Hazrat Umar (R.
A)
Leadership Styles and Qualitiesi:
1. Equality and fairness:
Umar (R.A) believed in equality and was always concerned about the condition of the
underprivileged people. His fair dealings were widely popular among the Muslims and his sense
of justice was unparalleled.
2. Title of Al-Farooq
For courageous and bold action of Hazrat Umar (R.A), Rasulallah (s.a.w) gave him the title of al-
Farooq i.e., the one who makes a distinction between the right (haqq) and the wrong (batil).
3. Motivator:
As a leader he was the one who motivated Muslim ummah to preach Islam and convert people to
Islam which is the right religion for every human being.
4. Administrationii:
Every Governor had to take oath on four things before he would assume his duties:
• He will not ride a Turkish horse.
• He will not wear thin and delicate cloth.
• He will not use refined cloth.
• He will not set a gatekeeper at his door.
• He will not use refined wheat.
5. Personality and nature
He was extremely pious and God-fearing. His success lay in two things: fear of Allah and his love
for Rasulallah (s.a.w). He never used even oil from the Baitul Mal (Public Treasury) to burn a
lamp at night for his personal needs.
6. Great scholar
Before the advent of Islam there was no tradition in Arabia of reading or writing. There were only
seventeen people amongst the Quraish who could read or write at the time when Rasulallah (s.a.w)
started to receive Divine revelations. Hazrat Umar was one of those seventeen persons. His writing
and lectures are still found in some old books. The first address he gave as a Caliph was: “ O Allah,
I am strict, make me soft. I am weak, give me power. The Arabs are like refractory camels, I will
endeavor to bring them to the straight path.”
7. Humble:
Umar (R.A) always had a soft side for the poor and deprived people and through his speech he
promised to support them and stand up for their rights and instantly won the hearts of the people.
His reputation continued to strengthen throughout the period of his reign.
8. Lead by example:
Umar (R.A) used to lead his people by example. His kept his personal possessions to a minimum
and used to eat simple food. He always refused to take salary and never touched the state treasury.
9. Freedom of opinion
Careless and biased to some rubbish ideology have portrayed Hazrat Umar as a harsh and cruel
person. No doubt he was very harsh in establishing the supremacy of law. He gave a complete
freedom of expression to his citizens and everybody had the right on object on any of his actions.
Once a person raised objection on the length of his shirt in a public meeting, somebody tried to
silent the objective, Hazrat Umar (R.A) said, "Let his speak, if people do not criticize us they are
of no use, if we do not listen to them we are of no use"
10. Compliance and observance
11. Justice and integrity
12. Greatest Conqueror
13. Honesty and truthfulness
Influence based on Reason or Emotioniii:
• Never used unethical power.
• Justice and Equality.
• Honesty and Fairness.
• Braveness and Courage.
• Disciplinary actions.
• Set an example (Ideal).
Hazrat Umar (R.A) As a Leaderiv:
• Justice and Equality
• Greatest Conquerors
• Political and Civil Administration
Manager Qualities of Hazrat Umar (R.A.):
Hazrat Umar (R.A.) as a manager was a symbol of true administrator. Hazrat Umar used to keep
the accountability of each and everything. He never played with a poor and never benefited to rich.
He made a transparency in every matter of life where he provided services to secure humans,
animals, food, forces, governmental strategies, penalties on wrong acts.
Analysis on leadership of Hazrat Umar R.A:
Hazrat Umar-e-Faroq (R.A) was the greatest leader in the Islamic Era, founded the governance
system and other achievements to work on the system and in the system. Role Model for the whole
world that how to manage and lead. They have Charismatic Personality.
Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed
Qualities of Khaled Ben El-Waleedv:
Khaled had a lot of traits that made him an effective leader;
• Self-confidence
He had a high level of self-confidence, assertiveness.
• Trusted man
He was a trusted man, every soldier trust him and even he trusts them and that been showed in
many places and battles, they said that Khaled was making his army to double their efforts in war,
in walking, in anything.
• Authentic leader
Khaled was authentic leader as well, if he said something, he won’t change it. Everyone trust him.
• Extraversion:
He was an Extraversion, he was always asking for opinions and advices from his subordinates not
only senior leaders or junior leaders but also supervisors and low-ranking soldiers before entering
any battles.
• Humble:
He was so humble since he went down to soldiers and spoke with them and hear from them because
he knew that the victory come from low ranked soldiers.
• Emotional Intelligence:
He has a high level of emotional intelligence that he was controlling his emotions and how to
influence others even in hard situations, he was always take the lead of anything, he was self-
managed and self-awareness.
• Flexibility and adaptability:
He had the ability of flexibility and adaptability and we have seen that on many wars and his
adaptability on changing tactics and strategies through the wars.
• Internal locus of control
He had high internal locus of control which he always the reason of winning his wars and never
leave the result depends on the fate or luck, he is the maker of victory which he never loses any
war before
• Courage
Khaled was the most courage man, he was always in the front line of his army, taking the first hit,
not afraid of anything, and he was perfect.
• Socialized
Khaled motive was a socialized; he was using all his power and resources to achieve the Islam
goals regardless any personal motives although his personal motives was serving Islam as well.
Khaled’s Style of Leadershipvi:
There was no single leadership style for Khaled, he always changed it according to the situations.
But there is one style that Khaled use it so much, it was the entrepreneur leadership. He had a
farsightedness in putting strategic plans and tactics; he invented a lot of them where Arab didn’t
hear or practice anything of his tactics
Analysis on Leadership of Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed:
Khaled was a Charismatic Leader. He is a visionary leader; he had the ability to imagine and invent
different tactics and plans and their alternatives by evaluating them, all of that to achieve his goals
and win his battles. Khaled had the characteristics that allowed him to be a leader and his leadership
was combined between hereditary and environment factors. Khalid bin waleed had a fascinating
charisma, a colorful and charming one besides his high level of military knowledge, made him
person whose followers die for him. Khalid bin waleed had a high level of emotional intelligence
besides his great ethics and values. Khalid bin waleed was a transformational leader. Khaled was
a great couch and motivator; whose victories were not a wall between his humility and his soldiers.
Khaled was a complete man, a fantastic leader.
References:
i
https://www.scribd.com/doc/119653936/Leadership-Qualities-of-Hazrat-Umar-e-Farooq-R-A
ii
http://www.cssforum.com.pk/349745-post263.html
iii
https://darussalamblog.com/leader-umar-bin-al-khattab/
iv
http://alnoortravel.co.uk/blog/2015/08/19/what-were-the-merits-of-hazrat-umar-r-a-leadership-
and-management/
v
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/khalid-ben-el-waleed-unbeaten-leader-leadership-ahmed
vi
Agha, Ibrahim Akram.The Sword of Allah: Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns.
Adam Publishers & Distributors, India, 7th edition, 1994
