Leaders must be fair and trustworthy
Islam is a perfect religion, therefore everything must be based on the guidance and teachings of Islam, one of which in choosing a leader must be honest and trustworthy.
Islam requires a leader to be fair and who can actually carry out the mandate, because he will present policies that are always in favor of conscience and in harmony with the good for the public interest.
Holding the position as a leader, means that there is a mandate that must be accounted for. In essence, in Islam leadership is a mandate, a trust from Allah given to His servants to bring goodness, live a prosperous and blessed life. If the leader is not based on an attitude of trust, then what happens is the abuse of power for personal gain.
The most identical thing about corrupt behavior for the general public is the emphasis on abuse of power or public office for personal gain. Obviously, corruption is a real form of betrayal.
From these cases it is clear that he has abused his position and authority for personal gain. What makes it even more sad is that he did it to appoint people’s representatives who would essentially fight for the people’s welfare. If positions can be traded, surely the results will affect the performance of the bureaucracy, the lack of transparency in performance, the creation of a consumptive and hedonistic ideology among the authorities. Again, it is the people who are harmed by this unjust and trustworthy leader. Why? Do not be surprised if development is lagging behind, the quality of education is low, employment/business opportunities are difficult to obtain, crime is increasing, the environment is damaged, health services are complicated, and there are many other consequences caused by Unfair and Trustworthy Leaders.
Is it that difficult to hold the trust, carry out the trust and obligations that are pinned to a leader?
As a human being who is always exposed to the temptations of worldly desires, who is not tempted by money and the opportunity to gain money in personal pockets? if it is not based on faith, then we will be easily tempted and swayed to take actions that are prohibited by Islam, be it on a small scale or even large in scope that can harm the state. In the view of Islam, corruption is included in the category of Al Ghasysy (fraud) and/or al-Ghulul (embezzlement). This means that corruption is an unlawful act, a major sin, because it is the same as eating stolen property for personal gain.
One of the verses of the Qur’an mentions prohibiting corrupt behavior which is the same as betraying a mandate, as explained in the Qur’an Surah al-Anfal verse 27, the point is that you do not betray Allah, the Prophet, and the entrusted mandate.
The responsibility of a leader is much greater than the others, because the responsibility of the leader is the world and the hereafter. Leadership in the view of the Qur’an is not just a social contract, between leaders and their people, but is an agreement with Allah SWT. Swear in the name of God Almighty, Allah SWT.
Islam condemns this act because the leader is the representative of God on this earth (kholifah fil ard) where he must protect and protect his people. Good leaders get respect and a high position in the sight of Allah. On the other hand, a bad leader will be cursed and cursed by Allah.
For dishonest leaders, worldly punishments will of course be carried out according to the laws established (by humans), but in Islam the perpetrators of corruption will also be punished with the hereafter. Remember that there will be another life after we die. There is a reckoning in the afterlife. There is no mercy for those who have harmed the public interest and also the state.
Even in Islamic law, according to Dr. H. Harun al-Rasyid in his book Fiqh of Corruption 48, it is agreed that the most appropriate law is the law of ta’zir, where the judge will determine its implementation specifically starting from whipping, imprisonment, exile, confiscation of assets, fines, warnings, advice, publication to the death penalty if deemed to have committed repeated corruption.
The teachings of Islam certainly want to bring each of its followers to live happily, always get blessings, be safe in this world and the hereafter, this can be done by doing things that are beneficial to others and themselves.
In Islamic law, it also teaches that we as adherents must equip ourselves with strong signs to be able to control ourselves, limit deviant behavior and collect wealth in a lawful way.
God is all-seeing, all-knowing and all-powerful. So, in carrying out this life, we should do good deeds, including carrying out the mandate given, staying in the way of Allah so that we are safe in this world and the hereafter because whatever we do we will certainly be accountable to Him.
May all of our leaders always keep the mandate that has been given to him.
