By Imam Mashood Dagbo, PhD
Governance in Islam means administering society according to the guidance of Allah and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It is a sacred trust (amānah). Through it, leaders must uphold justice, protect the rights of the people, preserve religion, maintain peace and security, and ensure the welfare of society.
Leadership in Islam is not for personal enrichment or oppression. It is an act of worship and accountability before Allah. Allah says: “Indeed, Allah commands you to render back the trusts to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, judge with justice.” (Qur’an 4:58). This verse shows that leadership is built on trustworthiness and justice.
Roles of the Leaders
The following are the major roles expected of leaders in Islam:
1. Establishing Justice: Leaders must administer justice impartially, without discrimination based on wealth, tribe, religion, or social status. Allah says: “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice as witnesses for Allah…” (Qur’an 4:135). Justice must apply to both the strong and the weak.
2. Protecting Religion: Leaders should safeguard the practice of Islam, support religious education, and preserve the moral values of society. Allah says: “Those who, if We establish them in the land, establish prayer, give zakāh, enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong.” (Qur’an 22:41). This includes protecting places of worship and ensuring freedom to practice.
3. Protecting Lives, Property, and Honor: A core duty of leadership is to guarantee the security of citizens. Leaders must protect lives, wealth, and dignity from injustice, oppression, crime, and abuse of power. The legal system must be accessible and fair to all.
4. Upholding Trust and Accountability: Public office is a trust. Leaders must manage resources faithfully and transparently because every authority will be questioned by Allah. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7138; Sahih Muslim 1829). Accountability deters corruption and builds public confidence.
5. Consulting the People (Shūrā): Islam encourages consultation in matters that affect the community. Allah says: “…and whose affairs are conducted by mutual consultation among themselves.” (Qur’an 42:38). Shūrā promotes unity, understanding, and transparency. It allows leaders to benefit from collective wisdom and reduces the risk of bad decisions.
6. Promoting Public Welfare: Leaders should provide essential services such as education, healthcare, clean water, and security. They must support economic development, create jobs, alleviate poverty, and ensure equitable distribution of public resources so that no group is marginalized.
7. Maintaining Peace and Security: Leaders are responsible for protecting society from internal crime, corruption, and external aggression. This requires enforcing the rule of law, strengthening institutions, and promoting social cohesion so citizens can live without fear.
8. Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil: Leaders should promote righteousness and discourage social vices through wisdom, justice, and lawful means. By supporting ethical conduct in public and private life, they help build a morally upright society.
Affirming that, scholars shared their opinions on responsibilities of leader: Imam al-Māwardī stated that the duties of an Islamic ruler include preserving religion, implementing justice, protecting lives and property, defending the state, and administering public affairs according to the Sharī‘ah (Al-Aḥkām al-Sulṭāniyyah, pp. 15–22).
Also, Imam al-Ghazālī emphasized that political authority is indispensable for preserving religion and maintaining social order. He wrote: “Religion is the foundation, and authority is its guardian.” (Iḥyā’ ʿUlūm al-Dīn, Vol. 1, pp. 17–18).
Likewise, Imam Ibn Taymiyyah held that justice is the greatest objective of governance. He stressed that Allah supports a just government even if its rulers are deficient in other areas, while oppression leads to destruction (Al-Siyāsah al-Shar‘iyyah, pp. 13–18).
Therefore, Islamic governance rests on justice, consultation, trustworthiness, accountability, and service to humanity. Authority is not a privilege but a responsibility. Every leader must fear Allah, lead with sincerity and compassion, and remember that he or she will answer for this trust on the Day of Resurrection.
Prayer:
O Allah, as we witness the third Jumu‘ah in the month of Safar 1448 AH, strengthen our homes upon righteousness. Forgive our sins, ease our hardships, and guide our leaders to justice. Alleviate poverty and save us from bad governance. Protect Muslims in troubled lands. Restore Nigeria and the world from corruption, insecurity, hunger, banditry, kidnapping, war, and all social evils. Ameen.
@Imam Yusuf Mashood Dagbo, PhD
Chief Imam, GGDSS Central Mosque, Okesuna, Ilorin, Kwara State, and Director, YUMAD Consults, specializing in education and culture, public presentation, counseling, and column writing.
