Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power -Abraham Lincoln
The abovementioned quote by Abe Lincoln portrays the reality of human beings when tested with power. When in position of power, man is expected to exercise it with wisdom and the understanding that he will be able to maintain order and bring improvements to the the present conditions of the organization or society in general. Nonetheless, for most, it proves to be a difficult challenge to stay true to the course and align oneself to the initial commitments and vision. This can be due to many factors including the defiance in dealing with other people and surroundings that eventually affected him as a person. Also, one can never deny that power can indeed intoxicate a person and influence one’s character. That is the reason why there are individuals who sometimes find it difficult to let go of the power that was once at their dispense. As the infamous Lord Acton, the British historian once claimed; power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The basis for the notion of man’s power in Islam is the understanding that for a human being, there are boundaries and limits to this power. We need to understand that the absolute power resides only in Allah the Almighty and when man exercises his power, he must do it with a clear conscience that he is accountable to Allah. His position of authority is none other than as a form of trust bestowed upon him which ultimately requires him to carry out the responsibility needed to fulfill that trust. A person with power who understands this real duty will employ his position to further enhance his moral character and strengthen his faith in the religion. Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
“And We appointed from among them leaders giving guidance under Our command so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our signs.” (Chapter 32: Verse 24)
Power in politics is one important dimension to look at because it involves the ability to clout or control the bahaviour of the people in a larger setting i.e society. The authority that comes alongside that power allows political leaders from all sides to assert influence and shape the political attitude of the general public. This call for the need for all political leaders to be responsible of the information that they disseminate because their position of power in whatever form either in political party leadership or state authority has a high degree of tendency to affect how society behaves. Here, it is vital to understand the relation between power, politics and trust.
In Islam, politics is based on three fundamental principles: Tawhid (Oneness of God), Risalah (prophethood) and Khalifah (vicegerency). Tawhid implies that Allah is the sole, ultimate Creator and Sustainer of the universe and everything that exists within it. The channel through which the law of Allah is received is known as risalah, which comes from the Quran, as well as the authoritative interpretation and exemplification of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) as the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad has provided us with the best model on how we should live our lives in this world by implementing the law and providing necessary details wherever required. This includes the model of his leadership of Madinah which was recognized and accepted by people of all religions. Khalifah means that man is the representative of Allah the Almighty on this earth. By virtue of the powers delegated to him, he is required to preserve the trust and be responsible over his actions in this world within the limits prescribed by God. This inter-relatedness between the concept of trust and vicegerency is important as it aims to promote and enhance the qualities of goodness and virtue, which should thrive among mankind. This also comes with the need to stifle all forms of exploitation, immorality, greed and injustice.
Islam emphasizes that the principles of morality are to be observed at all costs and in all aspects of life, despite of its mundane nature. Hence, Islam lays down a permanent requisite for the state and those with power to base its politics on wisdom, justice, truth and integrity. Under no conditions should injustice, deceit and hostility be permitted or tolerated for the sake of political expediency or power race. Truth, honesty and goodness must be accentuated in all aspects of the political life, including the relations between leaders and the people or between nations.
To conclude, we must realize that power and authority are the instruments with which justice is established and virtues promoted among mankind. The responsibilities that come with power should be viewed as religious obligations. With this understanding in place, power must fundamentally be regarded as a form of trust conferred by God to be exercised justly and morally to serve the purpose of our existence as vicegerents of the one and only God.