The Event of Ghadir & Management

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ 5:55

In this short synopsis, I will try to share my understanding of Ghadir through the lens of management. As we all know, the foundation of modern management involving the efficient functioning of an organization depends on the following fragments,

1. SOP – Standard operating procedure, it is a set of step-by-step instructions to help workers achieve efficiency, quality output while reducing miscommunication and failure.

2. Operation – This involves the performance of practical work with the help of SOP.

3. Leader – One who leads the people through the journey of operation while simplifying and explaining the SOP to arrive at the 4th station

4. Objective – The desired end-result that the organization has aimed at and assigned to its workers.

Now, if we look at Islam, Allah in the Quran affirms that he has perfected the religion of Prophet Mohammad (P) and chosen Islam as the only acceptable religion. Here the perfection symbolizes Islam as the only contemporary religion that provides a comprehensive plan to achieve the purpose of life in this world and hereafter, which is an objective and follows stage 4 of modern management.

When we take the mystical approach, we notice the ethos of Islam also has 4 core fragments,

1. Sharia- The Islamic Law as prescribed by Quran and the Tradition

2. Tariqa - Literally means the path or the way towards the nearness of Allah or the path of wayfaring.

3. Wilayah – A leader, friend who would guide his nation towards success

4. Haqiqa- Achieving the ultimate purpose of life, closeness to Almighty Allah or submitting to the will of God.

In both cases, we recognize the importance of legitimate Leader / Wali, who is responsible for leading the path of success, "the path upon whom Allah has bestowed his favour, and not of those who have evoked his anger or of those who are astray." 1:7

As we study the primordial nature of humans, we concede that no group of humans can continue to survive without a leader. Also, the path is undeviatingly linked to the leader; it is the leader who either guides towards success or misguides towards failure. Islam being a comprehensive religion, could not have left this critical issue unattended.

Quran states; "Your friend /Wali can be only Allah and His messenger and those who believe, who establish worship and pay the poor-due while bowing down (in prayer)," both Shiite and Sunni commentators agree that this verse was revealed concerning Ali ibn Abi Talib (P). Also, on the eve of the Ghadir, Allah while emphasizing the importance of the message of Ghadir, i.e. the leadership of Imam Ali (P), perfected the religion of Islam and saved it from the harm of infidels and hypocrites until the day of Judgement, refer Surah 5 verses 67,3. What could be the relation between leadership and perfection or protection of Islam, one may wonder? - reread the article.

Thus, based on the argument we understand for any group or organization to succeed, it is pivotal to have a leader who is capable of guiding his people through the turmoil towards prosperity.

In Islam, since Allah has taken care of safeguarding Quran and the ultimate reality until the day of Judgement, he certainly took care of the leadership in absentia of Prophet. He did not leave it to the people to decide- which would be illogical as people can easily influence the leadership and manipulate the essence of religion.

While we embrace the events of Ghadir, it is essential to understand the concept of leadership and recognize a proficient leader for the ultimate success of Muslims- one who would unite the Muslims and pave the way for Qaim (P).

Danish Ali Kazmi