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Constitutions and laws, by which people manage their way of life, are very vital to any one and/or society. From individual to government level, no one can live without having a system they would follow; there has to be an order that constrains them; otherwise, there would be chaos and transgression at every level of our lives. Laws and systems are essential to our lives, to govern the world, and to keep us out from deviation. Allah has chosen individuals (messengers) amongst us and sent them with law and rules, which allows us to maintain justice and fairness. Therefore, religion is Allah’s law to humankind; since the beginning of human life on earth in order for them to sustain a prosperous life, to obey, and worship Allah alone without making any associations with His obedience.

The word “Islam” comes from the Arabic word of silm. It means both peace and submission to the will of one Creator-Allah. Muslims are the followers of this religion called Islam. It is the last religion, which Allah sent with His last messenger Muhammad (pbuh), it has been sent to the entire world to safeguard the needs of individuals’ daily life and the lives of the whole community and society as well. In other words, it is the law of the whole world and its entire species.

To prove the above claim, we will take two analogies. Firs analogy, suppose that you are given a brand new computer, and with it you are given two instruction manual; one from the manufacture which made the computer in the first place, and one from other unknown sources. Considering the fact that you do not know how to use the computer without the manual, which one would you use for your computer to better serve you? Every intelligent person would take the one from the manufacturer. In this scenario, we all agree from life experience that the most knowledgeable and suitable manual would be the one from its original manufacturer. The computer is the world; the manual from the manufacturer is the Allah’s law. The unknown manual is the man-made laws. Ponder with this example for a moment while I take you to another more realistic example.

Another scenario, assume that your factory made a brand new computer with its instruction as usual. However, you wanted someone who could work better on the computer by using this instruction. You gave the instruction to two individuals to study, so that whoever accepts, follows, and learns will be better on the computer later. One of the individuals accepted the manual, learned, and understood it. On the other hand, the other individual did not accept, but instead said arrogantly, “I can create a better manual then this”, despite learning or understanding what it meant. Which one of the individuals do you believe will use the instruction and work better on the computer? Of course, the individual who followed the instruction will be better on the computer, because using the computer without its manual will lead to malfunction of the computer let alone a better use.

The above analogy explains the reality of the world we are living in today. Again the computer here is the world and its affairs; the instruction is the Book of Allah, which is Allah’s law on earth. The two individuals represent the true believer of Allah and His Book, and the other one is unbeliever of Allah and His Book. Indeed, Allah gave us guideline to follow in order for us to better govern ourselves and in our worldly affairs. Suffering, tribulation, corruption, and massacre characterize the world today. In every corner of the earth today there are afflictions, which affect humans, animals, and environment caused by the actions of corrupted leaders. They are the ones who refuse to use the Book of Allah in order for them to better govern themselves, and their constituencies. There are no distinctions in here between the so called Muslim leaders in most Muslim countries and leaders of non-Muslim countries today.

Therefore, the whole universe is crying today to get back to the leadership of great Muslim leaders including Omar bin Al- Khatab, Hassan bin Ali, Omar bin Abdul Alziz, and Salahudin Al-Ayyubi. The tolerance, justice, and fairness of these Muslim leaders were recounted through the peace and the compassion that Islam brought to the humanity. Thus, knowing the characters in their homes or administration of these great leaders is essential for the lives of Muslims and non-Muslims as well. However, the purpose here is to ponder about a few examples of their lives and behaviors towards other people because we cannot recount every detail of their lives.

Caliph Omar bin Al-Khatab

Omar bin Al-Khatab was the second Caliph of the Muslims after the Prophet, peace be upon him died. During Omar’s leadership, Islam spread to many parts of the world including Jerusalem, not by violence but by the characters of Muslims. One of Omar’s incredible treatment happened when the merchant Muslims entered the city of Jerusalem. The inhabitants of the city mostly were Christians, and they tried to prevent Muslims from entering the city. However, they found out that resistance would not be the solution. Instead, they requested from Muslim leaders to call and bring their Caliph, who was Omar at that time, to come in person and sign a treaty of peace with them. The Muslim officers got together and thought over the request by counseling to each other. With their high moral values for human life, they accepted the demand, so they sent a person to the Caliph to inform him of the situation. One needs to understand that Muslims could have refused the request and take control of the whole city without any tangible resistance. However, they chose to reach everything by peaceful means without killing, or destroying the infrastructure, and houses of the citizens. Today, the so called “civilized” powerful militaries of the 21st century kill the innocents, destroy homes, roads, hospitals, schools, worship places by using illegal weapons of mass destruction and abuse the prisoners.

When the Caliph heard the news, he accepted and left Ali bin Abi Talib to be his viceroy for the affairs of Medina. Caliph Omar took a very difficult long journey at the request of the Christians in Jerusalem, who refused to deal and reach agreement with his representatives. The Caliph and an attendant of his shared a camel to ride, so they took turns to ride the camel since they could not ride it at the same time. Therefore, the day they entered Jerusalem happened to be the day, in which the attendant was to ride the camel and the Caliph was walking and leading the camel. The attendant requested the Caliph to ride the camel by saying it will be uncomfortable in the people’s eyes for me to ride while the Caliph is walking. However the Caliph answered, “No! It will not happen. I will not be unjust.” The Caliph entered the city and signed the following treating.

“From the servant of Allah and the Commander of the Faithful, Omar: The inhabitants

of Jerusalem are granted security of life and property. Their churches and crosses shall be secure. This treaty applies to all people of the city. Their places of worship shall remain intact. These shall neither be taken over nor pulled down. People shall be quit free to follow their religion. They shall not be put to any trouble…”1

The city of Jerusalem became a place where everyone was welcomed and lived in dignity and equity with others. There was no racism, prejudice, or discrimination against anyone regardless of their gender, race,

color or religious beliefs. The equity, fairness, justice, and compassion, which Islam brought to the world, was applied to everyone to take his or her share. Caliph Omar was invited to a Christian church, and he stayed in the church until the afternoon prayer. The priest of the church told Omar to pray in the church.

However Omar told the priest “I do not want to pray in here because if I pray in the church, I am afraid that some Muslims, after me, will use my pray as an excuse to take the church from you.”2 This is the treatment of a true Muslim leader, unlike the so called democratic leaders of today, who fail to make peaceful solutions for any of the problems that the world is facing. They value killing anyone who disagrees, demolish homes and infrastructures. Their motto is; you are either with us or against us. They do not understand that coexistence can be possible in this life even if someone disagrees with you.

Hassan bin Ali

Hassan bin Ali was the son of Ali bin Abi Talib, the fourth caliph of the Islam. He was known for his care, love, and aid towards others. A man saw Hassan on a horseback and started to vent course words at him. Hassan waited till he finished his vulgar words then replied:

“O old man! I think you are a stranger here. Maybe you mistook me for someone else! If you propitiate us, we will satisfy you. If you ask us, we will give you what you need. If you ask us our advice, we will guide you. If you ask us to give you a ride, we will take you with us. If you are hungry, we will satisfy you. If you are naked, we will clothe you. If you are in need, we will make you rich. If you are a refugee, we will give you lodging. If you have a request, we will grant it. If you join your luggage to ours, and be our guest until the time of travel, it will be more useful to you, because we have a spacious place, a good social position, and a vast amount of money.”3

This man came from another state whose leaders were politically opposed to Hassan. However, Hassan responded with good manner that was possible. If Hassan gave his political opponents this kind of treatment, what treatment would he give to non opponents?

Omar bin Abdul Aziz

Omar bin Abdul Aziz was one of the greatest leaders of Muslims of his time. Historians said during Omar’s leadership, animals felt the fairness and justice on earth let alone between the people. He was a pious leader, obedient to God, and close follower of the Qur’an. One time, Omar was sitting in his room, and he requested from one of his assistants to bring some water. The assistant brought a jar with water to Omar. As he was getting closer to Omar, he dropped the jar on Omar’s foot. Omar got injured on his leg and as human being he got angry due to the pain. Omar yelled at him; however, the assistant recited the following verses.

“And march froth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your lord, and for paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Mutaqiin, the pious ones. Those who spend (in Allah’s cause) in prosperity and in adversity, and those who suppress their anger, and forgive the people, and Allah indeed loves those who strive for perfection in their deeds.”4

As soon as Omar heard the verse, he reversed his anger and not only forgave him but also gave him money. The exemplary character of Omar started from his home, because leadership starts within and then reaches to others.

Salahudin Al-Ayyubi

Salahudin Al-Ayyubi was one of the best leaders who ever lived. He was a generous, compassionate, and merciful leader. Both Muslims and non-Muslims witnessed the kind of diligent and benevolent man he was. During his time, he brought peace and justice to the world, when crusaders were slaughtering innocent people. In 1187 CE, Salahudin entered Jerusalem, after crusaders murdered and tortured its innocent inhabitants including women, children, and elders. The crusaders killed more than 70,000 innocent Muslims. Therefore, the city of Jerusalem witnessed the worst human catastrophe. However, when Salahudin took control of the city, people celebrated instead of fear. People tasted the sweetness of justice and freedom for their first time in more than 70 years. Salahudin granted freedom to everyone regardless of their gender, race, color, religion, or socio-economic status. In addition, he offered compensation to those who lost someone in the war. He told his army not to kill or harm physically or mentally Muslims or non-Muslims alike.He pardoned Christians who killed Muslims despicably to live and worship freely as they wanted. He did similarly for Jews. Moreover, Salahudin provided medication for his opponents in the city, Richard, the Lion-Heart of England. Salahudin sent his own doctor to Richard.

These were the characteristics of Muslim leaders, over15 centuries ago. They brought justice and equity to the world. Equity and fairness were part of their way of life. One needs to think about the civilized manners and characters of these leaders. They did not have technology, development, and documentation of declaration of human rights. Yet they gave everybody rights and the world was full of peace and prosperity. There was no fighting, discrimination, or abuse of human rights. If the people of 15th centuries ago respected the human dignity, how did the 21st century rulers respect the humanity? What happened to the science, the technology, the modern medicine, and the civilization that the latter rulers claim that they have reached and made beneficial and easy the lives of human beings? What happened to the declaration of human rights? Leaders of today, especially those who claim, they are pro-human rights and pro-democracy are the worst violators of human rights in the record of history. The true Muslim leaders’ legacy and their contribution to the world are still visible to those who reflect. They respected the beliefs of others. However, the modern leaders have no value of respecting the beliefs of others.

Reference:

1. Retrieved on July28, 2004 from www. anwary-islam.com

2. Retrieved on July 28, 2004 www.anwaryislam. com

3. Retrieved on July 30, 2004 www.almujtaba.com

4. Qur’an 2:134

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