ISLAM FOR BEGINNERS BRS 107.pdf - CUEA

technically for the building the self and equipping it to form a person opinion. Such opinionwhen it is so convincing turns into a law. This is done by applying analogy to the Qur’anand Sunna. 38This situation was made popular especially after the decadence of the Abbasid Empire inthe middle of the 13 th century: Caliphates, Dynasties and Emirates began and grew,appeared and disappeared until the creation of Muslim States which exist this time. Thus,with the principle of Ijtihad, the decrees and judgments promulgated by a person of greatesteem and integrity according to some parameters of a particular group of Muslims will beobeyed. Zafar Bangash said:A person is thrust into a position of leadership both by circumstances as well as byhis ability to motivate and lead others towards the realization of a particular goal.When a group of people accepts this vision, it creates a movement for change. Theleader, however, must first articulate the vision and demonstrate the ability to turn itinto action by aligning performance with vision to create a climate of success for therealization of the stated goal. 39A person will emerge sometimes from nowhere; he will impose his rule and his vision andif he gets some disciples, novices and students, adherents and believers, helpers andmissionaries, satellites and devotees, he automatically becomes a leader: this is what weencounter in some groups of reformists, fundamentalists and extremists. It happens in thisway when leadership is in a vacuum, and that a person arises and makes somepronouncements, which find a fertile land. Will the case of Osama Bin Laden fall into thisline?Hence, in order to appreciate better today’s Islam, we have to consider the two realities ofgoverning the Umma since they prevail not only in the Middle East and in Islamic Statesbut also wherever Islam is rooted and grows.38 .Idem, Ijtihad in The Encyclopedia of Islam (Leiden: Brill, 1995).39 .Cf. WWW (Internet) on Leadership. Zafar Bangash, the concepts of leader and leadership in Islam.Frederic N. Mvumbi,OP Page 75 of 85