In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Dispenser of Grace Khutbah Venue: Islamic Center of Michiana Topic:

The Servant Leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Date: Friday 11th February 2011/8th Rabi` al-Awwal 1432 Imam Dr. A. Rashied Omar We are once again witnessing the blessed month of Rabi` al-Awwal, the month during which our beloved leader and guide, Prophet Muhammad (may Allahs everlasting peace and blessings be upon him) was born. The month of Rabi` al-Awwal affords us with a wonderful opportunity to re-acquaint ourselves with, and to derive inspiration and guidance from, the life story (sira) of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). At this special time of Rabi` al-Awwal we should all strive to deepen our knowledge of the life story (sirah) of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) so that we are better enabled to re-dedicate our lives to following in his noble footsteps. For Allah, the Sublime, exhorts us in this regard in the Glorious Quran, in surah Ali-`Imran, chapter 3, verse 31:

Say! (O Muhammad! Proclaim unto the believers,) If you truly love Allah then follow me. If you do so then Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. For Allah is oft Forgiving, Ever Merciful Consonant with this objective, and in light of the current Muslim uprising against authoritarian regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and indeed all over the Muslim World, it might be useful and expedient for us in this khutbah to briefly reflect on some of the noble leadership qualities of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

There can be no doubt that despite the Prophet Muhammads noble standing, as a most beloved Prophet of God; he was neither an arrogant despot nor an oppressive tyrant. On the contrary, his leadership style can best be described as that of servant leadership. I would like to highlight three highly significant dimensions of the noble Prophets (pbuh) servant leadership, namely that of justice (`adl and qist), mutual consultation (shura), and mercy and compassion (rahma), to illustrate my point. Justice (`Adl and Qist) One of the most important leadership qualities that adorned the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is that of establishing justice among all people. Justice was an uncompromising dimension of the Prophets (pbuh) life and mission. In this regard he was following in the footsteps of his predecessors, the earlier noble messengers of Allah. For Allah, the Sublime proclaims in Surah al-Hadid, chapter 57, verse 25:

We have surely sent Our Messengers with clear signs, and we sent with them the Book and the Balance, so that they may establish justice among humankind. The Prophet firmly established the rule of justice among his people by his own example and practice. When he was on his deathbed, a few days before he breathed his last breath, he had it publicly announced: Is there anyone among you whom I have stricken? Here is my back, let him strike me in return. Is there anyone whose character I have defamed or insulted? Let him now cast reproach upon me. Is there anyone from whom I have taken anything unjustly? Let him now come forward and be indemnified. Such was his consciousness and understanding of the rights of other people, and of the need to dispense them with absolute fairness and justice that he did not forget it even at the time of his last breath. This is an ever-living reminder to the Muslim leaders of today of the great importance of establishing fairness and justice among the people. Mutual Consultation (Shura) A second important leadership quality that characterized the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is that of mutual consultation or shura. Allah, the Sublime, in surah Ali-`Imran, chapter 3, verse 159, Himself describes shura or mutual consultation as being one of the fundamental characteristics which adorned the leadership style of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

(O Prophet) it is only due to the great mercy of Allah that you are gentle with (the believers), (O Muhammad) if you had been harsh and hard-hearted toward them, they would have certainly dispersed and scattered away from you; so pardon them and overlook their shortcomings, and pray to Allah to forgive them, and consult them in matters of (public affairs), And when you have come to a mutual decision (i.e. after due consultation), then put your trust in Allah, for Allah loves those who put their trust in Him. According to some of the commentators of the Qur`an, such as ibn Jarir al-Tabari and Isma`il ibn Kathir, this verse was revealed shortly after the battle of Uhud, when the Muslims were reflecting on the mistakes they had made during Uhud. Some of the Muslims had begun to regret that during the shura (consultation) process before the battle of Uhud as to what strategy they should adopt, many of them, especially the courageous young people in their midst, had opposed the Prophet Muhammad's opinion that they should fight the Quraysh from within the city walls of Madina. Had he wished the Prophet (pbuh) could easily have imposed his opinion on his followers, and no-one would have questioned his leadership. In fact, after the Prophet (pbuh) emerged from his tent wearing his armor, the army had in the meantime decided to abandon the majority view and follow their leaders opinion to fight from within the walls of the city of Madina. But the Prophet (pbuh) was keen on using this critical moment as a pedagogical opportunity. He wanted to use this occasion to teach his companions and subsequent Muslims an important lesson in leadership. He wished to drive home to them the fact that he who has the authority (a ruler) must never impose his own will on his followers. He must always consult with his followers because through mutual consultation the right course of action will emerge. And so it was that that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) subjected himself to the view of the shura, the majority position. In the above verse Allah, the Sublime, is re-confirming the critical lesson of leadership that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was keen on conveying to his followers. Even if you think, that the decision to fight from within the walls of Madina was a strategic error, in accordance with the divine values and leadership ethics of Islam, mutual consultation (shura) is blessed and should always be honored and implemented. Reflecting on this verse and the context within which it was revealed a contemporary biographer of the Prophet's life, Adil Salahi, in his book Muhammad: Man and Prophet (Islamic Foundation, UK) comes to the following conclusion: "The lesson in consultative government which he (the Prophet) taught his companions was of paramount importance. They realized, as

all Muslim generations would come to realize, that a ruler may have to take an attitude contrary to his own opinion if it meets the wishes of a broad section of the Muslim community." The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was so robust with regard to shura (consulting his followers) that one of his noble companions, Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him), described his leadership style as follows: I have never seen anyone who consults his companions as much as the Messenger of Allah. Mercy and Compassion (Rahma) Last but not least, the Glorious Quran describes the raison detre of Prophet Muhammads mission as rahmatan lil 'alamin, a source of compassion and mercy to the world (21:107).

We have not sent you (O Muhammad) but as a source of Mercy, Compassion and Tenderness to the World In his numerous speeches to his followers the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke so much about compassion (rahma) that his companions felt compelled to respond by saying: but we are compassionate to our spouses and children. The Prophet (pbuh) clarified what he meant by saying: What I mean is rahma (compassion) in an absolute sense, towards each and everything including the entire universe (animals, plants and the environment). To further underscore this core teaching of Islam the Prophet (pbuh) once told an anecdote of a sinful man who was forgiven by God for showing compassion to a thirsty dog by providing him with water. When the Prophet Muhammads companions heard the story they were astonished at the radical nature of this teaching on compassion and so to make doubly sure that they had understood his message clearly they inquired: O Messenger of God, will we be rewarded for being compassionate to animals? He said: Yes, there is a reward for showing goodness and compassion to every living creature. (Bukhari) Such indeed was the servant leadership style of our beloved leader and guide, Prophet Muhammad (may Allahs everlasting peace and blessings be upon him), adorned by among many others, the significant values of justice (`adl and qist), mutual consultation (shura), and mercy and compassion (rahma). Indeed, a far cry from the arrogant despots and oppressive tyrants that in recent times have and some continue to rule the Muslim lands. Conclusion The era of despotic and oppressive rulers in the Muslim World is currently being challenged by the courageous Muslim masses like never before. What we are presently witnessing in Tunisia and Egypt is a transformative moment. Ordinary people in Tunisia and Egypt have re-discovered

the efficacy and power of collective action and social solidarity in shaping their own destinies. It is widely acknowledged that this uprising is a genuine grassroots movement for social change and emancipation. We make du`a and pray that Allah, the Most Merciful, will protect and bless the courageous citizens of Egypt and Tunisia, Muslim and non-Muslims, and grant them the wisdom to pursue their ongoing struggle for dignity and emancipation in the best manner possible, insha-Allah. We make du`a and pray that Allah, the Ever-Merciful, will grace Egyptians, Tunisians and indeed all Muslim countries with servant leaders who strive to emulate the noble example of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). We ask Allah, the Sublime, to bestow his choicest salutations and blessings of peace upon our beloved leader and exemplar Prophet Muhammad (May Allahs peace and blessings be upon him forever):

Allah and His Angels send blessings and salutations on the Prophet: O Believers: Send blessings and salutations on him, and salute him with all respect. (Quran: Surah al-Ahzab, Chapter 33 verse 56)