Importance of playing a secondary role | The Sunday Guardian | May 8, 2011 | Page 15
In the chapter entitled Al-Zukhruf (Ornaments of Gold), the Quran describes a law of nature which is very important for the purpose of nation building.
The translation of the relevant verse is as follows: "Is it they who apportion the blessing of your Lord? It is We who distribute among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and raise some of them above others in rank, so that they may take one another into service; and the blessing of your Lord is better than [the wealth] which they amass." (43:32)
These differences between people are not simply a matter of disparity or discrimination: there is great wisdom behind these differences. They give us a form of direction on how to manage our social system.
In simple language, this means that one person must take the primary role and all other members of society must accept a secondary role.
This is the only method of organisation by means of which a society can achieve its highest targets.
It is a fact that a great achievement requires the joint efforts of a great number of people; a single individual on his own cannot achieve the highest of social goals. So, what is the formula for a successful joint effort of this kind?
It is: give one able person the role of leadership, while all other persons take a back seat and play a secondary role.
It is a fact that without joint efforts no high goal can be achieved, but joint efforts always need someone at the helm of affairs. Without a boss you cannot run a company, without a prime minister you cannot run a government, without the head of the family you cannot run a home, without a co-ordinator, or a supervisor, you cannot run a joint effort.