The Director, Islamic Affairs, Nigerian Navy, Imam Gidado Miqdad says anyone who finds himself as a leader must see it as a trust (Amanah) from the people.
Miqdad said this at the Annual Lecture of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Abuja chapter marking 2016 Maulud Nabiyy with the theme: “Islamic Position on Good Governance’’ on Monday in Abuja.
“As such he must bring to bear all the essential qualities both innate and acquired for him to succeed. It is for this reason that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said that human beings are like treasure trove.’’
According to him, a good leader should have qualities that include intellect, trust, vision, courage and resolve, empathy, discipline and integrity.
The director said that Islam as a religion has its position on good governance as there are verses in the Holy Qur’an some number of Hadith.
“Allah says in the glorious Qur’an: `Verily! Allah enjoins you to make over trust to their owners and that when you judge between people that you judge with justice surely Allah admonishes you with what is excellent:
“Allah is seeing, hearing’ (Qur’an 4 verse 58).
“Also Allah says: `Oh Daud (David) We have appointed you as the Khalifa on earth, therefore judge between men with the trust and follow not your desire less you will be led astray from the path of Allah.
“Verily those led astray from the path of Allah will have a hard chastisement for they have forgotten the day of accountability (Qur’an 38 verse 26).’’
Miqdad, who is also the Chief Imam of the Nigerian Navy said that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in some of the Hadith said to Muslim Ummah that “Do not ask for leadership’’.
“Because if you ask for it you will be left to bear the burden; but if you are given without asking for it you will be assisted in coping with the burden.
“The leader of the people is their servant,’’ he quoted the hadith.
The Imam also noted that Islam had categorised ingredients of good governance which include consultation, rule of law, accountability, and mentorship.
He said others were efficiency in management, prompt and good service delivery.
On the levels of leadership, the director said that Muhammad (SAW) had said that in a Hadith that everybody was involved in governance at one level or the other.
“Everyone is a shepherd and will be asked about his flocks. The man is a shepherd in respect of his household, and will be asked about his flocks.
“A woman is a shepherd in respect of her husband, property of the master and will be asked about them, everyone is a shepherd and will be asked about his flocks,’’ he quoted the Hadith.
Earlier, the MMPN Chairman, Mr AbdulRahaman Balogun had said that lack of good leadership and fear of Allah had caused the nation a great fortune.
“All great nations have excel as a result of the visions of their leaders, which are imbibed by their followers,’’ he said.
He said that surprisingly, there was good number of Muslims among them, who had good example from the exemplary leadership qualities of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
“They join the bandwagon of misrule. This is rather unfortunate,’’ he said.
This year’s lecture is the 11th edition of the annual events. (NAN)