Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim
Allah says in the holy Qur'an says: "He (alone) knows the unseen, nor does He make anyone acquainted with His secrets. Except a Messenger whom He has chosen: and then He makes band of watchers march before him and behind him. That He may know that they have (truly) brought and delivered the Messages of their Lord and He encompasses all that is with them, and takes account of every single thing" (Qur'an 72: 26-28).
Human psychology in respect of Leadership entails Intuition, Reflection and Genuflection in the main premise. Prior to the Prophet-hood of Muhammad, it was placed on record that he used to go to Gharu Hira' (Cafe Hira') for various spiritual engagements ranging from remembrance of Allah, developmental training, intuitive therapy and mentor-mentee concepts. Lots of multi-grade entreaties that projected him for human capital development across ages were undertaken.
This is the measure metted on most of Prophets of Allah.
Contemporizing this approach to human development, several factors including but not limited to seven strike in the root of swift achievements. These are aside from making dedication to supplications which has proved to be an unfailing generator. This is not in connection with the trailing the line of achievers and their mentoring programs.
The seven main factors to higher achievements share similarities with Western line of thoughts but with special interest in spiritualizing them all. The first factor is for a prospect to shun procrastination. Standing up to challenges and taking immediate actions is a vital key to higher achievements. Facing challenges with boldness and fearless zeal is crystal to achieving goals in life
Too much sleep should be avoided. Avoiding arrogance, pomposity and self-assertion leads to success. Lethargic tendency is a great enemy of progress. Similarly, avoiding people of low, mean and questionable characters speaks well of a prospective achiever. The last but not the least factor is avoidance of annoyance. The last factor captures the main theme of an Hadith of the Messenger responding to a young chap's curiosity on the main road to higher achievements. He repeatedly said, 'Do not be angry!' This Tradition sums up the principles of achievements in life.
The poet laureate whose lines were summarized above aptly captured the basis for greatness by pitching achievements to tenacious holding on to the above. It in the same manner of giving priority to struggle over reliance on vain glory of descent that all great people achieve greatness. It suffices to relate here the vitality of what makes human admirable which translates to 'Concepts of Omoluwabi' in Yoruba parlance. خير الناس ذو نسب قديم # يقيم لنفسه نسبا جديدا meaning: 'The best recognized of men is the one; upon meeting good legacy he corroborates'.
Mention must be made of the unfortunate manner in which youth disrespect dignity of labour. This is against the olden day philosophy of diligence and hardwork. Quick to mind is the Primary school's lines committed to memory which goes thus:
"Ise l'ogun ise;
Mura sise oree mi;
Ise lafi n d'eni giga;
Bi a ko ba r'eni fehinti;
Bi ole l'aari;
Bi a ko ba r'eni gbojule;
Atera mo se eni;
Baba a re le lowo lowo;
Ki Iya a re si l'eshin l'eekan;
Bi o gboju le won;
Ote tan ni mo so fun o;
Apalara, igunpa ni yekan;
Bi aye nfe e loni;
Bi o ba l'owo lowo;
Aye a ma a fe e lola.....
It is rather unfortunate that much of the effects of the types of poetry appear dissolved in the wiltherness of Western culture. The diginity of labour of those days have been supplanted with continual servitude to children. The olden days communal lives which tend to inject discipline and morality had disappeared into the thin culture of 'mind your business approach'. Most of the traditional heritages like arts and crafts such as blacksmithing, calabash carving, drumming, leather work, weaving, among others had assumed another outlook all in the name of white-colar jobs. Worse-still, the awe for teachers' concern in a child's attitude in school and at home had given way for ruthless dealing with teachers. This by extension becomes worrisome when 'teachers' becomes rather accomplice in 'cooking and buying result' for learners all on a way to make more money of the system. A poet laments: 'بالملح تصلح ما تخشى تغيره # فكيف بالملح ان حلت به الغير؟ meaning: 'Natural salt is useful mostly for preservation; What then preserves salt in case it gets spoilt?
To become admirable, a man may not unlikely be like refined gold in its pretty form of ornament. Surely, casting mind from series of session it had passed through including states of raw, state of refine under fire, state of banging for shape and of course coating and preservation. Finding same on the shelf catches attention of many more propective buyers for a value worth its price. A leader in human environ must have passed through serious heat before discovering light at the end of turnel.
The implications of this for Nigerian youth appear tremendous. The inordinate zeal for money, money and money without passion for definite source of income is alarming. The rate at which crave for rituals reaches its prowess is counter-productive. Above all, if caution is not taken against this trend, Nigeria as a nation may not be far away from the situation that harbinger xenophobic attacks in the neighbouring country of South Africa and many more.
Let's draw curtain here on the psychology of leadership in the views of Islam. Till we meet again in the next exition, thank you immensely for your usual patronage. Stay blessed.
Dr Razaq Bolawaye Uthman, Imam Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Ipaja Branch Lagos State.
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