Management in Islam is adequately crucial in all levels of the individual and the social life. The faith was given to humans as a responsibility to bear the consequences that al-Qur’ān called Amānah.
It was first shown to all heavens that are the broadest creation of Allah, but they refused to accept it. Later the Amānah was shown to the universe, which is the largest, and then to the mountain, which is the strongest.
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Still, all of them refused to bear the responsibility except human being who is the weakest and smallest of all. Yet, he undertook the mission because only he can manage it. Management is a gift to human beings; without it, humans cannot be completed.
{We offered the Trust to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains, yet they refused to undertake it and were afraid of it; mankind undertook it- they have always been inept and foolish.} (Al-Ahzab 33:72)
Our story of creation was another example of being responsible because when Allah wanted to create Adam, instantly, the angels expressed their puzzlement due to the previous output of Jinn, which was exposed to bloodshed and damage in the universe.
The angels responded to Allah by saying that ‘we are good enough for you to praise you and worship you at all the time’.
Nevertheless, Allah replied to them by saying that ‘I know what you do not know’. Allah did not want to create anything without a purpose. He used the word ‘Khalīfah’, which was the real purpose of creating man, and it was unknown to angels. The job of vicegerent is what every human being is born with and carries around while he lives in this universe.
{[Prophet], when your Lord told the angels, ‘I am putting a successor on earth,’ they said, ‘How can You put someone there who will cause damage and bloodshed, when we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your holiness?’ however, He said, ‘I know things you do not.’ } (2:30)
Prophets and Management
Next, in the event of the great flood, Allah ordered the Prophet Nuh to pick a pair of every living creature known to him in this universe. Allah can create anything in less than a second as the word ‘kun’ refers to His Will and His Creation. However, Allah has given the responsibility to humankind to manage what they have. Therefore, he made Prophet Nūḥ build the arc and manage all the creatures for life after the great flood.
{When Our command came, and water gushed up out of the earth, We said, ‘Place on board this Ark a pair of each species, and your own family- except those against whom the sentence has already been passed- and those who have believed,’ though only a few believed with him.} (Hud 11:40)
We can keep on looking into every life of the prophets that they’ve been given task and asked to manage it properly i.e. Prophet Ibrāhīm and his father, Prophet Zakariyyah and Maryam, Prophet Yaʿqūb and his children with Prophet Yūsuf, Prophet Mūsā and his brother Prophet Hārūn, Prophet Sulaymān and Jinns, Prophet ʿĪsā and his disciples, etc.
Managing a New Muslim Community
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was an exemplary module with excellent management skills. The Prophet made Hijrah with his companions and built an Islamic city at Yathrib (later was called as Medina of the Prophet) by establishing a mosque for worship and a market for business transactions. The concept of brotherhood was an excellent initiative for social partnership in business and society.
‘The Prophet established a bond of brotherhood between ʿAbdur Raḥmān bin ʿAwf and Saʿd bin Rabīʿah. likewise, formed a pact of brotherhood between Ibn Masʿūd and al-Zubayr.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari 2293, Book 39, Hadith 4 / Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 568, Book 30, Hadith 31)
The Medina companions (Anṣār) came forward deliberately to share their wealth to establish some startups for Mecca’s emigrated companions. This strategy’s outcome was astounding to everyone because ʿAbdur Raḥmān bin ʿAwf, who was utterly inadequate, became the wealthiest businessman of that period, and Ibn Masʿūd, a slave, became the great scholar of Islam.
During the pre-war period, the Prophet (PBUH) used to engage with many plans and strategies until the enemies started praising him for the management skills that he possessed. The Prophet was the good manager during the post-war period to distribute the war spoils and booties to the right hands and neediest. The Prophet precisely well-maintained the collection of zakat and its distribution.
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