Any mortal who is given by Allah the Almighty the responsibility of leading and governing a Muslim community (or a land overwhelmingly inhabited by Muslims) should not forget that even though his ultimate accountability will come on the Day of Judgement, yet he cannot avoid being answerable to his people for his decisions and deeds. In fact his answerability to those, he is leading or governing, is of paramount importance in determining how he will be judged on the eventual Accountability Day.
For his guidance, I think the very best advice comes from the first leader and ruler of Islam after the departure of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Upon becoming Caliph, Hazrat Abu Bakr (Blessed Be His Soul) stood before the Ummah, and proclaimed in all humility: “Behold me, charged with the cares of government! I am certainly not the best among you. I need all your advice and help. If I do well support me; if I make a mistake counsel me… As long as I obey God and the Holy Prophet, obey me; if I neglect the laws of God and the Holy Prophet, I have no right to your obedience. Then you are free to give me the treatment I deserve.”
Each word of this historic proclamation requires thorough study and analysis.
Hazrat Abu Bakr did not make any pretense to being the best and the most deserving among the Ummah to lead. He made it clear from the day one of his governance that he would be depending heavily on the advice and help of the best among the Ummah. He also made it explicitly known that he had no inbuilt defences against ‘erring’ and he was quite capable of making mistakes. Meaning thereby that he had to be counseled into timely rectification of his wrong decisions and acts. Of course he did rightfully expect support for his just acts and decisions, but in case he was found acting or behaving in violation or contradiction of God’s Commandments and the Path set by the Holy Prophet (PBUH), he did not deserve to be in command of the Ummah, and it was upto the Ummah to take him to task.
Each word of this exemplary proclamation is in step with each principle of modern democracy. Of course the tools, the methods and the institutions for implementation of these highly regarded and eulogized principles did not exist in the seventh century, but it is the essence-the substance-the contents-that should be taken into account-not the packing.
Modern day dictators-particularly those belonging to the Muslim world like to use all their energies on laying emphasis on just one point-‘Obedience’ to the ‘Amir’ for preventing FITNAH (Strife).
What is conveniently forgotten is that the ‘Amir’ himself too can become the root cause of all ‘Fitnah’. How should the Ummah respond to an ‘eventuality’ like that?
Abdur Rehman AL Dakhil was one of the most progressive and dynamic rulers of Muslim Spain in the days of Islamic glory. He is on record to have advised his successors.
“If you want to deserve to lead a Muslim community, learn from the mistakes of your predecessors. Read history and absorb the lessons it transmits.”
It was a great advice.
And President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan should not mind benefiting from it.
28-4-2014