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THE WAY FORWARD by Mufti Z.Bayat [South Africa] Part 2 of 2 LEADERS ARE BUT A REFLECTION OF SOCIETY It is to alert the Ummah
to this reality that Sayyidina Muhammad (sallallahu-alayhi-wasallam)
said the following words of wisdom on the relationship between rulers and
the ruled: "As you are, so will be the rulers that will be set over you"
- Mishkaat-al-Masabeeh
".... the hearts of the rulers are in my control. When My servants obey Me, I turn their leaders towards them in kindness. When My servants disobey Me, I turn their rulers towards them withThe message is loud and clear - leaders are installed upon society and placed over them by virtue of actions and deeds. No doubt, the Ummah desperately requires just, honest, competent and benevolent leaders, but equally important, the Ummah itself is in need of great reform. Without a reformed Ummah, the best leaders will not be good enough for they will not be appreciated by a corrupt society. In fact, good leaders would be in grave danger of harm from their own subjects. The only leadership capable of governing a corrupt society are corrupt and cruel leaders. Some are of the thinking that corrupt leaders should be deposed and overthrown by force. But does this provide a lasting solution? Hardly so. Simply removing corrupt leaders is not the answer. In fact, corrupt leaders deposed will be quickly succeeded by other corrupt leaders, maybe more corrupt than the former. THE WAY FORWARD – A PROGRAM OF ACTION The starting point of the
way forward is a concerted program of Ummah reform. The Ummah must once
more return to the perennial teachings of Islam, based on Quran, Sunnah
and the expert scholars. All macro and micro reformation efforts and
programs must be increased, strengthened, supported and encouraged vigourously,
to imbue the Ummah with sound Islamic values. There must be unison
and harmony between these varying reformation efforts, even though the
methodology may differ. Every member of the Ummah must be linked to any
of these reformation programs.
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