Updated 7 April 2009
Leadership and Love are strong allies in the quest of a successful movement. An effective movement has two principle ingredients, a mission worthy of belief and passion, and a leader who guides tenderly towards the right direction. People gravitate towards a leader who cares about them, and makes them feel respected and valued. This type of leadership love is defined as affection and solicitude arising from a feeling of underlying oneness, expressed in the gestures, words, and actions of the leader. It inspires people to have confidence in themselves, empowers them to act, and is the driving force behind the change in a movement. Leading with love is able to overcome many of the challenges a leader has to contend with, and creates fertile grounds for the blossoming of change and progress. Leadership love stems from faith and wisdom. A hadith of the Holy Prophet (s) says, ‘The peak of intelligence after belief in Allah is to love people.’
The Holy Prophet (s) was an excellent example of a leader who led with love. As his birthday celebrations draw to an end, it behooves Muslims to reflect upon this very inspiring personality. There is lots to learn from him, with more of it being discovered each day. Leading with love is a leadership style being propagated in today's corporate world, with new books promoting the value of leaders using the force of love to achieve success for their industries. In Love Leadership by Gregg Cochlan, the author describes it as a style that will ultimately, but inevitably, become the dominant leadership style in the executive offices of corporations in Canada, the US and globally. When this happens, he says, we will have created a far better world for ourselves.
Leading with love was a style very much in vogue with the Prophet (s). It showed in all his interactions with his people. He was eager for their success, both in this world and the hereafter. The stubbornness of people hurt him, and he was emotional about their fate. This leadership style is succinctly expressed in Sura Taubah, verse 127 where Allah tells us: There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves, grievous to him is your distress, he has deep concern for you, and is compassionate and merciful to the believers. Such was his disappointment at their unwillingness to accept the Truth that Allah tells him: ‘You will put your life in peril for their sake, out of grief, if they should not believe in this discourse’ (18:6) It was because he was so concerned about the fate of his Ummah that Allah tells him, ‘Soon will your Lord give you [that with which] you will be well pleased ‘(93:5). According to Tafsir, this gift was the ability to intercede for the believers on the Day of Judgment. A hadith of the Holy Prophet (s) says; ‘On the Day of Judgment, I will intercede for so many of my followers, until Allah will say; are you well pleased? and I will reply, Yes my Lord, I am, I am.’
The leadership style of the Prophet (s) is a great example to emulate in all the leadership roles we may play. Be it in the home leading children, or in our own circles at work and in society, leading with love will allow us to bring out the best in the people we lead. It will create closeness and unity, and help us progress towards what we want to achieve as a group. As Imam Ali (a) says: ‘Love between the hearts is the closest of relationships.’
May the Almighty help us reflect on the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s) and follow the ideals of life he has shown us.
-Anonymous