الرِّئاسَة
LEADERSHIP
ذَمُّ الرِّئاسَةِ / The Censure of
[the Love of] Leadership
1ـ الإمامُ الباقرُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): لا تَطلُبَنَّ أن تكونَ رَأسا فتكونَ ذَ نَبا.
1– Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'Do not ever desire to be a leader for in doing so you will only be a follower
[in desiring what everybody else desires for (ed.)].’
[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 338, no. 1]
2ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إيّاكُم وهؤلاءِ الرؤساءَ الذينَ يَتَرأّسُونَ ، فَوَاللّهِ ما خَفَقَتِ النِّعالُ خَلفَ رَجُلٍ إلّا هَلَكَ وأهلَكَ.
2– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Beware of those leaders who are taking up the reins of leadership, for by Allah, no sooner does the sound of footsteps from behind them
[following them] reach their ears than they themselves perish and destroy others along with them.’
[al-Kafi, p. 297, no. 3]
الرِّئاسَة
LEADERSHIP
3ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن طَلَبَ الرئاسةَ هَلَكَ.
3– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘One who seeks after leadership perishes.’
[al-Kafi, no. 2]
4ـ الإمامُ الرِّضا (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ـ بعد ما ذَكَرَ الإمامُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) رجُلاً وقالَ: إنَّهُ يُحِبُّ الرئاسـةَ ـ: ما ذِئبانِ ضارِيانِ في غَنَمٍ قد تَفَرَّقَ رِعاؤها بِأضَرَّ في دِينِ المُسلمِ مِنَ الرئاسةِ.
4– Imam al-Rida (AS) said with reference to someone, ‘Indeed he loves leadership’, and then said, ‘Two rapacious wolves hunting a lamb that has been separated from its shepherd and herd is not nearly as hazardous and perilous as seeking after leadership is to the faith of a Muslim.’
[al-Kafi, no. 1]
آلَةُ الرِّئاسَةِ / The Tool Required for Leadership
5ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): آلَةُ الرئاسةِ سَعَةُالصَّدرِ .
5– Imam Ali (AS) said, 'The tool required for leadership is magnanimity
[lit. 'an open heart'].’
[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 176]
6ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن جادَ سادَ ، ومَن كَثُرَ مالُهُ رَأسَ.
6– Imam Ali (AS) said, 'He who is generous prevails and rules
[rightfully], whilst he who possesses great wealth assumes the reins of leadership for himself.’
[Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 96]
7ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): طَلَبتُ الرئاسَةَ فَوَجَدتُها في النَّصيحَةِ لِعِبادِ اللّهِ.
7– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'I sought for leadership and found it in giving good counsel to Allah's servants.’
[Mustadrak al-Wasail, v. 12, p. 173, no. 13810]