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Ashoura/Ashura:LessonsofLeadership

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Ashura: Lessons of Leadership

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Abu Productive

December 16

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Aday of victory is remembered today. Victory of Truth against Falesehood, of the Weak against the Strong,
of those who are with Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) against those who are with Shaytaan. On this
Ashuraday, the 10th of Muharram, Prophet Musa Moses (Peace be upon him) was saved from Pharaoh.
This was nothing short of a miracle, to the extent that the people of Musa could hardly believe it until Allah
(Subhanahu Wa Taala) made the body of Pharaoh reach the shores and they confirmed he was dead.
I want to pick one element of this story which I believe is a key lesson for all of us to learn from, and that
is the certainty of Musa (Peace be upon him) in the victory of Allah.
Imagine this scenario: Musa

and his people (at least 1000 people) with women and children are running

away from certain death from the biggest oppressor of their time, and hes running with them towards the
sea. His people are asking him where are you taking us Musa?! Why arent we going north towards

Palestine and Syria? Musa

replies, This is what Ive been commanded. They reach the sea and its a

dead end. They can neither advance nor can they retreat or change direction. To make matters worse, they
see the massive army of Pharaoh filling the horizon and ready to charge!
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Imagine youre Musa

at that time; thousands of people crying out at your feet Musa! Musa! Where have

you taken us?! They are going to kill us! Women and children crying, what would you say? How would you
respond? just imagine those moments and put yourself in that situation. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala)
described this situation in the Quran, He said:

And when the two hosts saw each other, the companions of Musa (Moses) said: We are sure to be
overtaken. (Quran, Ash-Shuara, Chapter 26, Verse 61)
But how did Musa

respond?

[Musa (Moses)] said: Nay, verily with me is my Lord. He will guide me. (Quran, Ash-Shuara, Chapter 26,
Verse 62)

Immediately after this proclamation of certainty, what happens?

Then We revealed to Musa (Moses) (saying): Strike the sea with your stick. And it parted, and each
separate part (of that sea water) became like huge mountain.
Then We brought near the others [Firauns (Pharaoh) party] to that place.
and We saved Musa (Moses) and all those with him.
Then We drowned the others. (Quran, Ash-Shuara Chapter 26, Verses 63-66)
One mans certainty of His Lords victory saved the thousands of doubters who are with him from certain
death. Theres an important leadership lesson here from an individual perspective as well as Ummah
perspective: From an individual perspective, and if youre a leader, the lesson above show that if you believe
in something, and youre acting out of true certainty that itll help reach you and your organisation to the
promised land then you should stand firm against the doubts of the doubters and proceed. Leadership
takes courage, and it takes a leap of faith to step into the unknown, but it has to be done otherwise you face
the end of your organisation or team. This is not to say that you shouldnt listen to your team members or
that you should cross every dangerous terriorty, but this says that if youve done your research, you can see
where youre going, and as a Muslim youve prayed istikhara, made dua, and have sincere intentions than
have that certainty. Theres nothing like indecision and doubt that kills a leader and kills an organisation.
From an Ummah perspective, the lessons of this day, and perhaps the reason why Prophet Mohammed
(Peace be upon him) asked us to fast this day in order to contemplate this lesson is that we should be sure of
Allahs victory for this Ummah, and we should be optimistic against all odds. A ProductiveMuslim never
quits and he/she never gives up, he doesnt listen to the 1000s of media channels that depress you and
tell you how weak the Muslim Ummah is but he/she looks for signs of hope and inspiration and firmly
believes that verily with me is my Lord. He will guide me.

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About Abu Productive

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Currently, he's authoring a book on Islam & Productivity which will be released in the 2nd
half of 2015 (click here to learn more about the book)

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Sarfaraz
December 17, 2010 at 11:20 am

a very interesting lesson for us Muslims.

Reply

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