Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Leading The Ummah What Is The Objective Of The Present Book? The leadership of the ummah after the demise of the Holy Prophet is of utmost significance, which should be dealt with in a calm manner free of any prejudice. The first question which was raised upon the demise of the Prophet (sa,) and which is still an important issue, has been the topic of the social and political leadership of the Muslims after the Prophet’s demise.
This is because, without any doubt, the Prophet of Islam has been a great leader for all Muslims and there are many of Quranic verses which lead us to the magnanimity and greatness of this great person. Here are some samples: ﴿ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِي الأَْمْرِ مِنْكُمْ ﴾ “Obey Allah and obey the apostle and those in authority from among you”.
[^1] ﴿ النَّبِيُّ أَوْلى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ ﴾ **“** The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have themselves”. [^2] Among the branches of this magnanimity is doing justice in the Islamic community. While in Medina, the great prophet of Islam managed court room affairs, both internally by himself and externally through his representatives.
The Holy Quran orders Muslims to accept the Prophet’s judgments on legal cases without questioning ﴿ فَلا وَ رَبِّكَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيما شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَ يُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً﴾ “But no! By your Lord!
They do not believe in reality until they make you a judge of that which had become a mutter disagreement amongst them, and then do not find any impediment in their hearts regarding what you have decided and submit with entire submission”. [^3] The Prophet’s leadership of the ummah included his management of Islam’s financial and economic issues.
He performed such tasks on his own and was instructed by God to do so in the following verse: ﴿ خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَ تُزَكِّيهِمْ بِها... ﴾ “Take alms out of their property, you would cleanse and purify them”.
[^4] In accordance with the content of such Quranic verses, their corresponding narrations, as well as the Prophet’s own personal life style, the Prophet was a great leader for the Muslims and the nation, a great governor for the society, and a policymaker for the ummah. He carried out the same tasks that an absolute governor would.