The Islamic World - Essay Example

The Islamic World There are several ideas concerning the legitimacy of who should lead the Muslim world. Depending on the source and the person giving the ideas there are different opinions. Uthman says that the Muslim world needs, “a head who can unite it (Uthman, Pg. 4)” while Abu Bakar suggested that the ruler himself should be governed by the people when he said that, “I have been given authority over you but I am not the best of you. If I do well, help me, and if I do ill, then put me right (Ishaq, Pg. 3)”. Mulk does not really present a method of selecting or having a leader but he notes that it should be someone who is given divine help and majesty flowing from God since it is God who “chooses one member of the human race (Mulk, Pg. 1)” to lead others.

Considering the opinion of those who claimed to be part of the kin of Muhammad, Tabari reports that Abbas said that, “the kin of God’s Messenger (Tabari, Pg. 1)” are best suited to lead Muslims. The clan of the prophet is thus supposed to give leaders to the Muslim world. On the other hand, figures such as Al-Husayn have been reported to suggest that leaders who cause strife and differences between groups of people are undesirable (Tabari [2]). Most importantly, it seems that there is a common thread between all the sources that power must be given to the person who has it, it cannot be taken by force.

This gives a sort of democratic tint to the manner in which the leader of the Muslim world is supposed to be selected. The selection may come from a source which is divine or the groups of selectees may be limited to the clan of the prophet but it is not a process by which someone can usurp power. Even the first leader after Muhammad was willing to admit that he should be chastised if he were to stray from the right path. In essence, the first leader can be credited for creating a leadership position that is not unquestionable.

Additionally, all sources consider the leader to have both a political and a religious role as the leader of all Muslims. Even though the followers have to give obedience to the leader, they can fight against him if they consider his actions to be against God or God’s messenger. From the sources as well as the information given about what a leader should be and where the leader should come from, it seems that the early Muslim society was certainly traumatic and in turmoil. Muhammad died without a clearly named successor and this creates a situation where every individual can give a personal criteria for what a leader should be as long as it is somewhat related to what is written in the Quran or related to what Muhammad said.

In conclusion, it becomes easy to see that leadership, the manner in which the leader was to be selected as well as the powers of the leader over the people remained important questions for the early Islamic empire and that there were no easy answers. Whoever wanted leadership or thought him to be the best possible leader for the people found within himself qualities that were ascribed by Muhammad or in the Quran for leaders. In essence, anyone who is anyone could be the leader of the people.

Works CitedIshaq, Life of Muhammad.Mulk, The Book of Government.Tabari, The Accession Sermon.Tabari[2], The Chronicle of Prophets and Kings.Uthman. Letter of Uthman