Be Careful, Characteristics Of An Unjust Leader According To Islam That You Must Know

YOGYAKARTA - What are the characteristics of a zalim (unjust) leader according to Islam? In Islam, a leader must be a figure with authority and power within a region or community. A leader can be a president, king, regional head, or head of an organization.

Islam places enormous moral responsibility on leaders. Therefore, leaders are expected to possess admirable qualities and be responsible in exercising their power wisely while serving the public interest.

However, not all leaders possess these admirable qualities. In fact, there are quite a few despotic leaders today. Below, we will discuss the characteristics of despotic leaders according to Islam.

Characteristics of a Zalim Leader According to Islam

There are several characteristics of an unjust leader according to Islam. Quoted from the book Khutbah Rasulullah by Rohidzir Rais, the characteristics of an unjust leader are as follows:

• Doesn't care about people's troubles and suffering
• Has the lowest morals in society and is hated because of his crimes
• The people are forced to serve for their pleasure
• People really hated him and often wished him evil
• He also hated his people and wished them trouble.

Consequences for Unjust Leaders

The Qur'an and hadith have reported the consequences if a leader becomes unjust. Below are some of the consequences inflicted on unjust leaders according to several verses in the Qur'an and hadith,

- Rasulullah SAW will pray for hardship for him

Rasulullah SAW said, "O Allah, whoever has the task of taking care of my people and then makes things difficult for them, then make it difficult for him. Whoever has the task of taking care of my people and makes things easy for them, then make it easy for him." (HR Muslim)

- Kept away from heaven

Rasulullah SAW said, "No one is entrusted with the leadership of a people and then he dies in a state of cheating against his people, so heaven is forbidden to him." (HR Bukhari and Muslim)

- Receive a very painful punishment

Allah SWT says in surah Ash Shura verse 42,

اِنَّمَا السَّبِيْلُ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ يَظْلِمُوْنَ النَّاسَ وَيَبْغُوْنَ فِى الْاَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّۗ اُولٰۤىِٕكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِيْمٌ ٤٢

Meaning: "Indeed, the only just cause (to blame) is for those who oppress people and transgress the limits on earth without right (just cause). They will have a very painful punishment."

Prohibitions Regarding Zalim (Oppressive) Leaders

Among the threats from the above hadith are the words of Rasulullah SAW when mentioning the characteristics of unjust leaders. Quoted from the book Rahasia Halal-Haram: Hakikat Batin Perintah dan Larangan Allah by Imam Al-Ghazali, the threat to unjust leaders is as follows:

Rasulullah SAW said, "The memorizers of the Qur'an (qurra') who are most hated by Allah SWT are those who visit leaders." In another hadith it is stated, "The best leaders are those who come to scholars, and the worst scholars are those who come to leaders."

Rasulullah SAW said, "Whoever renounces them, he will surely be saved (from sin). Whoever estranges himself from them, he will be safe or almost safe. Whoever is mired with them in the world, he is part of them." (HR Thabrani)

In another hadith, Rasulullah SAW said, "After me there will be leaders who lie and do injustice. Whoever confirms their lies and helps their injustice, he is not from my group and I am not from his group, and he will not come to Al-Haudh (Pool of Heaven)." (HR Nasai and Tirmidhi)

In another hadith it is also explained, "Ulama are the trustees of the Apostles over Allah's servants as long as they do not associate with the sultan. If they do so (associate with the sultan), they have actually betrayed the apostles. Beware of them and stay away from them!"

That is a review of the characteristics of an unjust leader according to Islam. Hopefully this information is useful! Visit VOI.id to get other interesting information.