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