Upload
aisha
View
152
Download
3
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Moral Authority
So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they
would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when
you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].
Al-i-Imran:159
Moral authority is primary greatness (character strengths); formal authority is
secondary greatness (position, wealth, talent, reputation, popularity). The
interesting thing about Moral authority is what a paradox it is. The dictionary
discusses authority in terms of command, control, power, sway, rule, supremacy,
domination, dominion, strength, might. But the antonym is civility, servitude, weakness,
follower. Moral authority is the gaining of influence through following principles.
Moral dominion is achieved through servanthood, service, and contribution.
Power and moral supremacy emerge from humility, where the greatest becomes the servant of all. Moral authority or primary greatness is
achieved through sacrifice.
There are times of great chaos, confusion and survival when the strong hand of formal authority
needs to be used to get things back on track, to a new level of order and
stability or to a new vision. However, in most cases when
people use their formal authority early on, their moral authority will be
lessened.
Remember that when you borrow strength from position, you build weakness in three
places:
• in self, because you are not developing moral authority.
• in the other, because they become codependent with your use of formal authority
• in the quality of the relationship, because authentic openness and trust never develops.
Jazak Allah Khair