THE HUMAN CHARACTER

Ibn Abidin al-Shami (1784–1836), a prominent religious scholar, wrote that no one can attain leadership unless they have some admirers who praise them and some enemies who criticize them. (Hashiyat Ibn Abidin, Vol. 1, p. 24.)

The truth is that the world is a place of testing. Every event that happens here naturally involves learning and growth. The same is true for someone who rises to a leadership role. When a genuine person, by God’s grace, steps into leadership, they become a test of character for the entire society.

Those who seek the truth, who have a deep desire to find truth, and who see truth as the highest priority—even above themselves—are free from psychological burdens. They accept the emerging leader as the voice of their hearts. Among these people, the leader becomes a beloved figure. They sincerely recognize him, pray for him, and dedicate their best words and feelings to him.

In contrast, the situation is different for those who live in their own arrogance, who do not seek the truth but rather follow their own desires. When such people see someone rising, they immediately fall into jealousy. They begin to feel that the rise of this person is equivalent to their own decline. These people burn with the fire of envy. They become committed to defaming the emerging individual. They hurl false accusations against him. They are ready to stoop to any low act within their power to bring him down. Every person of leadership is a test. In this test, one type of people succeed, while the other type fails.