GUIDELINES:

1.       This module assumes the concept of performance gap which is the difference between the ideal and the actual in organizational performance. The performance gap is the difference between the potential and actual performance of organizations and individuals. Many individuals and communities all over the world are experiencing phenomena of revival and renewal. There is a new reawakening and a determination to make tomorrow better than yesterday. However the zeal, commitment and efforts of the revival have not been perfectly or completely translated into practical results that everyone can see in the society. The practical achievements fall far short of the potential. Success in building and managing institutions, the backbone of real and sustained change, has been limited in several communities and countries. The gap between aspirations and achievements is due to a relative deficiency of practical skills in leadership and management. These skills are not in-born. They can be taught or developed through experience on the job. Individuals and organizations pay a high price in terms of lost opportunities for the continued existence of the performance gap.

2.       There is no one fixed system of Islamic leadership or management. As with many similar social phenomena, Islam defines the broad principles and leaves it to the people of each place and era to define the system most suited to their circumstances. The system must therefore change with changes of time and space. There is no utopia. Any human system will have strengths and weaknesses. The aim should be to decrease the weaknesses and increase the strengths. The best system are those based on empirical experience and that are open to changes if empirical evidence shows that they are not working well. The empirical experience must be within the moral context of Islam for it to bear fruits.

3.       This module consists of 12 workshops each covering a leadership/management skill or issue. Each workshop requires 3-5 hours distributed as follows: pre-workshop preparation (30 minutes), facilitator presentation (30 minutes), group discussions (1-2 hours) and a plenary concluding session (1-2 hour). You have to prepare by reading the material before the day of the workshop. Start by studying the outline of the session. Then read the background and text. Scan through the discussion questions. On the appointed day, the workshop facilitator makes a presentation followed by a question and answer session. For discussion, groups made up of no more than 5 persons in each are formed. The discussion covers the background reading, analysis of the text, and the discussion questions at the end. Relate everything you read or discuss to your practical experience. In some cases the group has to undertake an exercise or a case-study analysis. Each discussion group presents a summary of its discussion to the plenary session. It is recommended that you supplement the material given by readings in books and other sources on the subject. Write down your all discussions, observations and conclusions

4.       The following conceptual tools. Technical terms will be useful in your discussion: leadership (attributes, functions, skills, values, attitudes, authority, influence), model leaders, evaluation of leaders

WORKSHOP #1

LEADERSHIP: ESSENCE AND NATURE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

·         Definition of leadership

·         Importance of leadership

OUTLINES:

BACKGROUND READING

Importance of leadership

Understanding leadership

Everybody undertakes some leadership functions

Empowering followers

Leaders vs Managers

Selection, change or renewal of leaders

Problems faced by leaders

Problems faced by leaders

TEXT ANALYSIS

Leadership after trial

Good leader wants good followers

Leader to be given some privacy

Necessity/obligation of having leaders

Personal ambition for leadership discouraged

Everybody exercises leadership responsibility

Leadership authority in incompetent hands is a sign of doom

Disobedient followers

DISCUSSION

Leadership after trial

Good leader wants good followers

Leader to be given some privacy

Necessity/obligation of having leaders

Personal ambition for leadership discouraged

Everybody exercises leadership responsibility

Leadership authority in incompetent hands is a sign of doom

Disobedient followers

Incompetent leaders condemned

Omar was a great leader

Leader serves community

BACKGROUND READING

INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK

Importance of leadership: Leadership is a pre-condition for civilized existence. Absence of recognized leadership means chaos to the detriment of all. Any group of 3 or more must have a leader. Leadership is the single most important determinant of organizational success. Good leadership leads to success; bad leadership leads to frustration and failure. All members, supporters, and sympathizers of the organization are stakeholders who are concerned about success and failure of leadership.  One of the harbingers of doom is to place leadership authority in the wrong hands.

Understanding leadership: Leadership is the process of influencing people and making them do certain things. It is both an art and a science. It may be formal and legalistic or informal. It has rational, emotional, intuitive and instinctive dimensions. Leadership involves moving followers in a certain direction mostly by non-coercive methods. Successful leaders get voluntary cooperation from followers. Good leaders persuade and do not command. Fear and authority are not leadership. Leaders who depend only on authority and coercion do not go very far. Poor leaders by contrast manipulate their followers. Manipulation is getting a person to do what they are not aware of or do not want to do. A few leadership skills are innate but most are acquired by experience and education. There is a dynamic interaction between the leader, the followers, and the situation. A leader of one group of followers may not be able to lead a different group. A leader in one situation may fail in another one. Roles of leaders and followers can be interchanged. A leader may be a follower of a more powerful leader. A good leader must therefore also be a good follower. True leadership is more service than domination. The leader is the servant (sayyid al qawm khadimuhum). Good and effective leadership is a source of greatness (ab'qariyyah). Great movements and changes in history are always associated with great leaders. Intended here is real, genuine, moral, and competent leadership based on character and integrity and not the phoney leadership that thrives on propaganda, deceit, and manipulation. Bad leaders are motivated by power alone. They just like the exercise of power. Good leaders have higher motivation. They want to use leadership power to improve and make a change.

Everybody undertakes some leadership functions: Leadership is a function exercised by almost everybody each in his or her own sphere; you are at least leaders of yourself or leader of your family. Leadership can be in the community, the work place, and in public organizations. Since everybody has some leadership roles, each one can become a more effective leader by formal training or gaining experience on the job. Not everyone wants to be a public leader. There are many people who are just not prepared to invest the energy necessaru to shoulder the responsibilities of public leadership. Leadership involves the following specific functions: setting and communicating visions, goals, and objectives; representing followers; directing, coordinating, and integrating; influencing, mobilizing, motivating, creating enthusiasm and optimism; providing services and making a difference.

Empowering followers: There is no leadership without followership. The quality of the followers determines the quality of the leaders. A good leader may fail with bad followers. An average leader may succeed if he has good followers. In the long run it is follower quality that determines the nature of a particular leadership situation. "The way you are is the way of your leaders". Followers get the leaders they deserve. Incongruence between followers and leaders is usually temporary and hardly exceeds a generation. Successful leadership requires that followers obey the leader. There are, however, limitations and conditions for that obedience as will be discussed later. Good leaders teach leadership, they pull and do not push. Good leadership involves empowering followers by coaching them and then sharing leadership power with them through delegation. Followers must be given real authority, information and resources but must be held accountable for what they do. Empowered followers have heightened self-efficacy and self-confidence. They will have higher performance, exhibit more cooperation, achieve higher personal growth, and in the end all ensure the survival of the organization.

Leaders vs Managers: Leadership calls for different skills from management. Managers are not necessarily leaders. The reverse is also true. An organization may be well led but poorly managed and vice versa. In practice, management and leadership functions overlap. An individual can exercises both leadership and management functions in varying proportions. You have to know when to lead and when to manage. Leaders are concerned with effectiveness; they are intuitive and visionary; they like change, innovation, challenging the status quo, and development; they are original; they focus on vision and its importance; they have a long-term view and inspire others to achieve and excel. Managers are rational problem-solvers whose concern is efficiency, process, and mechanics of achieving objectives. They administer for maintenance of stability, harmony, and the status quo. They follow and do not innovate. Their view is generally short-term.

Selection, change or renewal of leaders: Successful public leadership is always directly or indirectly dependent on the consent of the followers. Good selection of public leaders requires participation of the followers. Leaders can not be imposed. Imposition of leaders can work for only a short time or is associated with unsuccessful leader-follower situations. The exact method of expressing the follower's view varies according to the circumstances of each group. Follower input whatever its nature can not be ignored. There is no correct answer to the question how long should one individual stay in leadership? It is better to leave this matter open and decide according to circumstances. Staying too long discourages the emergence of younger leaders and infusing new blood and new ideas into the organization. It may also result into inefficiency as the leader loses effectiveness with time. Frequent changes of leaders may on the other hand result in lack of continuity and instability. There are situations in which one long-serving leader is the only one with the skills and charisma to hold the organization together. In such a case you should not insist on change for the sake of change.

Problems faced by leaders: Leaders experience problems. Being at the top can be lonely. They take responsibility for failures. Followers may be disloyal to the leaders or the organization. Subordinates may have poor values that the leaders can not stand. There may be dissent. The leaders may be ahead of the followers in vision and thinking. External threats are always looming on the horizon. A leader is a public figure and has to accept more invasion of his privacy than an ordinary person. It is important that people know enough about leaders' private life to be assured that they are not involved in any activity that is incompatible with their leadership position. The leader must be accessible at all times and can not claim privacy as a reason for not carrying out leadership functions. The followers must however have some consideration for the leader and his family. They must give him some privacy so that he can lead an ordinary life

TEXT ANALYSIS

INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.

Leadership after trial: And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain Commands, which he fulfilled: He said: " I will make you An Imam to the Nations. He pleaded: " And also ( Imams ) from my offspring!" He answered: " But My promise is not within the reach of evildoers. Qur'an 2:124

Good leader wants good followers: And those who pray, Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) To lead the righteous. Qur'an 25:74

Leader to be given some privacy: O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet's houses until leave is given you for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation: but when you are invited, enter; And when you have taken your meal, disperse, without seeking familiar talk. Such (behavior) annoys the Prophet: he is ashamed to dismiss you, but Allah is not ashamed (to tell you) the truth. Qur'an 33:53

Necessity/obligation of having leaders: “Abu Said al Khudri reported the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: When three are on a journey, they should appoint one of them as their commander." Abu Daud 2:721, Chapter 933, hadith # 2602 …. "Salamah daughter of al Hurr and sister of Kharshah b. al Hurr al Fazari said 'I heard the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) say one of the signs of the last hour will be that people in mosques will refuse to act as imam and will not find an imam to lead them in prayer." Abu Daud 1:153, Chapter 153, Hadith # 581

Personal ambition for leadership discouraged: "Abd al Rahman b Samurah said: The Apostle of Allah ( may peace be upon him) said to me: Abd al-Rahman b. Samurah, do not ask for the position of commander, for if you are given it after asking you will be left to discharge it yourself, but if you are given it without asking you will be helped to discharge it." Abu Daud 2:827, Chapter 1090, hadith # 2923

Everybody exercises leadership responsibility: “Abdullah b Umar reported the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible of his flock. The amir (ruler) who is over the people is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock; a man is a shepherd in charge of the inhabitants of his household and he is responsible for his flock; a woman is a shepherdess in charge of her husband's house and children and she is responsible for them; and a man's slave is a shepherd in charge of his master's property and he is responsible for it. So each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock". Abu Daud 2:827, Chapter 1089, hadith # 2922 …. "It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar that the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him ) said: Beware, every one of you is a shepherd and every one is answerable with regard to his flock. The Caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs ). A man is a guardian over the members of his family and shall be questioned about them (as how he looked after their physical and moral well-being) A woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children). A slave is a guardian over the property of his master and shall be questioned about it ( as to how he safeguarded his trust ). Beware, every one of you is a guardian and every one of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust." Muslim 3: 1017, Chapter 758, Hadith # 4496

Leadership authority in incompetent hands is a sign of doom: "Narrated Abu Huraira: While the Prophet was saying something in a gathering, a Bedouin came and asked him " When would the Hour (Doomsday) take place?" Allah's Apostle continued his talk, so some people said that Allah's Apostle had heard the question, but did not like what that Bedouin has asked. Some of them said that Allah's Apostle had not heard it. When the Prophet finished his speech, he said, " Where is the questioner, who enquired about the Hour (Doomsday)?" The Bedouin said, " I am here, O Allah's Apostle " Then the Prophet said, " When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday). The Bedouin said, " How will that be lost?" The Prophet said, " When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (doomsday)". Bukhari 1;50-51, hadith # 56

Disobedient followers: Musa and Isaelites: Qur'an 2:51-61, 5:22-29, 7:148-156, 7:159-162 Talut, Daud, and Banu Israil.

Incompetent leaders condemned: "It is narrated on the authority of Abu Malih that Ubaidullah b. Ziyad visited Maqil b. Yasar in his illness. Maqil said to him: I am narrating to you hadith which I would have never narrated to you had I not been in death bed. I heard Allah's Apostle ( may peace be upon him ) say: A ruler who has been entrusted with the affairs of the Muslims, but he makes no endeavors ( for the material and moral uplift ) and does not sincerely mean ( their welfare ) would not enter Paradise along with them"   

Muslim 1: 82, Chapter 44, Hadith # 264

Omar was a great leader: The Prophet said, “In a dream I saw myself drawing water from a well with a bucket.  Abu Bakr came and drew a bucker or two weakly.  May Allah forgive him.  Then Umar bin Al Khattab came and the bucket turned into a very large one in his hands.  I had never seen such a might person as he in doing such hard work till  all the people drank to their satisfaction and watered their camels that knelt down there. Bukhari 5:23 Hadith #31, Bukhari 5:24 end of Hadith.

Leader serves community: I heard Abu Hurayrah say, “God have mercy on Ibn Hantamah.  I saw him in the Year of the Destruction carrying on his back two provision bags with a skin of olive oil in his hand.  He and Aslam were taking it in turns.  When he saw me, he said, ‘Where are you coming from, Abu Hurayrah?’ I told him from near at hand, and I began to take my turn to carry.  So we all eventually came to Sirar where there were abut twenty isolated tents of Muharib.  ‘Umar said, ‘What has brought you here?”  They replied it was exhaustion.  They brought out for us some broiled carrion skin that they were eating and some powdered old bones that they were scooping into their mouths with their hands.  I saw ‘Umar throw his upper garment [over his shoulder], then adjust his waist wrapper.  He continued cooking for them until they were satisfied.  Then he sent aslam to Medina and he brought some stallion camels on which he counted them and set them down in al-Jabbanah.  HE then gave them clothes, visiting them and others [in similar circumstances] frequently until God relieved the people of this drought”. Tabari 14 : 119

DISCUSSION:

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS

Read texts of the events of the 2nd and 10th years of Hegira. Identify 2 actions of the Prophet that were leadership functions and 2 that were management functions in the second year of hijra. Do the same for the 10th year of hijra.  Complete the following table.

A. SECOND YEAR OF HIJRA

B. TENTH YEAR OF HIJRA

LEADERSHIP SITUATIONS

Describe the following leadership situations. Make sure to identify the leader(s), the followers, the leadership activities, and the relation between the leader(s) and the followers

Musa and bani Israel

Talut and bani Israel

David and bani Israel

Sulaiman and animals

YOUR NOTES:

Workshop-2

LEADERSHIP POWER

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

·         Types and use of leadership power

·         Misuse of leadership power

OUTLINES:

BACKGROUND READING

Leaders defined by actions

Definition of power

Types of power

Use of leadership power

Credibility

TEXT ANALYSIS

Leadership power

Being gradual in obtaining compliance

Omar was feared

Omar’s sensitivity

Toughness and softness

DISCUSSION

Comparing types of power

BACKGROUND READING

INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK

Leaders defined by actions: Leaders and followers are better defined by what they do than what they are or what they say. Actions can not deceive over time; reputation and nice words often do. Every leader has to expose himself through his actions since there is no leadership without activity.

Definition of power: Power is capability or potential to get something done. Influence is exercise of power to get something done. Authority is formal power that a leader has as a virtue of the position. Power and leadership are interdependent but are not interchangeable. A leader needs power to succeed and influence others but power alone does not make an effective leader.

Types of power: There are 2 types of leadership power: personal and positional. Both are used in varying proportions depending on the leadership situation. Personal power is based on character, expertise, charisma, and personal relations. Positional power is based on formal authority that includes decision-making, reward, punishment, and control of information and organizational resources.

Use of leadership power: The leader has to make a correct judgement of which source of power to use in a particular leadership situation. Influence is exercise of leadership power. Powerful leaders have more influence. They have credibility and can get more compliance from their followers. Leaders can get follower compliance by rational persuasion, appeal, pressue, promise of rewards, negotiations (win-win, compromise). Leader get followers to do things either by making small demands followed by big ines, or by starting with big demands followed by small ones of the big ones are not possible

Credibility: A leader gains more power and influence by building credibility. Credibility is based on competence (experience, knowledge, skills), character (honesty, kindness, sympathy), self-confidence, activity and drive, boldness and assertiveness. The followers must trust the leader if he is to lead them well. Building credibility starts with self-assessment to know your strengths and use them, to identify your weaknesses and compensate for them. You have to listen to and learn from the followers. Keeping promises and being predictable are very important for credibility.

TEXT ANALYSIS

INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.

Leadership power: Sulaiman Qur'an 27:15-44

Being gradual in obtaining compliance: Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: Allah's Apostle said to Mu'adh bin Jabal when he sent him to Yemen. "You will come to the people of scripture, and when you reach them, invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle. And if they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers to be performed every day and night. And if they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) to be taken from the rich amongst them and given to the poor amongst them. And if they obey you in that, then be cautious! Don't take their best properties (as Zakat) and be afraid of the curse of an oppressed person as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah. Bukhari:

Omar was feared : “Narrated Saad bin abi Waqqas Umar bin Al Khattab asked permission of Allah’s Apostle to see him while some Quraishi women were sitting with him, talking to him and asking him for more expenses, raising their voices over the voice of Allah’s Apostle,  when Umar asked for the permission to enter, the women quickly put on their veils.  Allah’s Apostle allowed him to enter and Umar came in while Allah’s Apostle was smiling, Umar said, O Allah’s Apostle !  may Allah always keep you smiling.   The Prophet said, These women who have been here, roused my wonder, for as soon as the heard your voice, they quickly put on their veils.  Umar said, O Allah’s Apostle !  You have more right to be feared by them than I”.  Then Umar addressed the women saying.  O enemies of yourselves !  Your fear me more than you do Allah’s Apostle?  They said, Yes, for you are harsher and sterner than Allah’s you going on a way, but he takes another way other than your”. Bukhari 5:23 - 24, Hadith # 32

Omar’s sensitivity: According to Ahmad b. Umar : Umar b. al-Khattab passed through the market carrying his whip.  He death me a blow with it and caught the edge of my garment, saying “Get out of the way”, the following year he met me and said, “Are you intending to go on the pilgrimage, Salamah?  When I told him that I was, he took me by the hand to his house and gave me 600 dirhams, saying, use them to make your pilgrimage, and you should know that they are by way of compensation for the lash that I gave you. “I replied, But I had not remembered it”  Commander of the Faithful.  “But I had not forgotten it! “exclaimed”.Tabari 14 : 138 - 139

Toughness and softness : Abu Ja’far [al-Tabari] said : (‘Umar) was hard on those dubious reputations and severe in [seeking out] God’s truth until he extracted it, but easygoing in what was owed to him until it was handed over to him and compassionate and full of pity for the weak. …. According to ‘Ubaydallah b. Sa’d al-Zuhri-his paternal uncle-his father-al-Walid b.  Kathir-Muhammad b. ‘Ijlan-Zayd b. Aslam-his father: Some Muslims had a word with ‘Abd. al-Rahman b. ‘Awf and said, “Speak to ‘Umar b. al-Khattab, for he has inspired so much fear in us that indeed we cannot look him in the face”.  ‘Abd. al-Rahman b. ‘Awf mentioned this to ‘Umar and he said, “Did they really say this? !  I was indeed lenient with them to such as extent that I was afraid of God.  I became severe with them to such an extent that I was afraid of God.  I swear an oath in God’s name that I am more afraid of them than they are of me!”. Tabari 14: 111 - 112

DISCUSSION:

COMPARING TYPES OF POWER

Fill the following table comparing types of leadership power. Write down 1-3 advantages/disadvantages for each type of power

YOUR NOTES:

WORKSHOP #3

TYPES OF LEADERS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

·         Classification of leaders according to various criteria

·         Behavioral patterns of different types of leaders

OUTLINES:

BACKGROUND READING

Model leaders

Types and styles of Leaders

Classification based on decision-making style

Classification based on orientation: people vs task

Transformational and transactional leaders

Charismatic leaders

Assessment of leaders

TEXT ANALYSIS

The 5 rightly-guided khulafa: a model

Omar brought dignity and strength to Islam

Ali Ibn Ali Talib on Omar’s honesty

DISCUSSION

Comparing types of leaders

Comparing leader and follower roles in various leadership styles

Characteristics of charismatic leaders

Comparing advantages and disadvantages of charismatic leadership

Comparing charismatic and non-charismatic leadership

Leadership styles

Choice of leadership style for different situations

Comparing task vs people-oriented leaders

BACKGROUND READING

INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK

Model leaders: The Prophet Muhammad and the 5 rightly-guided khulafaha after him as well as other illustrious leaders in history are a model of ideal leadership. They led according to the dictates of the noble teachings, maintained justice, avoided oppression and promoted the welfare of their immediate followers and generations to come. The Prophet's character was patience and perseverence, wisdom and foresight, kindness and empathy, concern and care for others, honesty and truthfulness, justice and fairness, courage and firmness, love and mercy, forgiveness, simplicity and humility, and good humor. Abubakr is remembered for his piety, wisdom, gentle character, honesty, principled behavior, and justice. Abubakr was gentle and kind in most cases but when the need arose he would be very firm and decisive. Omar Ibn al Khattab is remembered for his courage, justice, hard-work, seriousness, and generosity. Uthman b Affan is remembered for his piety, gentle character, modesty and benevolence. Ali b Abi Talib is remembered for his bravery, scholarship, learning and justice. Khalid Ibn al Walid is remembered for his bravery and his military strategy. Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz is remembered for his righteousness and piety. Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah led a great reform movement. Salahuddin al Ayyubi liberated al Quds. Muhammad al Fatih liberated Constantinolople and renamed it Istanbul

Types and styles of Leaders: Leadership is highly individualized and is very specific for the situation and the type of followers. Each circumstance calls for different skills and style of leadership. The only constant un-varying dimension is that whatever style or skills are employed, they must conform to the leader's basic personality, values, and attitudes otherwise there will be inconsistencies that will eventually lead to leadership failure. Several types of leaders and styles of leadership can be described: autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. Leaders can be transactional, transformational, or charismatic. Some leaders are task oriented whilst others are people-oriented. Choice of type or style must be flexible. The choice is determined by: the situation, leader personality, follower personality, type of organization, and type of work carried out. Some situations call for use of a combination of leadership styles.

Classification based on decision-making style. Leaders can be autocratic, democratic, or laissez-faire: Autocratic leaders are dictatorial. They set goals, make all the decisions and just give followers orders to carry out. They personally direct tasks. There is very little follower feed back. Democratic leaders on the other hand involve followers in decision-making, listen to them, and give them a chance to participate. There is feed back from both the leaders and the followers. Laisser-faire leaders neglect their role. They have little interaction with the followers. They do not care about what the followers do. The followers ae free to do what they want, how and when they want. Laisser-faire leaders exercise hands-off management.

Classification based on orientation: people vs task: Leadership may be task-oriented or people-oriented. A good leader has the right mixture of the two for the particular leadership situation he may find himself in. The correct synthesis is to concentrate first on the people, make them believe in themselves, trust them, train and nurture them and then let them produce superior results. Task-oriented leaders are mainly interested in production and results. They often have poor interpersonal skills. Some leaders perform well with structured tasks whereas others are best with unstructured tasks. People-oriented leaders are interested in the welfare of the followers and try to make them happy and contented. It this is take to the extreme productivity, quality, and results may be forgotten.

Transformational and transactional leaders: Transformational leaders empower, inspire, innovate, and raise passions. They have a vision and communicate it effectively. They raise followers to higher levels of motivation and morality. They give their followers a feeling of well being and imbue new confidence and blow a new spirit in them. There is an emotional bond between the leaders and the followers. Their power is person-centered. Transactional leaders fulfil the followers' current material and psychological needs in return for performance. Their outlook is managerial. Transformational leadership is a type of transaction leadership that focuses on higher goals instead of immediate material rewards for followers.

Charismatic leaders: Charismatic leaders arise in certain circumstances and are not selected. They are characterized by their commitment to values, enthusiasm and energy. They have person-centered authority which ends with their exit from the stage. They are revered and followers are devoted to them. They are invariably dynamic public speakers. They evoke strong emotions, display self-confidence and competence, serve as role models, communicate high expectations with transcendental goals, and embody in their person the hopes, aspirations, and frustrations of the followers. Positive charismatic leaders use their authority to improve society. Wise leaders are never fooled by the charisma. Negative charismatic leaders use that authority for their own self-aggrandizement. Charismatic leaders have a tendency to think of themselves as indispensable and to know all. They may develop egoistic and dictatorial tendencies. They can easily misuse their great authority and power. They usually do not prepare others to take their place. When they disappear from the stage they leave behind a void and instability.

Assessment of leaders: Leaders, being human, are not always perfect. They have strengths and weaknesses. A correct assessment of a particular leadership situation requires looking at both strengths and weaknesses. Expectations generate a power and a momentum of their own and are a very powerful motivator. A leader who effectively communicates expectations gets what he expects. Only self-confident leaders can communicate expectations effectively. Practical life tests leaders in various ways; the strongest emerge successful from the tests. A leader must be able to stand up to emotional and psychological pressures, must maintain his calm and objectivity in face of personal insults and abuse directed at him or what he stands for and loves. He must be able to deal fairly with people he is not emotionally comfortable with: opposers, those who abuse, and disparage him.

TEXT ANALYSIS

INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.

The 5 rightly-guided khulafa: a model: "Sufyan al Thawri said: The Caliphs are four: Abu Bakr, Umar Uthman, Ali and Umar Ibn Abd al Aziz". Abu Daud 3:1300, Chapter 1684, hadith # 4614

Omar brought dignity and strength to Islam: “Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas’ud : We have been powerful since Umar embraced Islam” Bukhari 5:24, Hadith #24 …  Abdullah Ibn Masu’d said: kaana Islam Umar fatihan, kaanat hijratuhu nasran, wa kaanat imaratuhu rahmat.

Ali Ibn Ali Talib on Omar’s honesty: Innaka afafta fa affat raiyatuka wa law rata’ta la rata’at.

DISCUSSION:

COMPARING TYPES OF LEADERS

Fill the following table defining different types of leaders. Score each criterion as high, medium, or low.

COMPARING LEADER AND FOLLOWER ROLES IN VARIOUS LEADERSHIP STYLES

Complete the following table showing the roles of leaders and followers under 3 styles of leadership (autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire) and by function (goal setting, debates, decision-making, feed-back, implementation). For each function write ‘L’ if if it is done mostly by the leader, ‘F’ if it is done by the follower and “L&F’ if it is done by both.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHARISMATIC LEADERS

Think of a charismatic leader that you have known and score the following characteristics as high, medium, and low.

COMPARING ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP

Think of a particular charismatic leader you know or have read about. For a specific context of time, place, and circumstances score the advantages and disadvantages as high, medium, or low

                                                                Score                                      example

Advantages

   transform

   empower

Disadvantages

  irrational behavior

  emotional manipulation

  havoc or destruction

COMPARING CHARISMATIC AND NON-CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP

Complete the following table comparing a charismatic and non-charismatic leader. Think of two leaders you have read about or have known, one charismatic and the other non-charismatic. Score each criterion as high or low.

CRITERION                                                       CHARISMATIC NON-CHARISMATIC

Accept status quo               

Personal popularity

Sensitivity to environment

Articulation of goal/vision

Use of personal power

Use of positional power                                     

Change people                                    

LEADERSHIP STYLES

Fill in the following table comparing directive, participative, and laissez-faire leadership on various performance criteria (indicate high, average,low)

                                                Directive                Participative         Laissez-faire

Quantity

Quality

Innovation

Group cohesion

Conflict in group

Satisfaction

CHOICE OF LEADERSHIP STYLE FOR DIFFERENT SITUATIONS

Fill in the following table about choice of leadership styles in given situations

                                                                                Directive                Participative         Laissez-faire

Crisis/emergency

Leader has superior knowledge

Followers mature and knowledgeable

Time is of essence

Tasks requiring creativity

COMPARING TASK VS PEOPLE-ORIENTED LEADERS

Fill the following table comparing task-oriented to people-oriented leaders

                                                                Task-oriented                       People-oriented

Productivity

Sharing information

Accepting follower ideas

Open informal communication

Listening to others

Facts and data

Feelings, emotions, and attitudes

YOUR NOTES:

WORKSHOP # 4

PERSONAL  ATTRIBUTES OF LEADERS & FOLLOWERS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

·         Attitudes and values

·         Personality

·         Behaviour

OUTLINES:

BACKGROUND READING

Leadership attributes

Leadership values and attitudes

Drive, energy, and self-motivation

Personality

Simple life, honesty and financial integrity

Attributes of followers

TEXT ANALYSIS

Justice, objectivity, and honesty in Leadership

Allah's guidance for leaders

Prophet lived in poverty

Qualities of followers and advisors

Personality: strength and patience

Avoiding appearance of impropriety

Omar’s courage : about the black stoneomar at home : simple eating

Omar refuses personal gift

Omar careful with public funds

Omar careful about public property

Forgiving the foolish

DISCUSSION

Personal attributes of leaders

Relation between attributes and skills of leader with the level of leadership

Positive leadership values

Negative leadership values

BACKGROUND READING

INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK

Leadership attributes: Very few attributes necessary for successful leadership are in-born. Most are acquired early in life in the home and community environment or are learned in adult life. Those who are associated with good leaders for a long-time (friends, offspring, friends, and followers) are likely to be good leaders by learning and imitation. Children of good leaders, if well brought up, can be good leaders not because of genetic endowment but because of early environmental influence. Effective leaders have personal attributes, conceptual, practical and human skills that enable them to succeed. Attributes are what leaders are. Skills are what leaders do. Personal attributes are basic character and personality: drive, values, attitude,.bravery, strength of personality, humility, simple life, honesty, integrity, commitment. Practical skills are needed for performance of technical activities: communication, decision making, problem solving, execution. Human skills are needed to understand and motivate followers: understanding followers. Conceptual skills are intellectual functions involving planning, coordination and integration of activities. They include analytic, rational, and intuitive abilities. Examples are: setting goals, knowledge, ummatic view, learning from mistakes. In any given situation there may be several highly qualified people available for leadership. Allah gives authority to whomever He wants. Not everybody can become a leader. Everybody must be prepared to be a good follower. The best leaders are those who have no ambition to lead. They lead when called upon but will equally be happy as followers.

Leadership values and attitudes: Effective leaders have positive moral values and attitudes. Values: A leader must have positive and moral values such as honesty, ethics, social responsibility. These values are taught by religion, the family, peers, and life experience. Values can be inculcated by habit. A leader with no values is very dangerous. Islamic leadership values are derived from three main concepts: tauhid, khilafat, and adl. These values are universal and do not change by time and place. Attitudes: Attitudes are enduring or permanent feelings, opinions, or beliefs about self and others. They may be positive or negative. Attitudes start with ideas, wrong ideas are associated with negative attitudes whereas good ideas are associated with good and positive attitudes. Ideas determine behavior and feelings. A good leader has positive attitudes toward others. He will keep away from negative attitudes such as racism or prejudice in any of its forms. An optimistic attitude to life is needed. Pessimistic leaders discourage their followers.

Drive, energy, and self-motivation: The most important trait of successful leaders is drive which includes a strong desire for achievement, high ambition, high energy levels, tenacity and initiative. Drive combined with high motivation, honesty, integrity, self-confidence, emotional stability, and intelligence distinguish leaders from non-leaders. Both genetics and environmental influence contribute to drive; the relative contribution of each is not known. Successful leaders have a high level of motivation to lead. They want to make a change, to improve, to influence, to exercise power for achieving definite goals. They take charge. Effective leaders have the mental and physical stamina as well as aptitude to take responsibility and to be accountable.

Personality: A leader must have a strong personality. Strength of personality does not mean violence, roughness or stubbornness. It is strength of character, sticking to moral values and attitudes at all times, and avoiding whatever is immoral even if it is expedient and is attractive. A leader must be brave. In times of danger followers will be firm if their leader is firm. There is a mutual psychological dependency. A brave leader will have reassured followers around him. When the followers are reassures and are firm, the leader is also encouraged even more to be firm and face crises. The leader must be objective and not confuse personal and organizational interests. The credit for whatever he does should go to the organization. He must not overestimate his importance as an individual. He must have a healthy mixture of confidence (for organization) and humility (for himself). He must focus on the organization and not his person. A leader must have a dignified physical appearance but must not be extravagant. The leader is a spokesman and representative of the followers. His appearance is a reflection on all. Successful leaders have the ability to learn from previous mistakes. They readily accept mistakes once they are apparent. Poor leaders do not even acknowledge their mistakes and will hate anyone who points them out.

Simple life, honesty and financial integrity: A good leader leads a simple life. Extravagance and materialism weaken and destroy the spirit eventually leading to corruption and evil. Too much materialism destroys the spirit of the leader and eventually that of the followers. A leader must not distinguish himself from the followers. He must actively discourage the development of a personality cult around himself. He should never think he is special. It was only Allah's wish that he was selected among many capable people to be a leader. Simple living and avoiding luxuries are necessary for integrity. The leader must be a model of honesty. Honesty in public and private affairs in a crucial test for a leader. Honesty is required in seemingly small or trivial things. Dishonesty is a habit, once acquired is difficult to shake off. Small dishonesties will one day become big ones. Good leaders deal with their followers honestly and are up front. Financial integrity: A successful leader has financial integrity in dealing with public property. It is not enough to be honest; you must be seen to be so and you must avoid any suspicious behavior. The only way to ensure this is complete transparency in financial matters. Followers must know what is going on so that they are assured that had there been any discrepancies they could have seen them. A leader and his immediate or extended family should never gain materially from his position. Taking public property is clearly theft. There are other situations that are not so clear to which moral and not legal tests have to be applied. A leader or his family can, like all citizens, sell or buy legally. However those dealing with them may give him preferential treatment because of the position. Such treatment would not have been possible before assumption of leadership. In such a case there is unacceptable gain from the leadership position.

Attributes of followers: Attributes of followers closely parallel those of their leaders if the leadership situation lasts a fairly long time. Followers may be lazy or hardworking. Some followers accept and take responsibility; others shun it. Some followers are sheep and are 'yes people' they will follow whatever is moving. Some are survivors who will do whatever is necessary to stay out of trouble. Other followers are alienated and do not care about what is going on around them. Some followers are obedient others are not. Many will not obey until they are promised a reward or are threatened with punishment. Followers differ in intelligence, education, experience, honesty, respect for leaders, and gratitude

TEXT ANALYSIS

INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.

Justice, objectivity, and honesty in Leadership:  David! We did indeed Make you a vicegerent on earth: so judge you between men in truth (and justice): Nor follow you the lusts (of you heart) for they will mislead you from the Path of Allah: for those who wander astray from the Path of Allah, is a Penalty Grievous, for that they forget The Day of Account. Qur'an 38:26 … "Al Hasan said, Allah has enjoined an obligation on all the rulers that they should not follow the lust of their hearts and should not be afraid of the people and should not sell Allah's Verses for a low price". Bukhari 9:206 … Narrated Maqil : I heard the Prophet saying, " Any man whom Allah has given the authority of ruling some people and he does not look after them in an honest manner, will never feel even the smell of Paradise." . Bukhari 9:197 (hadith # 264-265) … Buraidah reported the Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) as saying: When we appoint someone to an...dealing". Abu Daud 2:831, Chapter 1098, Hadith # 2937

Allah's guidance for leaders: And remember David and Solomon, when they give judgement in the matter of the field into which The sheep of certain people had strayed by night: We did witness their judgement. To Solomon We inspired the (right) understanding of the matter: to each (of them) we gave Judgement and Knowledge; it was our power that made the hills and the birds celebrate our praises with David: it was We who did (all these things). Qur'an 21:78-79 … "Narrated Abdu Rahman! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand them you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking ( for it) then you will be helped ( by Allah ) in it. If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then you should expiate your oath and do what is better.". Bukhari 9:194-195, hadith # 260 … "It has been reported on the authority of Abd al-Rahman b. Samura who said: The Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) said to me: Abd al-Rahman do not ask for a position of authority, for if you are granted this position as a result of your asking for it, you will be left alone (without Allah's help to discharge the responsibilities attendant thereon), and if you are granted it without making any request for it you will be helped (by Allah in the discharge of you duties". Muslim 3: 1014, Chapter 756, Hadith # 4487

Prophet lived in poverty: "Narrated Abu Huraira : The family of Muhammad did not eat their fill for three successive days till he died". Bukhari 7:220, hadith # 287

Qualities of followers and advisors: "kama takuunu yuwalla alaikum" … "The statement of Prophet ( may peace be upon him): Religion is to be sincere and true to Allah (i.e. obeying Him, attributing to him what He deserves and doing Jihad for His sake); to Allah's Apostle ( i.e. t respect him greatly and to fight on his behalf both in his lifetime and after his death and to follow his traditions); to the rulers of the Muslims ( i.e. to help them in their job of leading Muslims to the right path and alarm them if they are heedless ) and to the Muslim commons (i.e. to be merciful to them". Bukhari 1:48, chapter 43…"Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: The Prophet said. " Allah never sends a prophet or gives the Caliphate the a Caliph but that he ( the prophet or the Caliph) has two groups of advisors: A group advising him to do good and exhorts him to do it, and the other group advising him to do evil and exhorts him to do it. But the protected person (against such evil advisors) is the one protected by Allah". Bukhari 9:235, hadith # 306.

Personality: strength and patience: "It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr who said: I said to the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him): Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me to a public office? He stroked my shoulder with his hand and said: Abu Dharr, you are weak and authority is a trust, and on the Day of Judgment it is a cause of humiliation and repentance except for one who fulfills its obligations and (properly discharges the duties attendant thereon". Muslim 3: 1015-1016, Chapter 758, Hadith # 4491… "Narrated Abdulla: The Prophet divided and distributed something as he used to do some of his distributions. A man from the Ansar said, " By Allah, in this division the pleasure of Allah has not been intended." I said, " I will definitely tell this to him while he was sitting with his companions and told him of it secretly. That was hard upon the Prophet and the color of his face changed, and he became so angry that I wished I had not told him. The Prophet then said, " Moses was harmed with more than this, yet he remained patient.". Bukhari 8:78, hadith #122

Avoiding appearance of impropriety: "Abu Huraira reported that Hasan b. Ali took one of the dates of the sadaqa and put it in his mouth, whereupon the Prophet ( may peace be upon him) said: Leave it, leave it , throw it; don't you know that we do not eat the sadaqa". Muslim 2: 517, Chapter 400, Hadith # 2339 … "Abdul Muttalib b. Rabia b. al Harith reported that Rabia b. al Harith and Abbas b. Abd al Muttalib gathered together and said. By Allah, if we had sent these two young boys ( i.e. I and Fadi b Abbas ) to the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) and they had spoken to him he would have appointed them ( as the collectors ) of these sadaqat and they would ( collect them ) and pay ( to the Holy Prophet ) as other people ( collectors ) paid and would get a share as other people got it, As they were talking about it there came Ali b. Abu Talib and stood before the, and they made a mention of it to him. Ali b. Abu Talib said: Don't do that; by Allah he ( the Holy Prophet ) would not do that ( would not accept your request ). Rabi b. Harith turned to him and said: By Allah, you are not doing so but out of jealousy that you nurse against us By Allah, you became the son in law of the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) but we felt no jealousy against you ( for this great privilege of yours )/ A;; then said. Send them ( if you like ). They set out and Ali lay on the bed. While the Messenger of Allah ( may peace be upon him ) offered the noon prayer, we went ahead of him to his apartment and stood near it till he came out. He took hold of our ears ( out of love and affection ) and then said: give out what you have kept in you hearts. He then entered ( the apartment ) and we also went in and he ( the Holy Prophet ) was on that day ( in the house of ) Zainab b. Jahsh. We urged each ( of us ) to speak. Then one of us thus spoke: Messenger of Allah, you are the best of humanity and the best to cement the ties of blood-relations. We have reached the marriageable age.We have come ( to you ) so that you may appoint us ( as collectors ) of these sadaqat, and we would pay you just as the people ( other collectors ) pay you, and get our share as others get it. He ( the Holy Prophet ) kept silence for a long time till we wished that we should speak with him ( again ) and Zainab pointed to us from behind the curtain not to talk ( any more ). He ( the Holy Prophet ) said: It does not become the family of Muhammad ( to accept ) sadaqat for they are the impurities of people. You call to me Mahmiya ( and he was in charge of khums, i.e. of the one fifth part that goes to the treasury out of the spoils of war.) and Naufal b., Harith b. Abd al-Muttalib. They both came to hi, and he ( the Holy Prophet ) said, to Mahmiya: Marry you daughter to this young man ( i.e. Fadi b. Abbas ) and he married her to me, and he said, to Naufal b. Harith: marry your daughter to this young man  ( i.e.Abd al Muttalib b. Rabia the narrator of this hadith ) and he married he to me, and he said, to Mahmiy: Pay so much mahr on behalf of both of them from this khums. Zuhri, however, said: He did not determine ( the amount of mahr)". Muslim 2:518-519, Chapter 401, Hadith # 2347…..According to the narrator : Umm Kulthum, the daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib (and wife of Umar, sent to the Empress of the Byzantines perfume, drinking vessels, and cheap receptacles used for women’s things.  She inserted this into the official post (al-Barid), which conveyed it to her. (This material) having been taken from the post, the wife of Heraclius came and assembled her women, saying :” This is a gift from the wife of the King of the Arabs and the daughter of their prophet”.  She entered into correspondence with (Umm Kulthum) and requited her in Kind by sending her gifts, among them a superb necklace. Now when the official post brought (these gifts) to Umar, he ordered them to be seized and summoned (the people) together to pray.  When they had assembled, he prayed two rak’ahs with them, and then said, “There is no good in any affair of mine that is decided without consultation.  What about a gift that Umm Kulthum sent to the wife of the Byzantine Emperor, who then sent a gift to her?” Some said,” It is Umm Kulthum’s along with what she already possesses.  The Emperor’s wife is neither under a pact of protection (dhimmah) so that she should try to conciliate (you) with (this gift) nor is she under you authority so that she should fear you”.  Other said, “We used to send garments as a gift in order to get something in return; we would send them to be sold and to obtain a (certain) price”. Then Umar said, “But the envoy was the envoy of the Muslims, and the postal service was theirs.  The Muslims are vexed (to see) the necklace on her breast”.  Thus, he ordered it to be returned to the public treasury, while he paid Umm Kulthum the amount of her expenses. Tabari 15 : 28 …. “Malik related ... profit”Muwatta 32:3111, hadith # 1

Omar’s courage: about the black stone: Narrated ‘Abis bin Rabi’a: ‘Umar, came near the Black Stone and kissed it and Said, “No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone.  Had I not seen Allah’s apostle kissing you I would not have kissed you”. Bukhari 2 : 390 - 391, hadith #667

Omar at home:  simple eating: I did this and came to the commander of the Fateful as he was feeding lunch to the people, leaning on a stick, as a shepherd does, and walking round the huge bowls, saying, “Some more meat for this lot, Yarfa’ some more bread for these; some more soup for these. “When I was pushed [through the crowd] into his presence, he told me to sit down.  I did so among those people nearest (to him].  There was some rough food -- even the food I had with me was better.!  When the people had finished, he told Yarfa’ to take away his bowls,  then he tuned away.  I followed and he entered the room of a house.  I asked permission to enter and gave my greetings.  He gave me permission, and I entered to where he was.  He was sitting on a hair cloth leaning against two leather cushions stuffed with palm fibers.  He threw one over to me and I sat down on it, [finding myself] in a space inside a vestibule in which there was a compartment with a small curtain. [‘Umar] asked [his wife], Umn Kulthum [to bring us] our lunch.  She brought out to him a piece of bread with some olive oil by the side of which was some underground salt.  (‘Umar) asked Umm Kulthum to join us and eat some of this [food] with us.  She replied, however, that she could hear the voice of a man with (‘Umar).  He confirmed that this was true, [adding that] he did not think he was a local.  The (messenger) added that this was when he realized that (‘Umar) did not know him. (Umm Kulthum) said, “if you had intended me to come out to join the men, you would have dressed me up, as Ibn Ja’far does his wife, as al-Zubayr does his wife, and as Talhah does his wife!” “Is it not enough for you”, replied (‘Umar), “that you are called Umm Kulthum, daughter of ‘Ali b. Abi Talib and wife of the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar?!” [Tome] he said, “Eat if she were willing [to join us], she would have given you better food than this!” (The messenger) continued: So I ate a little, but the food I had with me was better than this!  he ate, and I have never seen a heartier eater than he.  No food stuck to his hand or his mouth! Then he asked for drink, and they brought a bowl of a barley-meal drink.  “Give the man a drink”, said (‘Umar). (The messenger) continued: So I drank a little -- the barley-meal drink I had with me was better than this !  Then he took hold of it and drank down to the dregs, saying, “Praise be to God who has filled us up with food and quenched our thirst!”. Tabari 14: 85 - 86

Omar refuses personal gift: Salamah spotted an ornament among the spoils and said to the men, “You are not interested in this.  Are you willing to send it to the Commander of the Faithful?” They replied that they were [... missing ...]” I took out my casket.  But when he saw the gems, red, yellow and green, he leapt up, put his hand on his waist and said, “May God never, (if I were to accept this,],fill ‘Umar’s belly again!” (the messenger) continued:  The womenfolk thought I was intending to assassinate him, so they came to the curtain.  He said (to the messenger), “keep what you brought.  Yarfa’, strike him on the neck!” So I was [rearranging my casket, while he was striking me on the neck.  I said, “Commander of the Faithful, my camels are exhausted. I need replacements”.  He replied, “Yarfa’, give him two baggage camels from the alms.  If you meet anyone who has a greater need of them than you, hand them over to him”. I said I would obey his orders. He added, “ I swear that, if the Muslims disperse to their winter quarters before this is distributed among them, I shall certainly bring about calamity for you and your master!” (The messenger) continued: “So I left and came to Salamah and said, May God not grant His blessing for what you have done to me in this particular case!  Distribute this among the men before some calamity befalls us both”.  So he did A gem was sold at 5 and 6 dirhams, although it was worth more then 20,000 ! Tabari 14 : 87

Omar careful with public funds and property: According to al-Harith-Ibn Saud-Muslim b. Ibrahim-Sallam b. Miskin-’Imran When ‘Umar b. al-Khattab was in need, he would go to the treasurer and ask him for a loan.  Sometimes he was short of money, and the treasurer would come to (‘Umar) and demand payment of his debt and would insist on its payment.  So ‘Umar would use his wiles against him.  At other times his stipend was disbursed (to him), so he paid back (the debt). Tabari 14: 113 …  According to Abu ‘Amir al-’Aqadi-’Aqadi-’Isa b. Hafs-a man of Banu Salimah-Ibn al-Bara’ b. Ma’rur : ‘Umar went out one day to go to the minbar.  He complained of being sick and some honey was prescribed for him, there being a skin receptacle [full of it] in the treasury.  He said, “If you give me permission [to take] it, I shall do so; otherwise it is forbidden to me”. Tabari 14: 118

Forgiving the foolish: Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: Uyaina bin Hisn bin Hudhaifa came and stayed with his nephew Al-Hurr bin Qais who was one of those whom ‘Umar used to keep near hi, as the Qurra (learned men knowing Qu’ran by heart) were the people of ‘Umar’s meetings and his advisors whether they were old or young.  ‘Uyaina said to his nephew, ‘O son of my brother!  You have an approach to this chief, so get for me the permission to see him”.  Al-Hurr said, “I will the permission for you to see him”.  So Al-Hurr asked the permission for ‘Uyaina and ‘Umar admitted him.  When ‘Uyaina entered upon him, he said, “Beware O the son of Al-Khattab!  By Allah, you neither give us sufficient provision nor judge among us with justice”.  Thereupon ‘Umar became so furious that he intended to harm, but Al-Hurr said, ‘O chief of the Believers!  Allah said to His Prophet:- ‘Hold to forgiveness: command what is right; and leave (don't punish) the foolish (7:199) and this (i.e. ‘Uyaina) is one of the foolish”.  By Allah, ‘Umar did not overlook that Verse when Al-Hurr recited it before him: he observed (the orders of) Allah’s Book strictly. Bukhari 6:132, Hadith #166

DISCUSSION:   

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES OF LEADERS

Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by each of the following attributes of good leaders:

(a) Religious dimension:

Taqwa, deep spirituality, Islamic and refined personal manners, adherence to the sharia

(b) Intelligence and wisdom:

Intuition, intelligence, flexibility, clear mission and goals, master of detail

(c) Strong, genuine and likeable personality:

Will-power & decisiveness, stamina, deep belief in principles, acting on principle, not following the crowd, decision stickability, knows and uses strengths, accepting and compensating for weaknesses, courage, a sense of humor, ability to keep secrets, genuine personality, simplicity, good listener, honesty, credibility

(d) Commitment, motivation and responsibility:

Sacrifice, participation, commitment and dedication, a high sense of personal responsibility and accountability, assuming responsibility for mistakes, dependability, high and self- motivation, enthusiasm, positive attitude, optimism, risk taking, truthfulness

(e) Physical and emotional well-being:

Good health (physical and mental), emotional balance & security, energy, hard work, energy, positive attitude

(f) Self-control and balance:

Self-discipline, self-control, non impulsiveness, firmness in crises and under stress, perseverance & patience, self-leadership, self-sufficiency, action-oriented, being always prepared

(g) Knowledge:

Basic knowledge of Islam, history, current affairs, specialized knowledge as needed

RELATION BETWEEN ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS OF LEADER WITH THE LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP

                                                                LOWER                 MIDDLE               UPPER

Personal

Conceptual

Practical

Human

POSITIVE LEADERSHIP VALUES

The following list contains items that may not fit the label of values. Some values are repeated. Please scrutinize the list and draw up one correct list by eliminating some items or combining others. Write 1-3 sentences about what you understand by each item. You may give examples or explain how they help make the leadership process more effective:

Authority

Security

Stability

Competitiveness

Cost-effectiveness

Selflessness

Ethics

Honesty

Quity

Justice

Social responsibility-

Intention(niyyat)

Itqan

Ihsan (efficiency)

Ikhlas (sincerity)

Passion for excellence

Continous self-evaluation

Always mindful of the almighty

Justice

Truthfulness

Trustworthiness

Patience

Moderation

Keeping promises

Accountability

Dedication

Gratefulness

Consistency

Cleaniliness

Discipline

Cooperation

NEGATIVE LEADERSHIP VALUES

Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by each of the following. You may give examples or explain how they help make the leadership process more effective:

Excessive love of the world

Excessive love of wealth

Miserliness

Excessive love of influence

Pride

WORKSHOP #5

LEADERS: CONCEPTUAL SKILLS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Intellecxtual/conceptual attributes

OUTLINES:

BACKGROUND READING

Vision

Setting goals

Caution and prudence

Knowledge

Commitment

Ummatic view

Unity in diversity

TEXT ANALYSIS

Knowledge before leadership

Knowledge is basis for selection of leaders

Learning from mistakes and not repeating them

Admitting ignorance and accepting correction

Omar and fore-sight, wisdom, and judgment:

Omar khalifah and not king

Omar doing manual labor

DISCUSSION

Knowledge is basis for selection of leaders

Learning from mistakes and not repeating them

Admitting ignorance and accepting correction

BACKGROUND READING

INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK

Vision: A leader must have a vision. The vision is developed from wide consultation and is refined by practical application. The vision must be maintained in easy and difficult situations. The followers must be convinced about the vision. The vision must be focussed and in conformity with organizational culture. A good vision must be backed up by positive values. A distinguishing characteristic of great leaders is ability to see farther than the followers and to see the big picture. The bigger the vision, the greater the leader.

Setting goals: An effective leader sets goals and is an example to the followers on how to reach those goals. The best leaders lead by example.

Caution and prudence: A good leader will avoid too much speculation and will know the difference between taking a risk by an individual and by an organization. An individual may take more risks because if things go wrong the damage is limited. A leader in charge of a group will be more prudent because an error will have more consequences.

Knowledge: Knowledge both basic and specialized is necessary for leadership. No one should become a leader without the basic knowledge needed to carry out responsibilities in the particular leadership situation. A religious leader must know at least the basics of the religion. A business leader must know the fundamentals of business. A leader however need not be a specialist. He can always employ people with specialized knowledge for particular tasks. The leader must be honest with himself and know the limits of his knowledge. Some deficiencies can be corrected by more education. Others can only be compensated for by relying on people who have the necessary knowledge.

Commitment: A leader must be committed to the organization he is leading and the followers. He must be committed to certain values and to a vision. He must respect his promises and decisions and must be committed to carrying them out.

Ummatic view: An ummatic view is needed so that the leader is not parochial or provincial. Local issues should be been in a wholistic context of the whole ummah if they are to be understood well. However when it comes to solutions the leader should be more local in approach in order to succeed. The only precaution needed here is not to create problems on the macro level while solving problems on the micro level

Unity in diversity: A leader must accept diversity. Try to get consensus only on a few really strategic issues and then allow people to exercise their initiatives. You however must continuously monitor the trends in opinions to be able to detect serious deviations from the overall strategy. The vision and unity of purpose must be maintained at all costs despite the diversity.

TEXT ANALYSIS

INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.

Knowledge is basis for selection of leaders: "Omar said...chief" bukhari 1:82, hadith # 16 … "Amir b. Wathila reported that Nafi b. Abd al-Harith met Umar at Usfan and Umar had employed him as collector in Mecca. He ( hadrat Umar) said to him ( Nafi ): Whom have you appointed as collector over the people of the valley? He said Ibn Abza. He said: Who is Ibn Abza? He said: He is one of our freed slaves. He ( Hadrat Umar ) said: So you have appointed a freed slave over them. He said: He is well versed in the Book of Allah, the Exalted and Great, and he is well versed in the commandments and injunctions ( of the Shariah). Umar said: So the Holy Prophet ( may peace be upon him ) said: By this book, Allah exalts some peoples and degrades others."  Muslim 1: 389, Chapter 288, Hadith # 1780 …. "Amr b. Salamah reported on the authority of his father ( Salamah ) that they visited the Prophet ( may peace be upon him ). When they intended to return, they said: Apostle of Allah, who will lead us in prayer? He said: The one of you who knows most of the Qur'an, or memorizes most of the Qur'an ( should act as your imam). There was none in the clan who knew more of the Qur'an than I did. They therefore, put me in front of them and I was only a boy. And I wore a mantle, whenever I was present in the gathering of Jarm ( name of his clan ), I would act as their imam, and I lead them in their funeral prayers until today". Abu Daud 1:155, hadith # 587

Learning from mistakes and not repeating them: "Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger ( may peace be upon him ) said: The believer does not allow to be stung twice from one ( and the same ) hole. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Haraira through another chain of transmitters". Muslim 4: 1541, Chapter 1238, Hadith # 7137

Admitting ignorance and accepting correction: "Narrated Ubaid b Umair. Abu Musa asked Umar to admit him but he was not admitted as Umar was busy, so Abu Musa went back. When Umar finished his job he said, "Didn't I hear the voice of 'Abdullah bin Qais? Let in come in." Umar was told that he had left. So, he sent for him and on his arrival, he (Abu Musa) said, "We were ordered to do so (i.e. to leave if not admitted after asking permission thrice). Umar told him, "Bring witness in proof of your statement." Abu Musa went to the Ansar's meeting places and asked them. They said, "None amongst us will give this witness except the youngest of us, Abu Sa'id Al Khudri. Abu Musa then took Abu Sa'id Al Khudri (to Umar) and Umar said, surprisingly 'Has this order of Allah's apostle been hidden from me?' (Then he added), "I used to be busy trading in markets.". Bukhari 3:158-159, hadith #277…  "Narrated Abdulla : The Prophet prayed ( and the subnarrator Ibrahim said, " I do not know whether he prayed more or less than usual " and when he had finished the prayers he was asked, " O Allah's Apostle ! has there been any change in the prayers? He said, " What is it? The people said, " You have prayed so much and so much." So the Prophet bent his legs. faced the Qibla and performed two prostrations ( of Sahu ) and finished his prayers with Taslim ( by turning his face to right and left saying; As-Salamu Alaikum - Warahmat-ullah "  When he turned his face to us he said, " If there had been anything changed in the prayer, surely I would have informed you but I am a human being like you and liable to forget like you. So if I forget remind me and if anyone of you is doubtful about his prayer, he should follow what he thinks to be correct and complete his prayer accordingly and finish it and do two prostrations of Sahu". Bukhari 1;238-239, hadith # 394

Omar and fore-sight, wisdom, and judgment: “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Amongst the people preceding you there used to be Muhaddithun (i.e. persons who can guess things that come true later on,  as if those persons have been inspired by a diving power) and if there are any such person amongst my followers, it is Umar bin Al-Khattab”. Bukhari 4:449, Hadith # 675 …. Narrated ‘Umar (bin Al-Khattab) My Lord agreed with me in three things: (1)           I said, “O Allah’s Apostle, I wish we took the station of Abraham as our praying place (for some of our prayers).  So came the Divine Inspiration: And take you (people) the station of Abraham as a place of prayer (for some of your prayers e.g. two Rak’at of Tawaf of Ka’ba(. (2:125) #2 And as regards the (verse of) the veiling of the women, I said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle !  I wish you ordered your wives to cover themselves from the men because good and bad ones talk to them’.  So the verse of the veiling of the women was revealed. #3 Once the wives of the Prophet made a united front against the Prophet and I said to them, it may be if he (the Prophet) divorced you, (all) that his Lord (Allah) will give him instead of you wives better than you’.  So this verse (the same as I had said) was revealed”. (66 : 5) Bukhari 1 : 239 - 240, Hadith # 395. …. “Ja’ala llaahu al haqq ala lisaan Umar wa qalbahu”.

Omar khalifah and not king : According to Al Harith Ibn Sad Muhammad b. Umar Qays b. al-Rabi Ata b. al-Saib Zadhan Salman : Umar said to him, Am I a king or a caliph ?  Salman replied, If you collect from Muslim territory dirham or less or more then you put it to use other than for what it is by right intended, you are a king, not a caliph.  Omar wept”. Tabari 14 : 118

Omar doing manual labor : “According to khallad b. Aslan a client of Uthman b. Affan : I was riding behind Uthman b. Affan one hot day when there was an extremely hot wind blowing and he came to the alms-animal pen. There was a man wearing a waist wrapper and an upper garment with another wrapped around his head.  He was driving camels into the pen; that is, the alms-camel pen.  Uthman said, Who do you think this is?  We finally reached him and he was Umar b. al-Khattab (Uthman) said, He is indeed the strong, the trustworthy one”.

DISCUSSION:

Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by each of the following conceptual attributes of leaders:

(a) Vision:

Ummatic outlook, ability to see the whole picture, positive vision, thinking big, broad perspective, long-term vision and ability to articulate it, understanding maqasid al sharia, belief in success, set high standards

(b) Goals and objectives:

ability to identify and focus on specific goals and objectives, not being distracted by daily problems, consistency, sense of direction, identification with organizational goals

(c) Objectivity and reality:

reality, realism, accept change, living in the present, correct sense of timing, learning from failures

(d) Creativity:

originality in thought and action, initiative, resourcefulness, Understanding and using synergistic relationships  

YOUR NOTES:

WORKSHOP #6

PRACTICAL SKILLS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

OUTLINES:

BACKGROUND READING

Communication

Decision-making

Planning and execution

Leading teams

People skills

TEXT ANALYSIS

DISCUSSION

Practical skills of leaders

BACKGROUND READING

INSTRUCTIONS: THE DISCUSSION LEADER OR THE MEMBERS (IN TURNS) WILL PRESENT THE MAIN POINTS IN THE BACKGROUND READING SECTIONS PRE-ASSIGNED THE PREVIOUS WEEK

Communication: Communication is an important skill for a leader to convey his vision and plans to the followers.

Decision-making: Decision making and problem solving are primary managerial functions that every leader must undertake. Failure to make correct decisions on time or solving problems timely will lead to leadership failure

Planning and execution: Leaders undertake managerial functions of planning, setting goals & objectives, clarification of the vision, and evaluation,

Leading teams: Leaders form and lead work groups. They cooridinate their work and make decisions on tasking.

People skills: Dealing with people involves:  conflict resolution, motivation, maintaining relations with superiors and subordinates.

TEXT ANALYSIS

INSTRUCTIONS: READ OUT EACH TEXT ALOUD TWO TIMES. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MAIN POINTS RAISED. WRITE DOWN THE MAIN LESSON(S) YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE TEXT.

Omar and Hormuzan: [Hormuzan w as a persian  noble who had been defeated in war, was captured and was brought to Madina where he accepted Islam and stayed]  Abu Sabrah dispatched a delegation (to Medina) among whom were Anas ibn Malik and al-Ahnaf ibn Qays, and he sent al-Hurmuzan with them.  They arrived in al-Basrah in the company O Abu Musa: then they (alone) sent out for Medina).  when they were about to enter the city they arrayed al-Humuzan in his own finery, dressing him in his brocaded garment stitched through with gold thread.  On his head they placed a crown that was called al-Adhin and that was encrusted with rubies.  They put on his jewelry so that Umar and the Muslim would see him in his regalia.  Then they paraded him in front of the people on their way too Umar’s house.  But they did not find him there, so they inquired after his whereabouts.  They were told, “just now he was sitting in the mosque to receive a delegation that had come to him from al-Kufah”.  So they left to look for him in the mosque, but they did not find him there either.  When leaving, they passed by some local boys who were at play and who asked them”, What are you walking in and out for?  If you want to speak to the Commander of the Faithful, he is asleep in the right part of the mosque with his cloak folded under his head for a pillow”.  Umar had sat there to receive the delegation from the inhabitants of al-Kufah dressed in hooded cloak.  When he had finished talking to them and they had risen from the audience and left him alone,  he took off his had risen from the audience and left him alone, he took off his cloak, folded it to make a pillow and went to sleep.  So the people from al-Basrah, together with the bystanders, went to look for him.  Then, when they spotted Umar they sat down at a little distance from him.  No one else, asleep or awake, was in the mosque (at the time).  His whip was dangling from his hand Al-Hurmuzan asked, “Where is Umar? “There he is,” they said, whereupon they gave a sign to the people to keep quiet.  Heeding their order, al-Hurmuzan nonetheless asked, “But where are his guards and attendants?”  “He has neither,”  they answered, “Nor clerks, nor a chancellery for that matter”.  Then he must be a prophet, “al-Hurmuzan exclaimed”.  No, he is not, but he does the things prophets do, “was the reply, Meanwhile, the number of onlookers had greatly increased and Umar awoke because of the din that they made.  He sat upright, spotted al-Hurmuzan and asked, “Is that man al-Hurmuzan” “Yes, was the answer.  Umar looked closely at him and at what he was wearing, and then he said, “I seek my refuge with God from Hellfire  and Him I ask for succor.  Praise be to God,” he went on, “who has humbled this man and his followers through Islam.  Hold on this religion, my fellow Muslims, and be guided by the guidance that your Prophet has given you.  Let this material world not make your reckless, for it is a treacherous world”.  Then the delegation said.”  This is the king of al-Ahwaz, speak to him”.  “No” Umar answered,” not as long as there remains a single item of finery in his body”.  So they stripped him of everything he was dressed up in apart from some piece of clothing that covered his nakedness and they made him put on a coarse garment. Tabari 13: 137 - 140.

Death of omar and appointment of an electoral council: That morning Umar went out to prayers;  he used to assign certain men to ... [missing] the lines [of those praying]and when they were straight, he would come and proclaim. “God is great!”  Abu Lu’lu’ah slipped in among the people carrying in his hand a dagger with-two blades and its heft in the middle.  He struck Umar six blows, one of which was below his navel, and this was the one which killed him.  (Abu Lu’lu’ah) also killed Kulayb b. Abi al-Bukayr al-Laythi, who was behind (‘Umar).  When (‘Umar) felt the heat of the weapon, he fell and said, “Is ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Awf among the crowd?” They said, “Yes, Commander of the Faithful, he is here”.  (‘Umar) said [to ‘Abd al-Rahman], “Come forward and lead the people in prayer”.  So ‘Abd al-Rahman led the people in prayer, while ‘Umar lay prostrate.  Then he was carried away and brought into his house.  He called for ‘Abd. al- Rahman b. ‘Awf and said, “I want to appoint you my successor; ‘  He replied “Indeed, Commander of the Faithful, I accept.  If you order me, I shall accept [the appointment] from you. “(‘Umar) said, “What do you want?”  I’Abd al-Rahman) said, “I beseech you by God.  Do you order me to accept his (appointment)?” (‘Umar) replied, “No, indeed”. (‘Abd al-Rahman) said, “I shall never have anything to do with [accepting] (the appointment)” (‘Umar) said, “Give me some peace and quiet so that I can appoint those who still met with the Messenger of God’s approval when he died.  Call ‘Ali for me, ‘Uthman, al-Zubayr, and Sa’d”.  [When they had arrived, he said],  “Wait for your brother Talhah for three [nights].  If he does not come, do what you have to do.  If you should take authority over the people, ‘Ali, I implore you not to bring them under the power of banu Hashim.  If you should take authority over the people, ‘Uthman, I implore you not to bring them under the power of Banu Al-Mu’ayt.  If you should take authority over the people, Sa’d, I implore you not to bring them under the power of your relatives.  Of you go!  Consult together, then do what you have to do.  Let Suhayb lead the people in prayer”.

Then he called for Abu Talhah al-Ansari and said, “Stand at their door and do not let anyone enter into their presence.  I commend to the caliph after my death the Helpers,  ‘Who have made their abode in the city [of the Prophet] and in the Faith,’  that he do good to him who does good among them and forgive him who does evil among them.  I commend to the caliph after my death the Arabs-- for they are the very substance of Islam -- that what is their due of alms be taken and assigned to their poor.  I commend to the caliph after my death the covenant of the Messenger of God that (non-Muslims) be given a compact faithfully fulfilled.  O God, have I done what I ought to do?!  I leave the caliph after my death in a cleaner [condition] than the palm of the hand. ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar, go and find out who has murdered me”.  He replied, “Commander of the Faithful, you have been murdered by Abu Lu’lu’ah, slave of al-Mughirah b. Shu’bah (‘Umar) exclaimed, “Praise be to God who has never put my fate into the hands of someone who has bowed down to Him on one single occasion!  Go to ‘A’ishah, ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar, and ask her to permit me to be buried with the Prophet and Abu Bakr.  If the council is divided.  ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar, you should vote with the majority.  If they are [split] three against three, follow the action that ‘Abd. al-Rahman supports.  Allow the people to enter, ‘Abdallah.”  So the Emigrants and the Helpers came in to see him, offering him their greetings.  He would ask them if the [assassination] was the result of some conspiracy among them and they would reply, “God protect us!

Tabari 14 : 91 - 92

DISCUSSION:

Write 1-3 sentences on what you understand by each of the following practical attributes of leaders:

(a) Planning and goal-setting:

Goal-orientation, prgamatism, orientation to detail

(b) Communication:

Communicating goals effectively, good communication, active listening,

(c) Team-work, motivation, coaching:

Understanding and appreciating the different natures of human beings, effective meeting management, teaching and coaching others, management of conflict within the group and between groups, seeking and using advice

(d) Decision-making and problem-solving:

Soundness of judgement, rational thought, quick but not hasty decisions, consultation and involvement of others

(e) Organizing and managing:

Ability to prioritize, effective time management, ability to follow through,

YOUR NOTES:

Continue to Part 2