Some of you may know the book “The 100 ranking of the most influential Persons in history”, written by Michael Hart. In his book Michael Hart, an American, a Christian and a University professor, ranked popular people from history according to their importance to mankind, based on their achievements. No surprise, Ranked number one, the most important person in the history of all mankind is the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh); but just a few people know that there is another Muslim within the top 100. Umar Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), the second caliph of the Muslim Ummah, is also named one of the “top performers” of mankind, as we would say today! He was the only Muslim besides the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to be chosen as one of the most influential people of all times and he was chosen since he is considered by many management scholars as the founding father of modern administration and management. Now, this comes as a surprise. Not one of the gurus of the modern business world was chosen, but a companion of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) as the founding father of modern management. Umar Al Kattab shaped the Islamic Empire that was about to evolve. Under his rule Iraq and Persia were conquered as well as Egypt and other parts of North Africa. Syria, Palestine and Lebanon were included into the Empire; Jerusalem was conquered and experienced a long lasting period of religious tolerance! He ordered the building of new cities like Al-Kufa and Al-Basra, which are located in nowadays Iraq. The organization of the Islamic Empire into states and provinces was done according to his orders. It is important to know that these states and provinces still exist today in pretty much the same boundaries even after 1400 years. Umar Al Khattab established new institutions such as police, prisons, and the office of complaints, where complaints from the public were received and investigated. He introduced an independent tax collection agency, a postal service and adopted a new calendar, staring from the date of Hijra, the one we still use today in the Muslim world. That is a long list and one would think that he must have reigned for a hundred years to achieve all this, but as a matter of fact he was caliph for only 10 years! How can a single person accomplish all this within just 10 years? What is the secret behind his success? Let's listen to his Khutbah he gave in Madina, after the conquest of Jerusalem: l “O you people, I counsel you to read the Qur'an. l Try to understand it and ponder over it. l Accept the teachings of the Qur'an. Then practice what the Qur'an teaches. l The Qur'an is not theoretical; it is a practical code of life. l The Qur'an does not bring you the message of the Hereafter only; it is primarily intended to guide you in this life. l Mold your life in accordance with the teachings of Islam for that is the way of your well-being. l By following any other way you will be inviting destruction. l “Fear Allah and whatever you want seek from Him. l All men are equal. l Do not flatter those in authority. l Do not seek favors from others. By such acts you demean yourself. l And remember that you will get only that is ordained for you, and no one can give you anything against the will of God. l Then why seek things from others over which they have no control? Only supplicate God for He alone is the sovereign. l “And speak the truth. Do not hesitate to say what you consider to be the truth. Say what you feel. Let your conscience be your guide. l Let your intentions be good, for verily God is aware of your intentions. l In your deeds your intentions count. l Fear God, and fear no one else. l Why fear others when you know that whatever sustenance ordained for you by God you will get under all circumstances? l And again why fear when you know that death is ordained by God alone and will come only when He wills? l “Allah has for the time being made me your ruler. But I am one of you. No special privileges belong to ruler. I have some responsibilities to discharge, and in this I seek your cooperation. l Government is a sacred trust, and it is my endeavor not to betray the trust in any way. l For the fulfillment of the trust I have to be a watchman. l I have to be strict. l I have to enforce discipline. l I have to run the administration not on the basis of personal favors; l I have to run it in public interest and for promoting the public good. l For this we have the guidance in the Book of God. l Whatever orders I issue in the course of day to day administration have to conform to the Qur'an. l God has favored us with Islam. He sent to us His Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh). l He has chosen us for a mission. Let us fulfill that mission. That mission is the promotion of Islam. l In Islam lies our safety; if we fail we are doomed.” Not only Umar Al Khatab but also the first Muslims were following these very simple rules, based on the teachings of Islam, and it was the secret behind the success of the first Muslims, the best generation ever raised for mankind. Actions based on Taqwa, on fear of Allah and on the expectation of the reward of Allah! Management and leadership based on the commands of Allah (s.t.) and the best interest of society, leadership executed in the full knowledge that he is responsible to Allah (s.t.)! As a Muslim I cannot look up to one of these modern tycoons, whose actions are based on acquiring more and more, on personal profit maximization, but I have to look up to Umar Al Khattab as the true raw model for managers, whose actions were based on seeking the pleasure of Allah by serving the community! For him (r.) profit maximization was also the driving force for his actions, but his profit was with Allah! __
