Putting capable and good leaders in charge of society is not an option but a requirement for democracy as well as for faith groups who wish to uphold truth and justice in the world. The Qur’an is very emphatic that community leaders should be carefully selected and promoted, truth has to be protected against onslaught of falsehood and there needs to be collective responsibility for truth and justice exercised with real patience and genuine empathy. One can derive some of these broad and practical guidelines from verses such as these:
4:58 – God commands that you give trust (of leadership) to those worthy of it, and when you judge among people, do so with justice and equity.
42:37-38 (be like those) who shun great sins and indecency (injustice) and whenever they are angry, they forgive; who respond the God and devote themselves and whose affairs are decided based on mutual consultation; who spend their resources (for the benefit of others); who defend themselves when great injustice fall on them.
13:11 – God does not change the condition of a community until they themselves change their conditions (individually and collectively).
8:53 – God does not change the favor He conferred to a community until they change their condition (thereby become unworthy).
4:148 – God does not love the public utterance of hateful speech, except by those who have been subjected to injustice.
103: 2-3 – Human beings are in a state of constant loss, except those who believe and do good. They encourage and exercise truthfulness and patience (in their private and public conducts).
