Prophet Sulayman leadership qualities.pptx

Presented in 49th annual ICNA Convention at Baltimore, MD. Leadership characteristics of Prophet Suleyman Alaihi Salam are presented. He is presented as a role model for us in Quran, specially Surah Namal.

1. SULEYMAN’S (AS) Legacy LEADERSHIP IN THE DIVINE LIGHT

2. Allah ( swt ) granted knowledge, wisdom and many bounties to Dawood (AS) and Suleyman(AS) وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَـٰنَ عِلْمًۭا ۖ وَقَالَا ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ١٥ Indeed, We granted knowledge to David and Solomon. And they said ˹in acknowledgment˺, “All praise is for Allah Who has privileged us over many of His faithful servants وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ دَاوُۥدَ ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ ٱلطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ۖ إِن هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْمُبِينُ And David was succeeded by Solomon, who said, “O people! We have been taught the language of birds and been given everything ˹we need˺. This is indeed a great privilege.”

3. Quran’s Divine Guidance Qur’an is full of divine guidance and role models to attain excellence in all aspects of Man’s life It provides guidance to achieve excellence in leadership One of this guidance is manifested through the story and model of  Prophet Sulayman a.s Qur’an 27:15-44, touches on Prophet Sulayman’s power and rule H is dealing with Queen Balqis of Sheba kingdom.

4. Prophet Suleyman (AS) as a role model for: Muslim individuals and leaders Any  da`wah  organization S triving towards the development of a Muslim community of excellence They must themselves live by the culture of excellence It is importa nt to achieve its mission.

5. 10 leadership traits we learn from this role model Good resource management Having high discipline in life and work culture. Having high initiative to achieve mission Embracing everything that leads to excellence and enliving healthy competition for the sake of it. Giving high value to knowledge and people of knowledge Information and knowledge sharing Practicing  shura  (consultation ) in decision making Magnanimity. Rational and strategic thinking . Favoring a peaceful and harmonious solution to conflict .

6. 1- Good resource management utilizing everyone’s potential, A bility to garner benefits from resources available to him such as jinn, human, wind and animals (The Qur’an, 27:16-17). He benefitted from even a small bird such as Hoodhood or hoopoe . He did not belittle the information relayed to him by the hoopoe He sent hoopoe to deliver his letter to Balqis , ruler of a kingdom H oopoe discovered the kingdom in its journey and informed Prophet Suleyman a.s  about it . (27:27-8). Islamic organization must garner the potential of everyone working or elite class, affiliated to it or not.

7. 2-Maintain high discipline in life and work culture Virtue of discipline can be discerned in the story of Prophet Suleyman a.s  in the Qur’an. The Qur’an informs that Prophet Suleyman ( a.s )  organized and put orders to his army, وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ جُنُودُهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ وَٱلطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ ١٧ “And [one day] there were assembled before Suleymon his hosts of invisible beings, and of men, and of birds; and then they were led forth in orderly ranks.” (27:17).

8. Discipline in subjects Prophet Suleyman ( a.s ) demanded discipline from his subjects He would punish those who broke his rule without valid reasons This is exemplified in his dealing with the hoopoe in the following verse, وَتَفَقَّدَ ٱلطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِىَ لَآ أَرَى ٱلْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَآئِبِينَ ٢٠ One day˺ he inspected the birds, and wondered, “Why is it that I cannot see the hoopoe? Or could he be absent? لَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُۥ عَذَابًۭا شَدِيدًا أَوْ لَأَا۟ذْبَحَنَّهُۥٓ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّى بِسُلْطَـٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ ٢١ I will surely subject him to a severe punishment, or ˹even˺ slaughter him, unless he brings me a compelling excuse.”

9. Discipline at all levels of the organization The importance of discipline has been recognized by scholars of organizational excellence. An organization must uphold culture of discipline and orderliness at all levels – D iscipline and orderliness in hierarchy of the organization, Discipline is necessary for decision making, Discipline is needed in human relations and communications – This is t o achieve excellence.

10. 3- Created high motivation in workers to achieve the mission. He  trained subjects that were highly proactive  in their service of him. The Hoopoe offered information to Prophet Suleyman ( a.s ) which it gathered from a travel it took on its own accord. As a result, Prophet Suleyman ( a.s )  succeeded in bringing in Queen Balqis and her people to true religion, made them partners in  his prophetic mission and expanded his rule to Sheba (27:22-44). `Ifrit, a subject of Suleyman ( a.s ) from amongst the jinn, volunteered  to bring Balqis ’ throne to him  before her arrival to meet him (27:39), An Anonymous subject of Prophet Suleyman ( a.s ) took the initiative to offer a better solution (than the one offered by `Ifrit) (27:40).

11. Motivated members are a great asset Motivated members, ever willing to volunteer their services to fulfil a mission will be better than members who are passive and would work only when ordered. Motivated members were the result of Prophet Suleyman’s leadership qualities – He was open and ever willing to listen to good ideas from any of his subjects, regardless of their status This presents a good lesson for organizational excellence

12. 4- Adopting ways to excellence and promoting healthy competition There was a small difference of time in offers made by `Ifrit and the anonymous person to fulfill Prophet Suleyman’s orders for delivery of Queen’s throne Prophet Suleyman ( a.s )  cultivated a culture of excellence and healthy competition that even a small time and quality difference did not stop the anonymous person to rival `Ifrit’s solution. Leader must create an organizational culture that is constantly  seeking to produce the best outcomes. Its members must not be contented with greatness that they have achieved but continue to climb to a new level of greatness.

13. 5- Giving high value to knowledge and people of knowledge. Islam values knowledge because knowledge is a pillar of progress and excellence. Prophet Suleyman’s organization was rich with knowledge-based practices. I It recognized knowledge brought by a small bird like the hoopoe It had members who held great knowledge such as `Ifrit and its anonymous rival (27:39-40), Prophet Suleyman ( a.s ) was a leader who attained greatness because of his mastery of knowledge that allowed him to benefit from nature, garner animal’s potentials and control over jinn (27:17).

14. 6- Information and knowledge sharing. K nowledge management requires ability and openness to share information and knowledge, and this can be seen in Prophet Suleyman ( a.s ) ’s organizational practice.  The Hoopoe was free to share information with its master, Prophet Suleyman ( a.s ), on Queen Balqis and her kingdom without demand (27:22-6). `Ifrit and the anonymous person were quick to offer their ideas and ability to bring to Prophet Suleyman a.s  Queen Balqis ’ throne upon orders (27:28:40).

15. Style of openness to knowledge sharing Prophet Suleyman ( a.s ) ordered Queen Balqis ’ throne be brought to him . H e neither instructed them to execute his ideas nor proposed to them his idea for comment and improvement. He opened the door for ideas and suggestions to his subjects with an open question, قَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا ۟ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِى بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ ٣٨ Solomon asked, “O chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in ˹full˺ submission?” (27:38).

16. 7- Practicing  shura  (consultation) in decision making. Islam enjoins Muslim to practice it when making important decisions. C onsultation or  shura  must be a fundamental practice in organizations to achieve excellence. Prophet Suleyman(as) exemplified it by consulting his subjects with regards to Queen Balqis ’ throne (27:38). ق َالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا ۟ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِى بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ ٣٨ Prophet Muhammad (saw) always consulted his Companions on important issues such as; W here to establish his army’s camp before the Battle of Badr W hat to do with prisoners of war after the Battle of Badr W hether to confront the enemy from outside or inside Medina before the Battle of Uhud H ow to call people for prayers at the mosque.

17. 8- Magnanimity (Generous and forgiving) The Qur’an describes Suleyman a.s  as a magnanimous ruler. حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ وَادِ ٱلنَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌۭ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّمْلُ ٱدْخُلُوا ۟ مَسَـٰكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ ١٨ U pon  hearing an ant’s warning to its’ colony to run away so as not to be trampled by Suleyman’ army, he  took necessary measures to avoid causing destruction to the colony (27:18-9). Suleyman ( a.s )  also took the  information relayed to him by the hoopoe seriously (27:22-6). Suleyman ( a.s )  did not ignore or belittle both the ant and hoopoe despite their small size.

18. Magnanimity Suleyman (AS) was a great ruler and prophet. It did not make him dismissive towards `Ifrit, It was a jinn who was known for its evil nature, He allowed him to sit in his consultative council and he listened to `Ifrit’s suggestion قَالَ عِفْرِيتٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن تَقُومَ مِن مَّقَامِكَ ۖ وَإِنِّى عَلَيْهِ لَقَوِىٌّ أَمِينٌۭ 27:39 He did not execute `Ifrit’s suggestion because there was a better idea, not because it was from a jinn. قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُۥ عِلْمٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ 27:40

19. Magnanimity and thankfulness to Allah His magnanimity can also be seen in the following instance: فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُۥ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّى لِيَبْلُوَنِىٓ ءَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّۭ كَرِيمٌۭ ٤٠ And when he saw (the throne) it truly before him, he exclaimed: “This is [an outcome] of my Sustainer’s bounty, to test me as to whether I am grateful or ungrateful! However, he who is grateful [to Allah ] is but grateful for his own good; and he who is ungrate­ful [should know that], verily, my Sustainer is self-sufficient, most generous in giving!” (27:40). He did not attribute his success to his own effort. He dedicated it to God and to his parents.

20. 9- Rational and strategic thinking. He was angry upon hoopoe for disappearing without permission. It did not stop him from listening to information brought by the bird. He  chose to forgive the hoopoe as a reward for the valuable information that the bird provided . (27:20-7).   وَتَفَقَّدَ ٱلطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِىَ لَآ أَرَى ٱلْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَآئِبِينَ ٢٠ His rational mind can also be seen from his consultation with his subjects. He considered ideas based on merit, not based on person (27:38-40). قَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا ۟ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِى بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ ٣٨

21. Plan to win over kingdom of Sheba peacefully He did not mindlessly attack Queen Balqis’s kingdom, although he was more superior  and was confident of defeating her (27:37). ٱرْجِعْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّهُم بِجُنُودٍۢ لَّا قِبَلَ لَهُم بِهَا وَلَنُخْرِجَنَّهُم مِّنْهَآ أَذِلَّةًۭ وَهُمْ صَـٰغِرُونَ Instead, he carefully devised a plan to win over Queen Balqis without resorting to destructive war. (27:38) قَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا ۟ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِى بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِين َ Suleymon asked, “O chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in ˹full˺ submission?”

22. Rational thinking must take priority over herd mentality or just enthusiasm His rational mind made him open to anything that is good, regardless whether it came from a small or evil personnel. Being rational made him capable to put things at its right place. His move was based on strategic consideration, not out of impulse and emotion. A n organization must act and think rationally and strategically based on the right information and knowledge. This character must be cultivated as a deep-rooted culture within its leaders and members. To excel, an organization must stay far away from behaving in an emotional manner instead of  acting based on a herd mentality or  pure enthusiasm.

23. 10- Favoring a peaceful and harmonious solution to conflict. When Queen Bilquis’ delegation arrived, Prophet Suleyman ( a.s )  said, “Go thou back unto them [that have sent thee]! For, [God says:] ‘We shall most certainly come upon them with forces which they will never be able to withstand and shall most certainly cause them to be driven from that [land of theirs], despicable and humbled!’ ” (27:37) Suleyman a.s  was capable of waging war against Queen Bilquis's kingdom and defeating her army militarily, H e chose a non-military solution instead (27:38). This highlights his greatness and wisdom as a ruler and general and the noble character he possessed.

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