153
Abubakr paid: Abe Zayd--’ Al Ib. Muhammad -- those whom I have mentioned
his transmitting from them : Abu Bakr Said, “Figure out how much I have spent from the treasury since I was put in charge and settle it for me. “They found it amounted to eighty thousand dirhams during
his rule.
ATTRIBUTES OF ABUBAKR’S : SELF-CRITICISM: Abubakr said “Indeed, I do not grieve for anything from this world, except for three (things) which I did that I wish I had left aside, about which I wish I had asked God;s Messenger. As for the three that I wish I had left aside, I wish that I had not thrown open the house of Fatimah to reveal something, even though they had locked it with hostile intent, I wish that I had not burned al-Fuja’ah al-Sulami and that I had quickly killed him or forbearingly let him go. I wish, on the day of Saqifat Bani Saidah, that I had thrown the matter upon the neck of one of the two men (meaning Umar and Abu Ubaydah) so that one of them would have become the commander (of the Faithful) and I would have been his minister (wazir). As for those I left aside, I wish that on the day I was brought al-Ashath ibn Qays as a prisoner I had cut off his head, for I imagine that he does not see any evil but that he helps it along. I also wish, when I sent Khalid ibn al-Walid to fight the people of apostasy, that I had stayed at Dhu al-Qassah, so that if the Muslims had triumphed, they would have triumphed, but if they had been defeated, I would have been engaged or (provided) reinforcement. Furthermore, I wish, when I sent Khalid ibn al-Walid to Iraq; [... missing?] thereby, I would have stretched forth both of my hands in God’s path. (He stretched forth his hands). I also wish that I had asked God’s Messenger with whom the government rests, so that no one would contend about it. I wish I had asked him whether the Ansar have a share in the government. I wish I had asked him about the inheritance of the bother’s daughter and the paternal aunt, for I have some doubts in my mind abut the two of them. Tabari 11: 149 - 150
Attributes of abubakr’s : avoiding fitna: “Al Zibriqan and al Aqra went out to AbuBakr and said, “Make over to us the Kharaj of al-Bahrayn and we will guarantee for you that no one from our tribe will repudiate, so Abu Bakr did that and wrote the document. The one who acted as middleman for them was Talhah ibn Ubaydallah. They called upon witnesses, among them Umar but when the document was brought to Umar, he looked at it without witnessing it. Then he said, No by God, absolutely not!” and tore up the document and erased it. Talhah became angry at this, so he went to Abu Bakr saying, “Are you the commander of is Umar?” Whereupon (Abu Bakr) replied, Umar is, except that obedience is owed to me”. so he calmed down. The two of them witnessed with Khalid all the battles up to al Yamamah, them al-Aqra went to Dumah with Sharhabil”. Tabari 10: 97 - 98
Attributes of abubakr’s : gentle persuasion that inspired men and made them obedient: bu Bakr became anxious about Syria, whose matter caused him concern. Abu Bakr had sent Amr in al Asi back to a post to which the Messenger of God had appointed him that of the taxation of the Sa’d Hudhaym, the Udhrah, and those associated with them of the Judham and the Hadas - before his going to Uman. Then he departed for Uman with a promise that his office would be restored to him when he returned. Abu Bakr fulfilled that promise. When he became anxious about Syria, Abu Bakr wrote to Amr, saying, “I have restored you to the office to which the Messenger of God appointed you once and named you once more, when you were sent to Uman in fulfillment of the promises of God’s Messenger, so that you have taken it up once and then again. I would like, Abu Abdallah, to devote you entirely to that which is better for you in your life and your return to God, unless that which you have now is preferable to you”. Amr wrote back to him, I am one of the arrows of Islam, and you after God, are the one who shoots them and collects them. Look for the strongest, most fearsome, and best of them and aim at something with it, if comes to you from some direction”. Tabari 11: 78 - 79
Dealing with opposition : [Sa’d ibn Ubadah refused to swear allegiance Abubakr] He was left for several days, then he was sent to (and told) that he should come to render the oath of allegiance, for the people (generally) had done so and his tribe as well. But he said, By God, I shall not do it, before I have shot at you with whatever arrows are in my quiver, and have reddened that head of my spear, and struck you with my sword, as long as my hand control it. I will fight you with my family and those who obey me of my tribe. I swear by God (even) if the Jinn gathered to you with the people, I would not render the oath of allegiance to you, until I am brought forth before my God and know what my reckoning is. When Abu Bakr was informed of this Umar said to him, “Pester him until he renders the oath of allegiance”. But Bashir ibn Sa’d Saif, “He has refused; he has made up his mind, and wouldn’t render the oath of allegiance to you even if he were killed, and he would not be killed without his children and family and a party of his kinsmen being killed with him. So leave him alone; leaving him won’t harm you, he is only one man” So they left him alone. They came to accept the advice of Bashir ibn Sa’d consulting him whenever it seemed right to them to do so. Sa’d ibn Ubadah used not a pray in their prayer or congregate with them; for Friday prayer; he performed the pilgrimage to Mecca but did not press on with them in the multitudes, he continued thus until Abu Bakr died. Tabari 10 : 9 - 10
DISCUSSION:
EXERCISE ON ABUBAKR’S ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS
List the following from what you have read about Abu Bakr
(a) Personal attributes
(b) Conceptual skills
(c) Practical skills
(d) Human skills
YOUR NOTES:
WORKSHOP #11
OMAR AL FARUQ
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
· Leadership style and achievements of Omar Ibn al Khattab
OUTLINES:
BACKGROUND READING
TEXT ANALYSIS
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND READING
INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK
Background: Omar was born in Makka and lived the normal life of youths of that time.His family, the banu addiy, were in charge of diplomacy for the Quraish and Omar seems to have gone on several diplomatic missions while young. Omar’s family was relatively poor. Omar was one of the few literate Quraish. He liked poetry and kept this interest even in Islam and when he became Khalifa. He was an orator and knew Arab genealogy. He traveled widely in and around Arabia. He had a strong interest in knowledge. Omar was a trader in Makka but did not do well. This was because of his personality which was rather tough. He did not seem very interested in money. Omar had strong opinions about issues of concern to him. He was fanatic about the unity of his people and tolerated no dissension that could lead to weakening this unity. He fought those who left the Makkan pagan religion with the same vehemence as he fought the Muslims.
Strong personality: Omar’s personality was different from that of Abubakar. The two seemed to be at extreme ends of the spectrum but were a perfect illustration of what is needed in complementation. That is why the prophet had both of them beside him all the time. Omar was a practical man of action. Omar was brave and very daring. When he became a Muslim he declared his conversion in public in Makka. He and Hamza led the first public demonstration in Islam when they led Muslims from their hiding places to pray in from of the Kaaba. Omar unlike all other companions migrated in public from Makka and dared any who wanted to challenge him. Omar was open-spoken and always expressed his views. Omar was feared, Abubakr had to consider this against Omar’s strengths as he appointed him as successor.
Balance: Omar was known for being tough. He however had a soft spot in him. This was demonstrated on many occasions. Before accepting Islam, he confronted his Muslim sister in Makka and beat her. When he saw blood he was very sorry and was profoundly affected. Her bravery and steadfastness softened him. When the prophet passed away Omar behaved contrary to character. He however soon picked himself up and stood by Abubakr to elect a new leader and avoid break-up of the state.
Vision and foresight: Omar always had the big picture in mind as well as the public interest. Many revelations were revealed to support Omar’s opinions and view. The following verses were revealed : Forbidding Riba, Forbidding alcohol, Praying at maqam ibrahim, adhan, Forbidding funeral prayers for a hypocrite, Abdullah Ibn Ubayy, Hijab for the prophet’s wives. Omar participated in the battle of Badr and had the opinion that the Quraish prisoners of war should be killed. The Qur'an was revealed to support his position.
Omar and service: Anxiety about affairs of the Ummah: not sleeping. Omar was the father of the poor and the weak. Omar and Umm Kulthum attended birth of a strange woman. Omar and the woman with hungry children. Omar spending the night guarding goods of traders in the market.
Omar and Ijtihad: Omar was very active in ijtihad. The following legal opinions are attributed to him: Forbadding mut’ah, return of Arab captives, a hadd for drinking, rulings about divorce. The principle of necessity of fiqh. Inheritance. Distribution of land in Egypt, Syria and Iraq
Physical health: Omar was physically and mentally very strong. This enabled him to exercise a very dynamic leadership. He was able to work hard. He could personally attend to many details and follow up projects. He exercised more control over state affairs that did Abu Bakr. Omar slept very little. Omar was able to follow-up affairs of far- away provinces by use of the postal system, hajj, spies, and tours of inspection.
Omar before becoming khalifah: Omar accepted Islam in a dramatic way. He had set off to kill the prophet. He instead went to his sister’s house when he found out she was a convert. He confronted her and her husband and ended up reading some pages from the Qur’an. It was this that finally touched his heart and he went to the prophet to accept Islam. Omar in Makka after Islam was as source of strength for Muslims. Before his conversion they prayed in secret. After his conversion they prayed publicly at the Kaaba and none of the Quraysh dared face him. Omar was active as a vizier to Abubakr and was always at his side. Omar differed from Abubakr about the riddat wars but eventually came around to realize the wisdom of Abubakr’s view. Omar suggested collecting the Qur’an.
Omar as Khalifa: Wanted to be corrected; accepted advice. Omar managed the Iraq, Syrian, and Egyptian campaigns directly with a lot of hands-on management. The Iraq campaign: consulted companions whether he goes himself or appoints a commander. The decision was to send a commander. Omar followed the campaign closely and asked Sa’ad for frequent reports. After conquest of Madain Omar decided not to expand farther into Persian territory but to consolidate territory already held. As part of his foresight he refused to distribute the land of Iraq among the conquerors. Omar was reluctant to allow Amre b al As to invade Egypt. In the end a half decision was made and Amre exploited the opportunity to go ahead. He was very anxious about affairs of state and slept little. Omar was in continuous correspondence with Amre to follow up affairs of Egypt. Omar decided against making Alexandria a capital. He refused a house that Amre built for him in Fustat. He also ordered Amre to get advice from Benjamin the patriarch of Egypt on how to administer the territory. Omar had the foresight to forbid the distribution of Egyptian lands. He differed with Amre about taxation and the difference became very hot. He however did not dismiss Amre. Decision to return Arab captives to their families. Dismissal of Khalid Ibn al Walid. Exiling the Christians of Najran so that there was only one religion in the peninsula. Omar turned away from Syria when he was informed of plague there. Omar led the effort to save lives during the hunger that afflicted Madina.
High standards: Omar gave trouble to those who came after him because he set very high unattainable standards for those after him. The prophet named him al Farooq, one who distinguishes between right and wrong. He gave Islam strength and dignity. He was inspired with guidance.
Omar’s management and administrative innovations: Abu Bakr’s short reign was a period of transition. It was during Omar’s reign that the state stabilized. It was also during the 10 years of Omar’s reign that the Islamic empire expanded from Persia to Africa. Omar is remembered for many administrative innovations: establishment of bayt al mal, establishment of courts and appointment of judges, start of the hijri calendar, organization of the war department, putting army reserves on the payroll, survey and assessment of lands, census and building of canals. Among the firsts of Omar were: being called Amir al Muminun, hijri calendar, taraweeh, date and stamp documents, appointment of public readers of the Qur’an. Among Omar’s firsts was establishment of waqf of his land at Khaybar, carrying a whip and using it for discipline, survey of the sawad lands, establishment of kharaj and jizyah taxation systems, building cities (Basra, Kufa, Fustat), transporting food by sea, flour house, appointment of judges, bayt al maal, forbade sale of mothers, establishment of ushr collecting people to pray taraweeh in group, whipping as hadd for drinking, compulsory military service, standing army, postal service, prisons, mint. Omar established several dawawiin: insha, ata, jund, jabayah (kharaj and jizyah), ihsa, muhasabah, waqf khayri. Omar established the military register and started paying stipends to citizens and their families so that they may concentrate on jihad. He discouraged pursuit of trade and agriculture so that the military spirit would not be lost.
Omar’s government.: The mosque was the headquarters of the government. Omar aimed at unity of religion and government in the Arabian peninsula. It was for this reason that he exiled the Christians and the Jews and also returned all Arab captives to their families. Omar was directly in charge of military policy. He was not for outright expansion. He always thought about consolidation. Omar did not impose a uniform system of government or economic organization in the empire. He allowed local variations. However control and major decisions were centralized. Shura was the basis of government. Omar appointed officials on the basis of accessibility, not coveting positions, kindness, not engaged in business, not a relative. Workers were given fixed salaries. There was a check on the wealth of officials. Omar appointed judges, in Basra, Kufa, and Egypt and established the principle of separation of the judiciary from the executive branch of government. Omar did not appoint people from the family of the prophet to administrative positions. He did not allow the Quraish to disperse in conquered territories. He kept the leading companions with him in Madina. Omar controlled his subordinates closely. He felt personally responsible for their mistakes. Omar sent Muhammad Ibn Muslamah to audit Amre on excess wealth that he had accumulated. How Omar checked on workers: policy of open door, public punishment for errant workers, workers equal to citizens under the law, disciplining without firing, firing in case of shubuhat, informers, hajj, tours of inspection. Omar hated differences and dissension. Omar punished his son Abdu Rahman for drinking. Omar rejected gift for his wife. Omar did not allow wives to interfere in official work. Justice for all. The story Jabala, the Ghassinian prince. Omar and punishment of Amre’s son for mistreating an Egyptian.
TEXT ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.
OMAR FORBADE WASTING OF PUBLIC PROPERTY: “According to Yunus : Umar sent me off with some alms camels to the designated pasturage and I put my baggage on one of the sh-camels. When I was intending to lead them away, he asked me to show him them, I did so and he saw my baggage on a fine she-camel in among them and You wretch! You make use of a she-camel that will provide goodness to a Muslim family! Why not a two-year-old camel constantly discharging urine, or a she with little milk”.Tabari 14 : 105
OMAR ADVISED NOT TO PLACE CONFIDENCE IN OUTSIDERS : “According to Umar b. Muhalid al-Hamdani : Umar b. al-Khattab was told that there was someone from al-Anbar who had some knowledge of the State register (and was asked) if he would take him on as a secretary. Umar replied, IN this case, I would be taking on as a confidant (someone) from outside the (community of the) believers”. Tabari 14 : 105
OMAR’S LEADERSHIP : SOME OF HIS MEMORABLE DEEDS: According to Abu al-Sa’ib [Salm b. Juadah]-Ibn Fudayl-Dirar-Husayn al-Murri ‘Umar said, “The Arabs are like a tractable camel that follows its leader. So its leaders should watch were he is leading it. BY the Lord of the Ka’bah, I shall certainly carry them along the [straight road]…. According to Ya’qub b. Ibrahim-Isma’ilb. Ibrahim-Yunus-al-Hassan [al-Basri]: ‘Umar said, “When I find my self in a position when I feel comfortable, but that means my people have no assess [to me], then this [can not] [continue] to be my position; I [must once again] be on the same level as my people. … According to Khallad b. Aslam-al-Nadr b. Shumayl-Qatan-Abu Yazid al-Madini-a client of ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan: I was riding behind ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan one hot day when there was an extremely hot wind blowing and he came to the alms-animal pen. There was a man wearing a waist wrapper and an upper garment with another wrapped around his head. He was driving camels into the pen; the is, the alms-camel pen. ‘Uthman said, “Who do you think this is?” We finally reached him and he was ‘Umar b. al-Khattab. (‘Uthman) said, “He is indeed ‘the strong, the trustworthy one!”.,,…According to Ja’far b. Muhammad al-Kufi and ‘Abbas b. Abi Talib-Abu Zakariyya’ Yahya b. Mus’ab al-Kalbi-Umar b. Nafi’Abu Bakr al-’Absi I entered the alms-animal enclosure with ‘Umar b. al-Khattab and ‘Ali b. Abi Talib. ‘Uthman sat down in the shade to write while ‘Ali stood by him, dictating to him what Umar was saying. In a very hot day ‘Umar was standing in the sun and wearing two black garments, one as a waist wrapper, another wrapped around his head, as he counted the alms camels, recording their colors and their ages. ‘Ali spoke to ‘Uthman, and I heard him quoting the description of the daughter of Shu’ayb in God’s Book, “O father, hire him; the best of those you hire will be the strong, the trustworthy one!” ‘Ali pointed at ‘Umar and said, “This is ‘the strong, the trustworthy one!”…. According to Ya’qub b. Ibrahim-Isma’il-Yunus-al-Hassan : ‘Umar said, If I live, I shall certainly travel for a whole year among my subjects, God willing. I know that people have needs that do not reach me. Their governors will not refer them to me, nor will they themselves come to me. I shall travel to Syria and stay there two months. Then I shall travel to the Jazirah and stay there two months. Then I shall travel to Egypt and stay there two months. Then I shall travel to Bahrain and stay there two months. Then I shall travel to al-Kufah and stay there for two months. The I shall travel to al-Basrah and stay there for two months. Indeed, what a fine year this will be! ….According to Muhammad b. ‘Awf-Abu al-Mughirah ‘Abd al-Quddus b. al-Hajjaj-Safwan b. ‘Amr-Abu al-Mukhariq Zuhayr b. Salim-Ka’b al-Ahbar. I stayed with a man called Malik who was under the protection of Umar b. al-Khattab. I asked him how one could get access to the Commander of the Faithful. He replied that there was no door barring the (way to Umar) or any obstacle, that he would say his prayers, would then sit down, and anyone who wished could talk to him. …. According to Yunus b. Abd. al ‘A’la-Sufyan [Uyaynah]-Yahya-Salim-Aslam: ‘Umar sent me off with some alms camels to the designated pasturage and I put my baggage on one of the she-camels. When I was intending to lead them away, he asked me to show him them. I did so and he saw my baggage on a fine she-camel in among them and said, “You wretch! You make use of a she-camel that will provide goodness to a Muslim family! Why not a two-year-old camel constantly discharging urine, or a she with little milk? …. According to ‘Umar b. Ismail b. Muhalid al-Hamdani-Abu Mu’awiyah-Abu Hayyan-Abu al-Zinba’-Abu al-Dihqanah ‘Umar b. al-Khattab was told that there was someone from al-Anbar who had some knowledge of the state register [and was asked] if he would take him on as a secretary. ‘Umar replied, “In this case, I would be taking on as a [confidant] someone from outside the [community of the Believers!”…. According to Yunus b. ‘Abd al-’A’la-Ibn Wahb-’Abd al-Rahman b. Zayd-his father-his grandfather; Umar b. al-Khattab addressed the people and said, “By Him who sent Muhammad with the Truth, if one camel were to perish untended on the bank of the Euphrates, I would fear that God would hold the Khattab family responsible for it”. Abu Zayd added that the Khattab family meant himself, no one else… According to Ibn al-Muthanna-Ibn Abi Adi-Shu’bah-Abu ‘Imran al-Jawni: Umar wrote to Abu Musa, “There are still prominent men who refer the needs of the people [to me] on their behalf. So honor those prominent men who are in your jurisdiction. It is justice enough for an uninfluential Muslim that he be treated fairly in juridical decisions and in the division [of spoils after being referred to me]’…. According to Abu Kurayb-Ibn Idris-Mutarrif-al-Sha’bi : A Bedouin came to Umar and said, “My stallion camel has both mange and saddle sores; give me a mount”. ‘Umar replied to him, ‘Your camel does not have mange and saddle sores!” (The bedouin) turned away, reciting the following: Abu Hafs Umar has sworn by God’s name That no mange or saddle sores have afflicted [my mount]. Forgive him, God, that he has given a false oath! (‘Umar exclaimed, “O God, forgive me!” He called the Bedouin back and gave him a [fresh] mount. …. According to Ya’qub b. Ibrahim-Isma’il-Ayyub-Muhammad: I was informed that a man who was related to ‘Umar asked him [for money]. But he chided him and sent him away. People spoke to(‘Umar) about him, and he was asked why he chided him and sent him away when he begged from him. He replied “He asked me for some of God’s money. What will be my excuse if I meet Him when I am a treacherous ruler? Why did he not ask for some of my money?” (The source) added that (Umar) sent him 10,000 [dirhams]…. According to Muhammad b. al-Muthanna-Abd. al-Rahman b. Mahdi-Shu’bah-Yahya b. Hudayn-Tariq b. Shihab: Whenever Umar sent governors in charge of provinces, he would say about them, “O God, I have not sent them to take the property (of the people) nor to abuse them physically. Anyone oppressed by his commander has no commander except me”…. According to Ibn Bashshar-Ibn Abi Adi-Shu’bah-Qatadah-Salim b. Abi al-Ja’ad-Ma’dan b. Abi Talhah: ‘Umar b. al-Khattab gave an address to this people and said, ‘O God, I call You to bear witness to the commanders of the garrison towns that I have sent them only to teach the people their religion and the practice of their Prophet, to distribute among them their spoils and to act with justice. If they have any doubt about any matter, they will refer it to me”. … According to Abu Kurayb-Abu Bakr b. Ayyash-Abu Hasin: Whenever Umar appointed his governors, he would go out with them to bid them farewell, saying, “I have not appointed you governor over Muhammad’s community with limitless authority. I have made you governor over them only to lead them in prayer, to make decisions among them based on what is right, and to distribute [the spoils] among them justly. I have not given you limitless authority over them. Do not flog Arab [troops] and humiliate them; do not keep them long from their families and bring temptation upon them; do not neglect them and cause them deprivation. Confine yourselves to the factual text of The Qur’an, and do not frequently cite prophetic traditions. I am your partner”. He would also allow vengeance to be taken on his governors. If there was a complaint against a governor, he would bring together the governor and the complainant. If there was a genuine case against (the governor) for which punishment was obligatory, he would punish him….. According to Yaqub b. Ibrahim-Ismail b. Ibrahim-Said al-Jurayri-Abu Nadrah-Abu Firas: ‘Umar b. al-Khattab made the Friday address and said, “O people, I do not send governors to you to flog you or to take your possessions. I send them to you to teach you your religion and the way you should follow. If anything other than these is done to anyone, he should refer I the matter) to me. By Him in whose hand is my soul, I shall certainly permit the law of retaliation to be used against (any governor). “Up jumped Amr b. al-’As and said, “Do you rally think you will allow the law of retaliation to be used against any commander appointed over your subjects who disciplines one of them?” (Umar) replied, “Yes indeed, I shall certainly allow that. Why not, as I have seen the Messenger of God allow the law of retaliation against himself? Do not beat Muslims and humiliate them; do not keep them log from their families and bring temptation upon them; do not deny them their rights and turn them into infidels; do not settle them among thickets so that you lose them”. …. ‘Umar reportedly would himself patrol at night, seeking out the Muslim’s dwellings and personally finding out how they were faring. Tabari 14:103-108
OMAR STARTED WITH FAMILY IN ORDERING NEW THINGS: When ‘Umar wanted to order the Muslims to do something that was of benefit to them or to forbid them doing something that was not, he would begin with him own family. He would come to them, exhorting them and threatening them not to go against his order. According to Abu Kuraby Muhammad b. Al Ala’--Abu Bakr b. ‘Ayyash-’Ubaydallah b. ‘Umar in Medina - Salim: When ‘Umar went up into the minbar and forbade the people from doing something, he would [first] bring together his own family and say, “I have forbidden the people from doing so and so. They all look at you as birds look-that is, at their prey-and I swear in God’s name that if I find anyone of you doing (whatever is forbidden) I shall double his punishment !”.
PREVENTING SUBORDINATES FROM LUXURY: According to Abu Kurayb-Abu Bakr-’Asim [b. Kulayb]: Umar appointed someone governor of Egypt. While Umar was walking through one of the streets of Medina, he heard someone say, “Good heavens, Umar, you appoint someone governor who acts treacherously and you say that you have no responsibility in the matter, when your governor is doing so and so!” So [‘Umar] sent for (the governor) and when he arrived gave him a staff, a woolen coat, and sheep, saying to the man whose name was ‘Iyad b. Ghanm, “Pasture them, for your father was a shepherd”. Then he called him back and mentioned what has been said [about him]. He added, “What if I send you back!” He returned him to his post, saying, “I must have your word that you will not wear any fine cloth, nor ride an expensive horse [birdhawn]…. According to Abu Kurayb-Abu Usamah-Abdallah b. al-Walid-’Asim-Ibn Khuzaymah b. Thabit al-Ansari: When Umar appointed a governor, he would write him a certificate of investiture that would be witnessed by a group of both Emigrants and Helpers, stipulating that he should not ride an expensive horse, or eat white bread, or wear any fine cloth, or prevent the people’s needs [from being satisfies].
MAJOR POLICY SPEECH BY OMAR: Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas : I used to teach (the Qur’an) some people of the Muhajirin (emigrants), among whom there was ‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Auf. While I was in his house at Mina, and he was with ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab during ‘Umar’s last Hajj, Abdur-Rahman came to me and said, - “Would that you had seen the man who came today to Chief of the Believers (‘Umar), saying, ‘O Chief of the Believers ! What do you think about so-and-so who says, ‘If ‘Umar should die, I will give the pledge of allegiance to such-and-such person, as by Allah, the pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr was nothing but a prompt sudden action which got established afterwards. ‘Umar became angry and then said, ‘Allah willing, I will stand before the people to-night and warn them against those people who want to deprive the others of their rights (the question of ruler ship). “‘Abdur-Rahman said, “I said, ‘O Chief of the Believers! Do not do that, for the season of Hajj gathers the riffraff and the rubble, and it will be they who will gather around you when you stand to address the people. And I am afraid that you will get up and say something, and some people will spread your statement and may not say what you have actually said and may not understand its meaning, and may interpret it incorrectly, so you should wait till you reach Medina as it is the place of emigration and the place of Prophet’s Traditions, and there you can come in touch with the learned and noble people, and tell them you ideas with confidence, and the learned people will understand your statement and put it in its proper place’. On that, ‘Mar said, in the first speech I will deliver before the people in Media. “Bin Abase added: We reached Median by the end of the month of Dhul-Hijja, and when it was Friday, we went quickly (to the mosque) as soon as the sun had declined, and I saw Sa’id bin Zaid bin ‘Amr bin Nufail sitting at the corner of the pulpit, and I too sat close to him so that my knee was touching his knee, and after a short while, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab came out, and when I saw him coming towards us, I said to Said bin Zaid bin ‘Amr bin Naufal, “Today ‘Umar will say such a thing as he has never said since he was chosen as Caliph”. Said denied my statement with astonishment and said, “What thing do you expect ‘Umar to say the like of which he has never said before?” In the meantime, ‘Umar sat on the pulpit and when the call makers for the prayer had finished their call, ‘Umar stood up, and having glorified and praised Allah as He deserved, he said, “Now then, I am going to tell you something which (Allah) has written for me to say. I do not know; perhaps it portends my death, so whoever understands and remembers it, must narrate it to the others wherever his mount takes him, but if somebody is afraid that he does not understand it, then it is unlawful for him to tell lies about me. Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth and revealed the Holy Book to him, and among what Allah revealed, was the verse of the Rajam (the stoning of married person (male & female) who commits illegal sexual intercourse, and we did recite this verse and understood and memorized it. Allah’s Apostle did carry out the punishment of stoning and so did we after him. I am afraid that after a long time has passed, somebody will say, ‘By Allah, we do not find the Verse of the Rajam in Allah’s Book, ‘and thus they will go astray be leaving an obligation which Allah has revealed. And the punishment of the Rajam is to be inflicted to any married person (male & female) who commits illegal sexual intercourse if the required evidence is available or there is conception or confession. And then we used to recite among the Verses in Allah’s Book: ‘O people! Do not claim to be the offspring of other than your fathers, as it is disbelief (unthankfulness) on your part that you claim to be the offspring of other than your real father’. Then Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Do not praise me excessively as Jesus, son of Marry was praised, but call me Allah’s Slave and His apostle. (O people!) I have been informed that a speaker amongst you says, ‘By Allah, if ‘Umar should die, I will give the pledge of allegiance to such and such person’. One should not deceive oneself by saying that the pledge of allegiance given to Abi Bakr was given suddenly and it was successful. No doubt, it was like that, but Allah saved (the people) from its evil, and there is none among you who has the qualities of Abu Bakr. Remember that whoever gives the pledge of allegiance to anybody among you without consulting the other Muslims, neither that person, nor the person to whom the pledge of allegiance was given are to be supported, lest they both should be killed. And no doubt, after the death of the Prophet we were informed that the Ansar disagreed with us and gathered in the shed of Bani Sa’da. ‘Al I and Zubair and whoever was with them, opposed us, while the emigrants gathered with Abu Bakr. I said to Abi Bakr, ‘Let’s go to these Ansari brothers of ours’. So we set out seeking them, and when we approached them, two pious men of theirs met us and informed us of the final decision of the Ansar, and said, ‘O group of Muhajirin (emigrants)! Where are you going?’ We replied, ‘We are going to these Ansari brothers of ours’. They said to us, ‘You shouldn’t go near them. Carry out whatever we have already decided’. I said, ‘By Allah, we will go to them’. And so we proceeded until we reached them at the shed of Bani Sa’da. Behold! There was a man sitting amongst them and wrapped in something. I asked, ‘Who is the man?’ They said, ‘He is Sa’d bin ‘Ubada.’ I asked, What is wrong with him?’ They said, ‘He is sick’. After we sat for a while, the Ansar’s speaker said, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’ and praising Allah as He deserved, he added, “To proceed, we are Allah’s Ansar (helpers) and the majority of the Muslim army, while you, the emigrants, are a small group and some people among you came with the intention of preventing us from practicing this matter (of caliphate) and depriving us of it’. When the speaker had finished, I intended to speak as I had prepared a speech which I liked and which I wanted to deliver in the presence of Abu Bakr, and I used to avoid provoking him. So, when I wanted to speak, Abu Bakr said. ‘Wait a while disliked to make him angry. So Abu Bakr himslef gave a speech, and he was wiser and more patient than I. By Allah, he never missed a sentence that I liked in my own prepared speech, but he said the like of it or better than it spontaneously. After a pause he said, ‘O Ansar! You deserve all (the qualities) that you have attributed to yourselves, but this question (of Caliphate) is only for the quraish as they are the best of the Arabs as regards descent and home, and I am pleased to suggest that you choose either of these two men, so take the oath of allegiance to either of them as you wish. And then Abu Bakr held my hand and Abu Ubada bin Al-Jarrah’s hand who was sitting amongst us. I hated nothing of what he had said except that proposal, for by Allah, I would rather have my neck chopped off as expiatory for a sin than become the ruler of a nation one of whose members is Abu Bakr, unless at the time of my death my own self suggests something I don’t feel at present’. And then one of the Ansar said, ‘I am the pillar on which the camel with a skin disease (eczema) rubs itself to satisfy the itching (i.e. I am a noble) and I am as a high class palm tree! O Quraisb there should be one ruler from us and one from you.’ Then there was a hue and cry among the gathering and their voices rose so that I was afraid there might be great disagreement, so I said, ‘O Abu Bakr! Hold your hand out’. He held his hand out and I pledged allegiance to him, and then all the emigrants gave the pledge of allegiance and so did the Ansar afterwards. And so we became victorious over Sa’d bin ‘Ubada (whom Al-Ansar wanted to make a ruler). One of the Ansar said, ‘You have killed Sa’d bin ‘Ubada’. I replied, ‘Allah has killed Sa’d bin ‘ubada’. “ ‘Umar added, “By Allah, apart from the great tragedy that had happened to us (i.e. the death of the Prophet), there was no greater problem than the allegiance pledged to Abi Bakr because we were afraid that if we left the people, they might give he pledge of allegiance after us to one of their men, in which case we would have given them our consent for something against our real wish, or would have opposed them and caused great trouble. So, if any person gives the pledge of allegiance to somebody (to become a caliph) without consulting the other Muslims, then the one he has selected should not be granted allegiance, lest both of them should be killed”. Bukhari 8 : 537 - 543, Hadith # 817.
Construction projects : khalij amir al muminin, canals in iraq and syria, garisson cities: kufa,
basra, fustat, jabalah in syria (rebuilt), expansion of the makka haram (move to txt/gov-wealth)
Institution of the Islamic calendar : “Muhammad Ibn Ismail ... so they agreed upon al Muharram”
Tabari 6 : 158
Consultations and decisions on Omar’s command of the Iraq army : ‘Umar set out on the first day ... my deputy in Medina”. Tabari 12 : 1 - 5
Decision on whether Omar will command the Iraq army: “When Umar had told the people the news ... he will be the man to fact them” Tabari 13 : 196 - 199
OMAR’S WORDS
Leader must exercise leadership: From Omar’s first speech: “...The likeness of the Arabs is only to a camel led by the nose following its leader’ therefore, let its leader look where he leads. As for me, by the Lord of the Kaaba, I will indeed bring them along on the road”. Tabari 11 : 158 - 159
Leader must have initiative: “The most sagacious man is he who displays his own initiative, when he has no directives from his superior to fall back on, or who, without holding back, gives expression to his own views”. Tabari 13 : 72 - 75
Omar worries about a camel in far-away Iraq: “According to Yunus : Umar b. al-Khattab addressed the people and said, By Him who sent Muhammad with the Truth, if one camel were to perish untended on the bank of the Euphrates, I would fear that God would hold the Khattab family responsible for it”. Tabari 14 :105 - 106
Omar, a gentle ruler: “According to Abdul Hamid b. Baya : Umar b. al-Khattab said, “O subjects, you have an obligation to us to give advice on what is unknown and cooperate in doing good. There is no forbearance (him) dearer to God and more generally advantageous then that of a gentle leader. O subjects there is no ignorance more hateful to God and more generally evil than that of a harsh leader. O subject, he who enjoins well-being for someone in his midst, God will bring him well-being from above”.
Tabor 14 : 139
Every group elect a leader : Omar’s directive “Whenever three persons among the Muslims proceed on a journey, they should make one their Amir, for the Holy Prophet (P.B.H) has ordered us to observe this rule” Hayat 2: 58
Arabs are like camels: “The Arabs are like a tractable camel that follows its leader. So its leader should watch where he is leading it. By the Lord of the Kabah, I shall certainly carry them along the straight road”. Tabari 14:103
Everybody counts: The weak are also Muslims” Tabari 13 : 183
Omar’s desire to be on the people’s level : “When I find myself in a position when I fell comfortable, but that means my people have no access (to me) then this (can) not (continue) to be my position; I (must once again) be on the same level as my people”.
Omar’s desire to visit provinces: “If I live, I shall certainly travel for a whole year among my subjects, God willing. I know that people have needs that do not reach me. Their governors will not refer them to me, nor will they themselves came to me. I shall travel to Syria and stay there two months. I shall travel to the Jazirah and stay there two months. Then I shall travel to Bahrain and stay there two month. Then I shall travel to al-Kufah and stay there for two months. Then I shall travel to al-Basrah and stay there for two month. Indeed, what a fine year this will be”. Tabari 14 : 104
Leader should not feel he is special : Omar admonishes Saad, commander in Iraq: “O Sa’d, Sa’d of banu Wuhayb! You must not allow yourself to be deluded into deviatin from (the way of) God if it is said: (This is) the uncle of the messenger of God (and that is) one of his Companions. God will not eradicate one bad thing by means of another but will rather eradicate a bad thing with a good one. For there is no relationship between God and any human being except obedience. In the eyes of God people are equal, regardless of rank; God is their Master, and they are His servants. The differ from each other in their well-being, and they achieve God’s favour by observing (His commandments). Ponder the way in which the Prophet behaved since the beginning of his mission and until his death; stick to it, because this is the proper behaviour. This is my admonition to you! If you disregard it and turn away from it, your endeavor will fail, and you will be one of the losers. Tabari 12 : 8
Leader to keep secrets : Omar’s advice to Abu Ubayd: “... Keep your tongue and by no means give away your secret, for the possessor of the secret, as long as he keeps it, is fortified: he will not be approached from a direction he does not like, whereas if he causes it to be lost, Then he is lost”. Tabari 11: 187.
DISCUSSION:
EXERCISE ON OMAR’s ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS
List the following from what you have read about Omar
(a) Personal attributes
(b) Conceptual skills
(c) Practical skills
(d) Human skills
COMPARISON OF LEADERSHIP STYLES
Compare Abu Bakr and Omar’s leadership styles on the following: (FAROOQp24).
YOUR NOTES:
