Citations & Reference:"That night, I went to a land called Emerald of the Equator," the Moon told the Owl when she came to visit, after saying the Basmala and Salaam. "Everyone was eager to know who would be their new Leader, even if General election will be held in two years. Several candidates, mostly state officials, began to introduce themselves.Then, my light fell on a place where there was a circle of knowledge. A Guru and his students, were also talking about what was being discussed by the society. The teacher said, 'No goal can be achieved by anyone alone, no matter how talented or powerful of wealthy that person may be. The biggest challenge for any leader—indeed the single factor which can mean success or failure of his mission—is his ability to inspire others to follow him—without paying the Buzzers amd Influencers or a mocking survey—and commit time, energy, wealth and talent for the achievement of his goal. This 'Goal' is not the Leaders whims or ambitions, or some people force atau persuade him to do something for the sake of their personal interests, but rather, raised in knowledge, ethics and morality, and guided by the Quran and Sunnah.As it was said, ‘They don’t care what you say, until they know that you care.’ The Prophet’s concern, was not only for his followers, but even for those who denied him and tried to harm him, only because he wanted to invite them to the truth and save them from the Hellfire. This sounds like a strange thing, because in all worldly matters, people love those who are willing to give them things for free. But when someone invites a person toward eternal success, some people find it offensive and oppose him, and even try to harm him.This happened to the Prophet (ﷺ) many times and in many ways. Most of all, was his own frustration and grief at the fact that despite his best efforts, his own people refused to listen to him. His concern for them was such that Allah revealed,لَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ اَلَّا يَكُوْنُوْا مُؤْمِنِيْنَ'Perhaps you ˹O Prophet˺ will grieve yourself to death over their disbelief.' [QS. Ash-Shu'ara (26):3]فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلٰٓى اٰثَارِهِمْ اِنْ لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوْا بِهٰذَا الْحَدِيْثِ اَسَفًا'Now, perhaps you ˹O Prophet˺ will grieve yourself to death over their denial, if they ˹continue to˺ disbelieve in this message.' [QS. Al-Kahf (18):6]It was this concern that came through, and to which they responded and not only believed in him but then supported him and were willing to do anything to protect him and propagate his message even if it meant losing their lives. Allah said about the love of the Prophet (ﷺ) for his people,لَقَدْ جَاۤءَكُمْ رَسُوْلٌ مِّنْ اَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيْزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيْصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ'There certainly has come to you a messenger from among yourselves. He is concerned by your suffering, anxious for your well-being, and gracious and merciful to the believers.' [QS. (9):128]The Prophet (ﷺ) as a leader, it is his patience and gentleness. There are several instances in his life where others behaved with him in such foolish and harsh ways that those who were with him drew their swords to teach the person a lesson. But the Prophet (ﷺ) never allowed them to take that course. His way was to deal with the harshest of treatment with calmness, gentleness and a smile. Allah said,فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيْظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانْفَضُّوْا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى الْاَمْرِۚ فَاِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّٰهِ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِيْنَ'It is out of Allah’s mercy that you ˹O Prophet˺ have been lenient with them. Had you been cruel or hard-hearted, they would have certainly abandoned you. So pardon them, ask Allah’s forgiveness for them, and consult with them in ˹conducting˺ matters. Once you make a decision, put your trust in Allah. Surely Allah loves those who trust in Him.' [QS. Ali 'Imran (3):159]The Prophet (ﷺ) would follow the command of Allah, scrupulously, to consult with his Sahaba before he took any decision. This may seem strange, because for one thing, he knew more and better than they did as he was the recipient of Wahi (revelation) as well as being the wisest and most experienced of them. Yet we realize the wisdom of this when we reflect on the effect that this consultation had on the Sahaba themselves. It made them feel included, valued and responsible for the effort and outcomes. In addtion, it ensured their commitment to the cause, because they had been consulted as well as it was training in decision making for them for the future for the time when the Prophet (ﷺ) would no longer be among them.Sometimes, they had critical information about local matters which came to light, when they were consulted and enabled a better decision. Further, it served to create cohesion among them and enabled them to think across their tribal and local boundaries for the benefit of all concerned and the success of the mission of propagating Islam.A combination of picking the right people, setting a high personal example and intensive hands on training, The Prophet (ﷺ) created not one but a set of leaders, who were able to take his message forward long after he had passed away. It is true that there were various conflicts three decades after he (ﷺ) passed away, which led to consequences that he (ﷺ) wouldn’t have wanted or approved of, but this fact only underlines the reality that no great effort is sufficient for all time. It must be continued generation after generation if one is to continue to reap its benefits.What human beings need above all else is a great principle based leadership. What better model for that than the life of the Messenger of Allah, our beloved Prophet (ﷺ). A life that is clearly documented, free from legend and mythology, and a living example that it is indeed possible to live ethically, morally and responsibly, with compassion for others and courage to stand up against oppression and yet be highly successful in life.'The Guru closed his discussion with, 'The Prophet's mission was not merely to convey his message, but to prepare a generation to take it forward from generation to generation. history is witness to what happened thereafter and continues to happen to this day fourteen centuries later in times and lands that the Prophet (ﷺ) neither knew about nor did he ever see.The most difficult task for the leader is not to get people to follow his commands, but to get them to dream his dream. To get them motivated to commit fully to a vision that only he can truly see. It is only when people fully commit to the vision, that they will do what it takes to make it come true.For any leader in any field, this is the most difficult task. The Prophet (ﷺ) was able to do this successfully, not only with his own generation, but was able to pass this on to generations yet unborn. Those who didn’t live in the Prophet's time, didn’t know him and haven’t heard his voice, still carry his message far and wide, as if it had come to them directly from him (ﷺ).'"Before she went to another hemisphere, the Moon conveyed, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘When any calamity befalls you, think of my death, and that calamity, will seem like nothing.’ Whatever happened in history, the example and model that our beloved, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) left for the world, remains clear, vibrant and valid for anyone who is interested in benefiting from it. It is true that the world has changed beyond recognition from the world of Muhammad (ﷺ), but the principles he (ﷺ) laid down, are still as true as other laws of nature that don’t change because society changes. Just like gravity or the law of aerodynamics, the law of success in this world and the next, remains the same. That is what Muhammad (ﷺ) was sent to teach the world. To that we bear witness and ask Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, to make us worthy of being his followers. And Allah knows best."
- Mirza Yawar Baig, Leadership Lesson from the Life of Rasoolullah (ﷺ), Standard Bearer Academy.
