Seerah Series

Prophet Muhammad(saw) as a Statesman

The Statesman
 

The fundamentals of the rationally based Islamic ‘Aqeedah points up a very simple yet, powerful concept. The concept states that Allah (swt) is the Creator of this Universe and sends his Messengers to organize the human life. A human by the name of Muhammad (saaw) was chosen for the final and last Message, Islam. Based upon an individual’s adherence to Islam, the person is given either the key to the Jannah (heaven) or Jahannam (hellfire). Muhammad (saaw) was responsible for delivering, explaining, and implementing Islam. He (saaw) displayed the role of Islam in all aspects of life. He played many roles as a father, husband, judge, or Amir al Jihad. As an obedience to Islam, it is expected from a Muslim to observe the actions of the Prophet (saaw) related to one’s life. So, a father or judge would observe the manner in which the Prophet (saaw) fulfilled these roles. Ironically, there is one type of emulation which is at best ignored by the Muslims. Unfortunately, the Prophet (saaw) would be the last person to come to our mind when thinking about fulfilling this role. The role of being a Statesman.
 

This role is passed over due to the misconceptions we have in our minds about Islam and the term statesman. Some Muslims refrain from anything to do with politics. This position stems from the understanding that Islam is a spiritual belief. On the contrary, the Islamic Aqeedah is both a spiritual and political Aqeedah. It is spiritual because Muslims perform actions based upon the Message of Islam, while the Aqeedah is political because it deals with life’s affairs. The term statesman can best be described as a person who possesses a ruling mentality which is capable of conducting the affairs of the state, ability to solve the problems of the society, and being a political leader.
 

A significant variable which distinguishes one statesman from an other is the ideology that is adopted to administer the affairs of the people. Thus, the method by which the functions of a statesman are conducted greatly differ depending on the ideology. In Islam, a statesman’s role is to take care of the affairs of the people. A Muslim statesman realizes that he has taken this responsibility as an Amanah (Trust) which must be fulfilled according to Islam. In Capitalism, the basis of everything in life is benefit. Therefore, it is not surprising to see western politicians as dishonest and manipulative to serve their interests. A politician in the arena of Capitalism only worries about how fat his wallet gets. The example of the S&L scandal or Enron,WorldCom)in the USA is just one of many examples that underscore who the real criminals are.
 

In this article, we would like to discuss the characteristics of a states man who adopts Islam as the reference. There is no one better than the Prophet (saaw) in which to observe the Islamic qualities that the states man possesses. Islam views the role of a statesmen as a responsibility and not as a privilege or as a vehicle to gain benefits. Prophet Muhammad (saaw) says: “Behold, the Imam is but a shield from behind which the people tight and by which they protect themselves.” (Muslim)
 

“The Imam is a shepherd and he is responsible for his people?.” (Muslim)

The manner in which the Prophet (saaw) was the caretaker of the Muslim Ummah is an example for all of humanity. He (saaw) would equally participate and even more so in carrying out simple chores with the Sahabah (companions). He demonstrated leadership before and after the Islamic State was established. Muhammad (saaw) was careful not to claim any privilege for himself even though he (saaw) was the leader.
 

As an example, during the Meccan period, the Quraysh had placed a total boycott on the Muslims and isolated them in a valley. At that time, a Sahabi (ra) came to the Prophet (saaw) complaining about his hunger and showed him (saaw) one rock which he had tied against his stomach to suppress the pain from the hunger. Then the Prophet (saaw) displayed his stomach, he (saaw) had two rocks tied. This incident exemplifies the nature and the attitude a statesman should have regarding his people. This attitude is in complete contrast to the present rulers in the Muslims
world. The puppets  of the Muslim World are causing severe hardships for the Muslims to sustain their ruling on the fragmented Muslim lands.
 

In providing leadership to the nation, the statesman provides it in an ideological manner. This type of leadership leads the people with ideas or thoughts rather than personality. Since, the ideas and thoughts of Islam were instilled into the nation it guaranteed that the leadership would not decay with time or lose the momentum because it is based upon the supreme and timeless Aqeedah of Islam, which in turn provides the supreme ideas and thoughts to regulate our actions in this life. Consequently, the Muslim statesman does not work to make himself or his group to be recorded as famous figures in history. Rather, the statesman works and struggles to achieve the supremacy and dominance of the thoughts and ideas he adopts. In trying to achieve this objective, the statesman cannot afford or imagine at any time to conceal himself from the public. He must possess steadfast eagerness to care for the people, be cognizant of their affairs, and contribute to their thoughts and attitudes with the objective of avoiding any semblance of isolation.(see the Book The System of Islam)

After the death of the Prophet (saaw), history witnesses the tremendous expansion of Islam. His (saaw)’s death did not cause the momentum of Islam to vanish. This phenomenon occurred due to the type of leadership which Muhammad (saaw) established, an ideological one. Muslims were not revolving around the personality of Muhammad (saaw). They revolved and obeyed the thoughts and laws which were revealed to Muhammad (saaw). The Seerah is very clear with many examples of how Muhammad (saaw) used to remind the Muslims not to treat him the way the Christians treated Issa (as), son of Maryam (as). The Prophet (saaw) said: “Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a slave. So call me the slave of Allah and His Messenger.” (Bukhari)The visitors who would come to see the Prophet (saaw) would not be able to distinguish the Prophet (saaw) from the Sahabah (raa) when he (saaw) was sitting wit them. People would have to inquire with the Sahabah (raa) as to who the Prophet (saaw) was. This indicates the great degree of effectiveness the Prophet (saaw) experienced in breaking any barriers between the Companions (raa) and himself (saaw).
 

The ideological leadership in Islam is unfortunately absent in most well known Muslim scholars and from all rulers. Many would try to create a clergy image of themselves. Due to the lack of ideological leadership, the Muslims have started listening and obeying based upon who the person is and not what he says. This is in stark contrast to an old bedouin woman who at the time of Khalifah Umar (ra) questioned and corrected him (ra) when ‘Umar (ra) proposed to put a cap on the dowry. The old bedouin woman had this sharp quality of judging what was being said based upon Islam and not upon who was speaking.
 

As defined earlier, the statesman looks after the affairs of the people. In doing that, the statesman may face the public opinion which is contrary to the ideas or thoughts he adopts. The Prophet (saaw) faced such a challenge many times. After the trip of ‘Isra’ and Mir’aj, the Prophet (saaw) found himself face to face with a public opinion discrediting his journey, questioning his (saaw) mental health, and in general denying the incident altogether. Prior to ‘Isra’ and Mir’aj, Islam was being accepted at a rapid pace. Ibn Ishaq in his commentary of the Seerah notes that Islam spread in Mecca among Quraysh and other tribes. Ibn Ishaq says, when the news of the miraculous journey reached many of those who accepted Islam, they committed apostasy. On hearing the news, Umm Hani bint Abi Talib requested the Prophet (saaw) to keep a low profile and to keep the news secret for a while to avoid the turning away of Muslims from Islam. With. out any hesitation with full Confidence, and with the strong attitude of a statesman, the Messenger of Allah (saaw) declared: By Allah, I shall Speak Out!
 

Thus, the statesman does not get distracted and diverted by the public opinion. Au contraire, he manages to challenge and create a public opinion of his own. Today, those who claim to be statesmen ride the public opinion. They take their guidance from their constituency Many were Scared at times to declare a word of truth against the revolution in Iran because the revolution was Supported by a strong public Opinion. More recently, during the surrender of Palestine to Israel, many were scared to take a stand against what was happening such as Hassan Turabj who justified the PLO - Israel accord as “something of necessity’ (Independent - 12/3/93)

Again, the statesman cannot afford to wait for the public Opinion to cool down before Presenting his ideas and thoughts to the people. The statesman has to lead the public Opinion and not be led by it. Thus, the statesman must remain in touch with the people regardless of how rejectionist they might be.
 

History has Witnessed many statesmen who could be highly evaluated. It has always been the case that when a great statesman dies, a vacuum is created However, when Muhammad (saaw) died, he (saaw) left behind an army of statesmen The environment in which the Sahabah (raa) lived was ripe for a statesman to blossom. They were highly involved in both the Political struggle to establish the State and in the political life of the Islamic State. The political environment continued to exist and remained strong for a long time. The Ummah continued to produce people at the level of the Statesman, whether in the Position of ruling like Salahudin Ayubi and Sultan Abdul Hameed II or outside government affairs like Ibn Taymiah and Ahmed bin Hanbal In short, the islamic momentum continued to be Strengthened by the existence of statesmen who Continued to be produced as a result of the Islamic culture and way of life.
 

The lack of Muslim statesman whose ideology is based on Islam is not by coincidence. The ideological and missionary campaigns against Islam and the Muslims by the European nations were aimed on achieving such results. Their goal was to have Muslims alienate Islam from life, to have Muslims start viewing Islam as a religion like Christianity or Judaism which are confined to the individuals’ affairs. Thus, in the last two centuries, the Muslims have directly or indirectly accepted the western way of life.
 

Henceforth, the political system of Islam disappeared and the Muslims grew in environments where Islam is considered a spiritual religion. The state was divorced from religion in the same way the church was separated from state in Europe. Thus, the soil in which a statesman can grow has disappeared altogether in the Muslim world. As a result, the leadership of Muslims lack every characteristic of an honest true states man who is grounded with the Islamic ideology.
 

The necessity for statesmen today is no less important than the necessity of water for life. A Muslim statesman needs to be politically aware and educated. The Muslim statesman must understand how to take care of the affairs of the Ummah and how to provide the leadership according to the Islamic ‘Aqeedah. There is definitely a scarcity among Muslims in comprehending the concept of a statesman according to Islam.
 

However, today one of the Islamic movements in the Muslim Ummah is determined to produce Muslim statesmen who can provide leadership today and lead the Ummah to victory after the reestablishment of the Khilafah state. Muslim political parties should  undertakes the task of concentrated Islamic education for the Ummah. This includes comprehensive Islamic political education and understanding and as such, is a daily practice of the party, especially exposing the plot and conspiracies of the Kuffar. The example of the Prophet (saaw) as a statesman is very closely studied and followed. After all, following the Prophet (saaw) in this and other aspects is not a matter of choice but an obligation. “And whatever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you take it; and whatever he forbids, abstain (from it)...” (Al-Hashr 59:7)

 

Further Reading

Seerah -Part 1

Seerah -Part 2

Seerah -Part 3