Rulership Vs Leadership: What Does Bahá'u'lláh Say?

(Image from justicelove.com)

The question of rulership versus leadership is not really a new one. This question has been addressed by Bahá'u'lláh (the Prophet founder of the Baha’i Faith) in a very profound yet practical way in the early 19th Century.

There are of course other questions such as blind justice versus compassionate justice… the place of love and collective responsibility in leadership among many more.

Reflecting on the just concluded elections in Kenya, I stumbled upon some of the writings from Bahá'u'lláh that speak so much to today’s dilemma not only in Kenya but to the entire human race.

As humans (and let’s actually narrow it down to Kenyans), we are really failing in our understanding of the purpose of the electoral process and its station according to God’s Divine rule.

As a people we cherish mediocrity. We don’t actually see or value excellence; although we are pretty good at vocalizing our need for excellence. We just pick on people to lead us based solely on how rich they are/ seem to be or better still their tribal affiliations or proximity. This is how I view the current electoral process: Imagine that you are the father of a household and you actually want to appoint someone to lead, or take charge of a certain element in the household. But you are far away. Unreachable and no one actually knows your desires. So you allow for a democratic process to take place. You describe the qualities of the ideal person for this position. Unfortunately, your household doesn’t listen to you well and end up choosing a mediocre for the position of leadership and end up even giving that person so much power closer to you as the father of the household. This person/group of people dispose of the lives of others as they wish. They terrorize each other and trample upon the very people who put them there; the weak, the poor and humble are swayed around like puppets. Their emotions are played with at the call of he/she who claims to be ‘eloquent enough to lead’. All that comes out of it all is chaos, division and discordance. What you end up getting is a house on fire.

Enter Bahá'u'lláh

Context: The Bahá'í Faith was founded by Bahá'u'lláh, Who was born into a noble family in Persia in 1817. The world in which He lived was largely ruled by hereditary monarchs, who wielded the power of life and death over their subjects.*

In 1863 Bahá'u'lláh announced His message of world unity. During the following years He wrote specifically to the kings, emperors and rulers of the time, pointing out the need for a world peace conference to settle boundaries and to limit arms. He put forward the principle of collective security by stating:

"Should any one among you take up arms against another, rise ye all against him, for this is naught but manifest justice."

He also advised them to rule with justice and to look after the poor, and He warned them of the consequences if they did not do this:

"If ye pay no heed ... Divine chastisement shall assail you from every direction, and the sentence of His justice shall be pronounced against you."

They all rejected His message out of hand, apart from Queen Victoria, who is reported to have remarked that, "If this is of God, it will endure; if not, it can do no harm".

Twenty years later Bahá'u'lláh wrote:

"From two ranks among men power hath been seized: kings and ecclesiastics".

Since then most monarchies have indeed disappeared and been replaced by elected governments. Certainly the ones who received letters from Bahá'u'lláh have all now gone, except for the British throne. The power and influence of the priesthood in the various religions has also declined noticeably.*

Hereditary Rule

Monarchy has traditionally meant that power or authority have been transferred to younger members of the same family. Such hereditary monarchy has been largely replaced by republican forms of government, but in practice, although mankind has experimented with many political systems, rule by one family line frequently reappears. Within recent decades, power has been inherited within the family by communist leaders, dictators, prime ministers, and even directly-elected presidents. Leadership has become a “buddies’ game”. In our part of the world, it’s a tribal affair. Where tribes agree to rule and hand over to each other as time goes by.

Elected Government

Bahá'u'lláh's message concerns the unity of humanity, not the division thereof. Leadership is a gift from God and should therefore be used for the unification of mankind. Leaders have that divine duty. Back to the story of the father of a household. The father represents God. He has given us a chance to help him choose the people to represent Him (His majesty and authority) on this mortal plane of existence. When you are participating in an election, either as a candidate or the electorate, you are actually participating in a spiritual enterprise. You are helping God choose the embodiment of His authority and leadership as the Creator on earth. The electoral commissions are basically referees of that process and hence the custodians of the justice or injustice thereof.

It is therefore necessary to take a moment as a nation to reflect on the magnitude of such a process right after we participated in it. Questions we could ask ourselves as a nation from the top down are: If God is the custodian of leadership, can I stand before Him and feel proud that I was justifiably elected? As a citizen, did I approach my obligation to vote in a just, fair and unbiased way? Did I actually involve the Supreme King in my decision? Did I sincerely pray before casting my vote? Do we allow God to guide us in our choice of leaders? Did my greed get in the way of my discharge of duty as a member of the electoral commission, irrespective of my position? Would I be able to stand before God and claim that I refereed a fair process in helping Him select the people to lead His nation?

Signs of Maturity of Mankind

Bahá'u'lláh describes the signs of a mature of humanity on matters leadership:

"One of the signs of the maturity of the world is that no one will accept to bear the weight of kingship(read leadership). Kingship will remain with none willing to bear alone its weight. That day will be the day whereon wisdom will be manifested among mankind".

Shouldering the sole responsibility for the welfare of an entire nation will be recognized as too much of a burden and the responsibility will need to be shared. The leaders of today need to showcase their maturity by embracing this idea. The responsibility of uniting a nation especially at its breaking point as Kenya is, is so weighty; no single individual of sane mind can claim to have the ability to singlehandedly steer the wheel of leadership. Kenyan leaders should embrace unity of thought and vision as a way forward. The Kenyan citizenry will follow suit. Countries are becoming ungovernable due to the sheer lack of political will to share the responsibility of national governance. Everybody is greedily looking at themselves as the only individuals capable of leadership. This as the wise Solomon

came to learn, is mere vanity.

(Image by MajorKiz)

Part of Kenya’s unification solutions actually lies in a consultative, all inclusive government.

It is clear from the above quotation that Bahá'u'lláh envisages monarchy of the constitutional type, rather than the historic pattern of absolute monarchy. As he wrote to Queen Victoria:

"We have also heard that thou hast entrusted the reins of counsel into the hands of the representatives of the people. Thou, indeed, hast done well, for thereby the foundations of the edifice of thine affairs will be strengthened, and the hearts of all that are beneath thy shadow, whether high or low, will be tranquillized."

He also suggested Britain as a working example of a country which had combined representation with monarchy:

"The system of government which the British people have adopted in London appeareth to be good, for it is adorned with the light of both kingship and of the consultation of the people."

Bahá'u'lláh saw advantages to humanity in monarchy as well as an elected government:

"Although a republican form of government profiteth all the peoples of the world, yet the majesty of kingship is one of the signs of God. We do not wish that the countries of the world should remain deprived thereof. If the sagacious combine the two forms into one, great will be their reward in the presence of God." *

The Station of a Leader

As stated before, a leader is a symbol of the majesty and power of God. As a symbol of God in this sense, then he/she should also reflect the qualities of God by showing concern for justice for all, for the poor and the disadvantaged. Bahá'u'lláh addressed one monarch (Sultan `Abdü’l-`Azīz of the ottoman Empire) with the following words:

"Thou art God's shadow on earth. Strive, therefore, to act in such a manner as befitteth so eminent, so august a station."

Someone who holds such a respected position could easily fall prey to feelings of superiority. It takes a noble person to remain humble and realize that it is the office which is exalted and not the individual.

This is perhaps why Bahá'u'lláh said; "A just king enjoyeth nearer access unto God than anyone."

Bahá'u'lláh beseeches:

"O Son of Spirit! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created."

Our leaders should therefore strive day and night to live upto to that nobility which is inherently created in them.

A leader whose duties are discharged in the right spirit will be an example of selfless service and dedication and a true representative of the nation which he or she serves; a true statesman, a patriot: a champion for the well-being of his kind.

As we begin seeing all manner of people publicly declaring their interests in public office five years ahead of the next General election, let’s take into consideration the above counsels from Bahá'u'lláh as we shall once again engage in our civic duty and divine endeavor come that day. Let’s go out and elect leaders and not rulers.

As mankind as a whole comes of age, we will need new structures and institutions to reflect our new mature status and to ensure the peace and well-being of the entire planet. Let justice be our shield and defender always. God bless Kenya. God bless Africa. God bless mother Earth.

*Some of the text was quoted from and remains the copyright of Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop.