In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, who is unique in His Majesty, having no partner or helper. He sent down His Book with the truth and preserved it from the hands of those who would tamper with it. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his pure family, and his noble, illustrious companions—those whom Allah chose and through whom He granted victory to Islam and the Muslims. He made love for them a core part of the religion and hatred for them a sign of the hypocrites. To proceed:
Dear brothers and sisters! Know that, leadership is a sacred trust and a form of stewardship, rather than a position of power or privilege. In Islam, Muslims are encouraged to pray for their leaders, as the righteousness of a leader directly impacts the well-being of the entire nation.
No doubt, leadership is a sacred trust and amanah, not a privilege. As Nigerian Muslims, we must pray and hope for leaders with fear of Allah who act with justice, rather than cursing them. True leadership, modeled by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), is about service, humility, and accountability.
Truly, every leader is a shepherd responsible for their flock. Pray that Nigerian leaders recognise their accountability to Allah, not just men.
Dear servants of Allah! Instead of hate speech, the teaching of Sunnah is to pray for guidance for leaders. The best leaders are those we love and who pray for us, and whom we pray for.
Leadership is a responsibility, not a right to exploit. We must hope for leaders who possess wisdom and integrity.
Islam demands fairness, regardless of religion, ethnicity, tribe or region. We must pray for a Nigeria where leaders treat all citizens with dignity.
Difficult times are tests, and hope is an act of worship. We must work and struggle for change while trusting Allah’s promise of relief.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) pray for the Leaders, where he said:
“O Allah! Give them the zeal to overcome daunting challenges, instill in them Your fear… protect our country, bless it, and guide our leaders toward justice.”
Respected brothers and sisters! Throughout Islamic history, visionary and righteous leadership has played a critical role in uniting the Ummah, spreading justice, and achieving prosperity. Guided by the principles of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, great leaders in Islam emulate our Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the Rightly Guided Caliphs and others, which in turn shaped the services they rendered the communities; they were rooted in justice, compassion, and servitude to Allah. Today, Nigeria faces several challenges, making it imperative for us to seek inspiration from the leadership of the past to guide the current and future generations.
The leadership qualities of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) were unparalleled. He combined justice with mercy, strength with compassion, and visionary planning with reliance on Allah.
For example, the Prophet Muhammad’s ability to unite the warring tribes of Arabia and establish a just society in Madinah is a shining example of how strong and good leadership can build unity despite how chaotic the situation may seem, and this is what Nigerians need right now!
To thrive, we need to bring forth our lost heritage – the strength in good leadership, and it is the responsibility of each one of us as an Ummah, to learn and be aware of what makes GREAT LEADERS as we know from our predecessors, in accordance with Qur’an and Sunnah.
Dear brothers and sisters! Justice is the cornerstone of a good leader, ensuring fairness to everyone regardless of religion, race, tribe, region, creed or social status. The early Muslim leaders, including Caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him), were known for their strong sense of justice and accountability. Umar would personally investigate the conditions of his people and ensure that no one was oppressed under his rule. He famously said:
“Even if a mule were to stumble on the road in Iraq, I would fear that Allah would hold me accountable for neglecting it.”
Trustworthiness or Amanah in Leadership refers to fulfilling responsibilities with integrity, honesty, and sincerity. In any good leadership, trust is not merely a social duty but a divine obligation. Good leaders are entrusted with the welfare of their people and will be held accountable before Allah on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Every one of you is a shepherd, and every one of you is answerable with regard to his flock…” [Al-Bukhari]
Responsible leadership emphasises wisdom and consultation as fundamental traits for just and effective governance. These principles ensure that leaders make informed, ethical, and balanced decisions, avoiding authoritarianism. Wisdom refers to applying knowledge with insight, while consultation is a system where decisions are reached through mutual consultation with others. The Qur’an highlights the importance of wisdom and consultation in governance. Allah Almighty says:
“… and consult them in matters. Then, when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.” [Surah Al-Imran:159]
Compassion, mercy and service to others are fundamental values that define good leadership. Good Leaders are expected to lead not with arrogance or tyranny, but with self-restrain, empathy, kindness, and selflessness. A Prophetic Hadith says:
“The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the one who controls himself while in anger.” [Al-Bukhari]
These traits ensure that leaders place the needs of the people above personal ambitions and govern with justice. The noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was himself an epitome of mercy from the heavens, Allah the Most High says:
“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” [Surah Al-anbiyaah:107]
Respected servants of Allah! No doubt, today, the absence of great leaders who are righteous and prioritise the needs of the Ummah over their personal gain is a significant reason for the crises in the Ummah.
The absence of unity among citizens leads to fragmentation and weakness, making it difficult to address challenges collectively.
Insecurity, widespread poverty, lack of education, and unemployment reflect a failure of leadership to ensure justice and equal opportunities.
A gap between religious teachings and societal practices has led to a decline in moral values, eroding trust within communities.
Fellow Nigerians! Know that, today, there is a pressing need for good leaders who embody the qualities of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs—leaders who are just, humble, and Allah-conscious.
A visionary leader will promote unity, rise above nationalistic interests, and foster cooperation among the citizens.
A sincere leader will ensure the rule of law and eradicate corruption, empowering the people to thrive.
We need the leaders who prioritise education and spiritual well-being, and who will raise a generation of people who excel in both faith and worldly knowledge.
Dear brothers and sisters! History offers profound lessons on leadership, providing timeless models through the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs. As the Ummah grapples with political, economic, and social challenges, the need for just, compassionate, and visionary leaders is greater than ever. By following the principles laid down in the Qur’an and Sunnah, and by drawing inspiration from great Islamic leaders, the Ummah can once again rise to prominence—fulfilling the responsibility of being witnesses over humanity. The future of the Ummah rests on our ability to nurture great leaders with faith, wisdom, and integrity—leaders who can guide with justice, humility, and service to Allah and His creation.
Ya Allah, show us the truth as truth and grant us the strength to follow it, and show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the strength to avoid it, and do not let it become confused for us lest we go astray.
Ya Allah, make us guides who are themselves guided, not those who are lost or leading others astray. Make us at peace with Your allies and at war with Your enemies; we love for Your sake those who love You, and we take as enemies for Your sake those who oppose You.
Ya Allah, grant us security in our homelands, rectify our leaders and those in authority over us, and protect us from the evil of the wicked and the plots of the corrupt.
Ya Allah, whoever intends harm toward our faith or our security, keep them occupied with their own troubles and turn their plots back against them.
Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire, ameen Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum!
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.
This Jumu’ah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Shawwal 22, 1447 AH (April 10, 2026).
