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The Danger of Seeking Leadership, Position, Status, Fame!

Allaah, Subhanahu wa Ta’aala, said (what means):

That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqoon. (Soorah Al-Qasas, ayah 83)

Abu Musa (radiallaahu ‘anhu) narrated:

Two of my cousins and I entered the apartment of the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). One of them said: Messenger of Allaah, appoint us rulers of some lands that the Almighty and Glorious Allaah has entrusted to your care. The other also said something similar. Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: ”We do not appoint to this position one who asks for it nor anyone who is covetous for the same.” [Saheeh Muslim][1]

‘Abdur-Rahman ibn Samwah (radiallaahu ‘anhu) narrated: Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said to me,

“Oh ‘Abdur-Rahman! Do not ask for leadership, since if you are given it – having requested it – then you will be all alone to discharge it. But if you are given it without requesting it, you will be helped (by Allaah) in it.” [Saheeh Muslim]

Shaykh Rabee’ bin Hadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah) said:

“Rather the ones to be chosen are those who are suitable in [Islamic] knowledge, don’t have a desire for such a position, and are pious. Then, we must also benefit from this Prophetic methodology in our education and training. So we should not bring up the youth to have love for leadership, authority and position. If we bring them up upon love of these things, then we have acted contrary to the way and guidance of Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)… Then what success can we expect in this world or the Hereafter if we act contrary to the methodology of Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)?” [2]

Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

Rush to perform (good) deeds now before fitan (trials and tribulations) of pitch-black darkness (appear), wherein a man wakes up as a believer and becomes a disbeliever by nightfall, and another man goes to bed as a believer and wakes up as a disbeliever, selling his Religion for some worldly commodities. [Saheeh Muslim]

Shaikh ‘Abdul-’Azeez Ibn ‘Abdullaah Ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah) said in explaining this hadeeth:

“This means that the strangeness of Islaam will increase to a point where a believer wakes up as a Muslim and becomes a disbeliever by nightfall, or the opposite - he goes to bed as a believer and wakes up as a disbeliever - by selling out his Religion for some worldly commodity, by speaking with words of disbelief or behaving with actions of disbelief for the sake of some worldly gains.

He begins his day as a believer, and then someone comes to him requesting him to speak ill of Allaah and the Messenger, or to stop praying, offering him something (a raise, a promotion, etc.). ’Consider fornication or alcohol to be permissible,’ (they say,) ‘and we’ll give you such and such,’ to make him join the disbelievers. They convince him to be amongst the disbelievers, in their (political) party, among their supporters, giving him large amounts of money to be the disbelievers’ ally and an enemy of the Muslims.

There are many, many different kinds of apostasy. It usually occurs for some worldly reason, loving this world (too much) and preferring it over the Next Life. This is why he (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: selling his Religion for some worldly commodities.” [3]

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) said concerning this hadeeth:

“And do not think that this portion of the dunya is only wealth. (Rather) it could be any of the pleasures of this world that are presented to him like wealth, status, leadership, women, or other things. Anything from the pleasures of this world is this ‘some commodity [or portion]‘ of the dunya (mentioned in the hadith).” [4]

Al-Fudayl Ibn ‘Iyaad (rahimahullaah Ta’aala) said:

“There is not a single Ra`ees (a ruler, or a director, or a president, or an adminstrator) who loves his position (to be that Ra`ees) except that: he has envy of others; he will transgress against the people; he follows the faults of the people; and he dislikes that anyone other than him is mentioned with good.” [5]

Yoosuf Ibn Asbaat (rahimahullaah) said: I heard Sufyaan (rahimahullaah) saying:

“I have not seen lesser abstinenence in anything besides (love) of leadership; you see a man abstaining from food, drink, wealth and clothing, but when leadership is withdrawn he becomes passionate about it and turns towards (it).” [6]

Imaam Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) said:

“Eagerness for high status is of two types: The first type is seeking high status through leadership, authority and wealth. This is very dangerous and in most cases it prevents (a person) from the goodness of the afterlife, its nobility, honour and elevated station. Allaah (The Most High) said: ’That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun.’” [Soorah Al-Qasas, ayah 83]

Shaykh Muhammad al-Imaam (hafidhahullaah Ta’aala) said:

“The love of leadership will break a person’s back.”

Shaikh ‘Adil Sayyid (hafidhahullaah) said:

“And all the Messengers began with the foundation (Tawheed, correct ‘aqeedah, Eeman), and not looking at the top [towards leadership or rulership]. And the Noble Qur`an has given us an example of those who came before us.”

Some of the Salafee students (hafidhahumullaah) relayed that Shaikh Abu ‘Uthmaan Muhammad Al-Anjaaree (hafidhahullaah) said:

“The Sunnee doesn’t want any status or leadership or organizations in this wordly life. He only seeks the hereafter, so his goals are reviving the Sunnah and destroying/crushing bid’ah.”

“From the enemies of Ahlus-Sunnah are al-mukhaithilah (those who don’t aid the truth and its people), and from al-mukhaithilah are those sick with a hidden desire: the disease of loving fame, leadership, and finding status for oneself.” [7]

Notes:

[1] In the case of Prophet Yusuf (‘alaihi salaam), Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said: ”Yusuf praised himself, for this is allowed when one’s abilities are unknown and there is a need to do so.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, tafseer of Soorat Yusuf]

[2] Manhaj ul-Anbiyaah fi ad-Da’wah ila-Allaah (Methodology of the Prophets in Calling to Allaah)

[3] “…Before Fitan (Trials and Tribulations) of Pitch-Black Darkness Appear…”: 

[4] In the shaikh’s explanation of Riyad-us-Saaliheen, Volume 1, pg. 150, via Masjid Tawheed wa Sunnah

[5] Tape: Narrations of the Salaf, Tape #5.

[6] Siyar: 7/262, via SalafiCentre

[7] For a highly beneficial scholarly benefit concerning this very topic, click on: A Beautiful Prohibition to the Person of Sunnah by Shaykh Ahmad as-Subay’ee:

[8] For more on this extremely important topic, click on: The Da’wah & Manhaj of the Prophet was Clear! Those who truly follow the Prophet are upon clarity; the un-truthful hate clarity

Post Courtesy: Maher ibn Ahmad via SalafisofFlorida mailing list

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