Islam’s Model for Relations between Leaders, People
In verse 3 of Surah Ash-Shu’ara, God tells the Holy Prophet (PBUH): “You will perhaps kill yourself with anguish because they are not accepting the faith.”
Based on this verse, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who is a role model for all mankind, especially for leaders of societies and, above all, for leaders of religious societies, becomes so worried about some people not accepting the faith that it could endanger his life.
One can understand from this verse that some people have accepted the faith and are on the path to salvation, but that does not satisfy the Prophet (PBUH). It is because he is worried about all people not just about those who have the same ideas as he does. In other words, he is the leader of all people not a certain group of them.
Based on the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) conduct, one can reach the model in which there is a heart and faith-based relationship between the divine leader and people of society and that he leads the society so compassionately that he even puts his life at risk for guiding them to faith and salvation.
One important responsibility of leaders of society is to make all-out efforts to help people choose faith and pave the way for all people to act in accordance with divine laws.
Most of the time, leaders of divine societies guide people by giving them the choice and through their own free will. That is to say, they do not interfere in people’s decisions and free will.
Of course this has limits as sometimes it may be necessary for the leader of the society to be decisive, for example when people’s decision may endanger the society.
Thus, according to Islamic teachings, people should implement divine commands and teachings and orders of the government with their free will, unless their free will threatens the society and others’ rights.
