Responsibilities of the Leader: Consultation, Gentleness, and Prevention
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Duties of a Leader
It is obligatory upon a leader that he consults with his companions, treats them with gentleness, and prevents them from engaging in unlawful acts.
❶ Allah Almighty says:
وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ [آل عمران: 159]
“And consult them in the matter.”
❷ Anas رضي الله عنه narrated: When the Prophet ﷺ was informed about the coming of Abu Sufyan, he consulted (the companions). He turned away from the opinions of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما. Then Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubadah رضي الله عنه stood up and said: “Perhaps you intend to ask us?” Then he said:
والذي نفسي بيده ! لو أمرتنا أن نخيضها البحر لأ خضناها
“By Him in Whose hand is my soul! If you were to command us to plunge into the sea, we would plunge into it. And if you were to command us to jump into it, we would be ready to do so.”
[Muslim: 1779, Kitab al-Jihad wa al-Siyar: Bab Ghazwah Badr; Ahmad: 3/220]
❸ Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said:
ما رأيت أحدا قط كان أكثر مشورة لأصحابه من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
“I never saw anyone who consulted his companions more than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
[Al-Tirmidhi ta‘liq: 4/214; Ahmad: 4/328; al-Bayhaqi: 9/218; Tartib al-Musnad lil-Shafi‘i: 2/177; Dala’il al-Nubuwwah: 4/101]
❹ Ma‘qil ibn Yasar رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ما من عبد يسترعيه الله رعية يموت يـوم يموت وهو غاش لرعيته إلا حرم الله عليه الجنة
“Whomever Allah appoints as a guardian over a group of people, and he dies while betraying them, Allah will forbid Paradise for him.”
[Al-Bukhari: 7150, Kitab al-Ahkam: Bab Man Istar‘a Ra‘iyyah Fa Lam Yansah; Muslim: 227]
❺ Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
اللهـم مـن ولـي من أمر أمتى شيئا فرفق بهم فارفق به
“O Allah! Whoever takes charge of any affair of my Ummah and deals gently with them, then be gentle with him.”
[Muslim: 1828, Kitab al-Imarah: Bab Fadilah al-Imam al-‘Adil; Ahmad: 6/62; Ibn Hibban: 553; al-Bayhaqi: 10/136]
❻ Ma‘qil ibn Yasar رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ما من أمير يلى أمور المسلمين ثم لا يجتهد لهم ولا ينصح لهم إلا لم يدخل الجنة
“Any leader who takes charge of the affairs of the Muslims but does not strive for them nor advise them sincerely will not enter Paradise.”
[Muslim: 142, Kitab al-Iman: Bab Istihqaq al-Wali al-Ghash li Ra‘iyyatihi al-Nar]
❼ Jabir رضي الله عنه said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would remain at the rear during journeys; he would urge the weak forward, give them a ride, and make supplication for them.
[Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawud: 2298, Kitab al-Jihad: Bab fi Luzum al-Saqqah; Abu Dawud: 2639]
