By: Samsul Nizar
Professor & Head of STAIN Bengkalis
Recently, many questions have hurt the heart and common sense—all due to human failure to fulfil trust, at least to be a leader for himself. Although the figure of an ideal leader is difficult to find, it is not impossible. Even though it’s hard to find “a needle in a haystack”.
The figure of an ideal leader is present because “he was present”, not created by someone or forced to be present by the community. He was especially conditioned by the coercion and trickery of blinding wallets. The existence of the ideal leader is often not publicised, or his reluctance to follow the “world’s game”. All appeared in the attitude of tawadhu owned because he is aware of the difficulty of appearing honest due to the more dominant political tradition of the “bamboo division” that tries to get rid of the owners of honesty.
Indeed, human instinct likes to be glorified, even though it is not necessarily that he has glory and deserves to be glorified. His presence will bring glory to the whole (universe) he leads for a leader who has glory. Different from the person who wants to be a leader but does not have self-respect. His presence is not capable of bringing glory to others. His presence will only be a disaster for the environment and the entire (universe) he leads.
God reminds the existence of an ideal leader through His words: “Dear David; indeed We have made you a caliph (ruler) on earth, so give decisions (matters) between people fairly and do not follow your lust, because it will lead you astray you are from the path of God. Indeed, those who stray from the path of God will receive a heavy punishment because they forget the day of reckoning” (QS. Shad: 26).
The Prophet explained the verse above through his words: “Each of you is a leader, and each leader will be held accountable for what he leads” (HR. Bukhari and Muslim).
The verse and hadith above clearly remind people when to gain trust as a leader. However, the words of God and the words of the Messenger of God are sometimes no longer taken into account and are considered irrelevant as a reference because they are out of date. Could this be what God’s words mean in QS al-Ma’uun: 1 as “religious liars”? The height of religion is sold for a gaping “covering of sores” or a “hiding place” from the unfolding of tyrannical behaviour. The Malay proverb says: “The safest place is the most dangerous place (a place that is considered impossible). Smart criminals wash their faces with stones and sleep under the water streams”.
It’s a text that contains a profound meaning but is forgotten or deliberately forgotten. All people want to lead but do not realise that not all people are qualified to be leaders. The figure of a leader is presented by God and can be accepted by the universe, not conditioned by humans and rejected by nature and the “inhabitants of the sky”. When viewed from the expanse of nature and the elements of human creation, it is explained whether a character accepts or rejects it through the qualities a leader should possess, but humans never realise it. The elements of nature as a form of existence “presented by God” include:
First, leaders are like the sun. It is a guideline to determine the direction for humans. It emits light, warming the earth with a million benefits. It rotates according to the rules (sunnatullah ) and never violates the outlined laws. The entire universe runs harmoniously following the sun’s rotation, creating peace. God reveals this through His words: “And He is the One who has created the night and the day, the sun and the moon. Each one circulates on its circuit” (QS. al -Anbiya: 33).
Through the verse above, God directs human attention to pay attention to His power in creating night and day. God created the night for rest and the day for earning a living. God created the sun that shines during the day and the moon that shines at night. Each of them circulates on the circulation line faithfully, obeys and submits to the law of Allah SWT.
Imagine when the sun and the moon can no longer be used as a guide, they no longer move following their orbits, their direction is unpredictable, their rays are bright but hurtful, and their movements no longer hold promise; then such a great universe will perish. Not to mention Human beings will be so easily destroyed somewhere.
Such is the figure of a leader. His existence is like the sun and the moon, carrying out his mandate according to the rules, being a guide and torch for all he leads, and benefiting others. The figure of this leader is like the sun, becoming a guide and bringing light to the universe. However, suppose the formation of the leader no longer obeys the rules. In that case, his existence cannot be a guide, he spreads darkness, and his presence only benefits a small group of people, so his figure is no longer capable of being the sun. This happens just like the sun no longer moves, according to sunnatullah. The universe will be destroyed, and peace will not be realised.
Second, leaders are like the moon. His presence cools the soul and is awaited by all. Its elegant light does not dazzle the eyes but can illuminate the whole world when it is pitch black (light for darkness). It is capable of creating vast “ocean turbulence” (tidal waves) but can “tame the ocean” (ebb tide) in time. Thus the figure of the leader should appear like the moon. Soft and cooling, but with unique character. In its shade, it can stir up the spirit to build civilisation. His presence is looked forward to and proud of. His character is quoted in the verses of happiness like “moon”.
Nevertheless, God reminds people that when they become leaders (aspects of the sun or the moon) not to take God’s right as a thing that must be worshipped. Because God forbids this. When a leader asks to be “worshipped”, directly or indirectly, such a figure has clearly slipped into error. This is the same as the worship performed by leaders in the variant figures of Pharaoh and Namrudz. God’s warning is so firmly written in His words: “And some of the signs of His greatness are the night, the day, the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun and not (also) to the moon, but prostrate to God who created them. , if you only worship Him” (QS. Fusshilat: 37).
Third, leaders are like the wind. It is sensitive and beneficial to the environment. Its existence is felt even though it doesn’t need to be seen, even by those who think it. His presence can only be seen from his “work” (the swaying of the trees) which is capable of making a “pollen marriage”, not just relying on his physicality or the big name he carries. Although he can shake and shake nature, he can be present with a warm breeze making “nature fall asleep”. It can become a helpful force (current as electrical energy) through spinning wheels. It is present to benefit but never presents itself to gain praise. Sometimes, when the wind shows its strength, it can overturn what is there. Even though he was often insulted, the wind never returned the creature’s insults to him.
Fourth, leaders are like soil. He is ready to accept anything by putting forward a million benefits. Although he was often “hurt” and the estuary was “filth”, he took it with open arms. It responds to “dirt” by digesting it into fertiliser with the goodness of growing a million plants that are beneficial to the universe. When a person dies, he hugs with love so that the “disgrace of man” does not harm humanity and destroy the universe. When it becomes a carcass, the stench of the human body is wrapped in a “hug” so as not to disturb and damage the environment. That’s how the personal figure of the leader who is present, like the nature of the soil, should be. Its existence fosters virtue, mutes the shame of others, purifies the impure (not defiles the holy), awakens the confused, builds humility (tawadhu), and other praiseworthy qualities.
Fifth, leaders are like fire. It is ready to be friends and enemies. It becomes a friend when it is valued. It will provide light, a torch, and a guide to illuminate the darkness of the night. It can bring warmth when winter arrives, helping people meet their daily needs (cooking utensils). But, when it is no longer appreciated and not used correctly, then it will be present as an opponent for tyranny to win virtue. It can burn everything in the universe when the drum of tyranny is struck. The fight against the “recklessness and greed” of man opposes the verses of God. This is according to God’s words: “Let Me (who acts) against the person I have created. And I give him abundant wealth. And children who are always with him. And I give him the widest space (life). Then I wish I could add to it. I can’t! Indeed, he has opposed Our verses (Al- Qur’an ). I will burden him with a heavy climb” (QS Al- Muddatstsir: 11-17).
Referring to the asbab nuzul verse above, there are only 2 (two) options, that is to be Walid bin Mughirah who gets guidance or Abu Jahal, who consistently denies all the verses of God to bring “opposition”. All of them have fulfilled the promise of God, who cannot lie about His promises. Sixth, leaders are like the ocean (water). When the rainy season arrives, the seawater carries garbage and carcasses but can still maintain its purity. Only needing some time, the seawater can remove all the dirt from the shore and maintain cleanliness so that all the creatures “conceived” can survive.
The figure of the leader in the reflection of seawater indicates a leader who is not affected by the “various dirt and impurities” around him but is cleans with wisdom, A figure who doesn’t harbour grudges and blame “garbage” but is open-minded and able to clean up the garbage politely to maintain the cleanliness of the environment. It flows the waste downstream. Seawater understands that even though it is garbage, if it is upstream, it may still have benefits for humans. The goodness of something evaluated hastily will result in the ugliness that is also hasty.
Likewise, vice versa. The wisdom and wisdom of the elements of society will give birth to the figure of a wise and wise leader. A leader is not a perfect figure. His existence can only be assessed and felt when he is gone, either due to the end of time or has been invited to death. Some comparators make objective evaluations appear. However, regardless of everything, it should be remembered that “Allah will not send a leader to a people, except by the behaviour (character) of the people he will lead”. When this view is used as a reference in making an assessment, then the existence of the leader and the leader are like 2 (two) sides of the coin that are mutually intertwined and responsible for what is done.
All of the above natural components must be possessed by every leader. The elements synergise as nature has them. If one of the components is missing, then the balance of nature will disappear, resulting in disaster everywhere. When weighing the leader’s figure with the scales of nature, nature will be friendly. However, the character will respond wrath when the heart is trampled upon by spreading harm. Of course, there is always a choice for each individual who determines what type of leader will be chosen. God’s words are worth noting: “And thus We made some of the wrongdoer’s leaders for others because of what they worked for” (QS Al-‘ An`ām: 129).
Likewise, the words of the Messenger of Allah: “As you (who are led by *pen), such as your leader” (HR. Baihaqi).
Referring to the verse and hadith above, it is clear that there is a connection between the leader and the leader (whatever the variant). Existence is like two sides of a coin. Everything will be “bought” by Allah for what is done (sold). When the lead is in the area of virtue, there will be a leader who brings goodness. However, if the leader is in the area of ignorance, then there will also be leaders who bring ignorance. All are “bought” by God in cash for everyone planted by the servant (fujuraha or taqwaha). After His verses have been so clearly conveyed to people, are they still being denied and lied to? Answers that every human being can only answer according to their true self.
Wa Allahua’lam bi al-Shawwab.
Translated by Riska Saputra, S.Pd
Awarded Riau Best Youth 2017
Alumni of the English Education Study Program of STAIN Bengkalis
Master Student at Graduate Institute of Network Learning Technology in National Central University, Taiwan
