2. The First Leader
Nosociety,atanytimeorplace,canstandfreeandliberatedwithouta
leader.Wealsoknowthatifarulerisdedicatedtothewellbeingofthe
society,thenhemuststrivetoprotectitandhemustalsotakeintocon-
sideration the present as well as the future of that society.
Itisbecauseofthisnecessitythat rulers,even duringshortjourneys,
appointadeputy.Thisisevidentineverycaseofleadership.Aheadof
thefamily,aprincipalorheadmasteroftheschool,aforemaninafact-
ory,allputadeputyintheirplacefortheabsence ofevenafewhours.
This matter is so obvious that it needs no proof.
ThegreatProphetofIslam,who wastheleaderoftheIslamicworld,
observedthisveryprinciple.Wherever thelightof Islamshoneforthe
firsttime, he always appointedanadministrator for thatplace to look
afteritsaffairs.Whenhesentarmiesforjihad,heappointedacommand-
er,andsometimesappointedseveralpersonsasdeputycommandersso
thatifonewaskilled,thearmywouldnotbeleftwithoutacommander.
ThusweknowofpersonswhomtheProphetappointedashisdeputies
andrepresentativeswheneverhetraveledfromMedina,sothatMedina
should not be without a leader during his absence.
The Shi‘asaskhow, withthisevidence,itisconsistent withthe wis-
domoftheProphet thatheshoulddie withoutappointingasuccessor.
Which of the following possibilities seems reasonable:
WastheIslamicsociety,afterthedeathoftheProphet,notinneedofa
leader again?
OrdidtheProphetofIslamattachnoimportancetotheMuslimcom-
munity after he had gone?
Or were concerns and prudence something he could do nothing
about?
Or did he not know who was the worthiest successor?
Which of these possibilities seems more reasonable?
Withthe quality of leadership andthe concern forthe affairs of the
peoplewhichweseeintheProphetofIslam,howcouldhehavenotgiv-
en any guidance or instruction on this vital matter of the Muslims'
leadership?