Welcoming Honest and Fair Elections: Taking Wisdom from the Leadership of Caliph Uthman bin Affan

Prof. Dr. Imam Subchi, M.A.

Professor of Anthropology of Religion and Vice Rector 2 of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta

February 2024 is an important month for Indonesians. This month marks the culmination of a periodic democratic process that determines the new chapter of the country's government for the next few years. All children of the nation have the opportunity to prove their capability to manage the country.

Leadership is a field that is open to all. A person from a wealthy family or a less wealthy family, even those who do not have one, has the opportunity to pursue his career as a national leader. Whether it is through formal administrative channels (state administration education) or political channels, namely through the scheme of electing senators or state or regional leaders, there are many fields that can be maximized, depending on the desire and foresight in choosing opportunities.

People with money certainly have much greater social capital. They can pursue education at the best universities at home and abroad without having to worry about the cost. A regular learning climate keeps them focused on various fields. Understandably, this has been a habit since they were students. When they graduate, pursuing a career as a company leader may be an option. Some of them may choose to join a party, because they are motivated to become the country's leader in the future.

For those without, the road may be a bit steep. They will have to make a habit of providing for themselves and even their families, while learning politics the hard way.

Becoming a leader can be an aspiration for all, depending on how the process is undertaken and the opportunities available. What needs to be instilled, is the courage to act and learn new things. Do not be afraid to start taking responsibility, even if it starts on a small scale, such as being a KPPS (voting organizer group) officer in your respective neighborhood.

To gain virtue in leading, it is considered good to look at the deeds of our predecessors in history. Of course, the social context is not always the same as in the present era. There may be differences between the past and present, but there are values and teachings that remain and are interpreted by later generations.

Learning from Uthman

Uthman bin Affan, the third caliph in Islamic history, is known for leadership that reflects a blend of generosity, magnanimity, but he is not free from criticism regarding nepotistic behavior. He was known as a generous leader. He often gave away his wealth for the benefit of the people, such as building mosques and helping people in need. This generosity made him respected and loved by the people of his time, and created a better environment for Muslims.

Ahmad Shalaby in the book History and Culture of Islam Volume 1 (published 1988) states that in addition to his generosity, Uthman was also known as a friendly tempered figure. His penchant for sharing cannot be denied from the privilege he has. Uthman was the caliph of a famously wealthy family in the Land of Arabia. He had a thriving business and made profits that were not only sufficient for him, but also for some of his people. His generosity was reflected in his friendly demeanor, which he was able to use to forge strong political partnerships with other Muslim leaders.

On the other hand, Uthman bin Affan's leadership was also noted for nepotism. Some policies or positions in his government tended to favor or privilege his close relatives. Although this does not cover all aspects of his leadership, this critique of nepotism remains part of the evaluation of his government.

Uthman's nepotism slowly led to a wave of protests from the prophet's companions who did not agree with his decision. Resentment of the caliph's attitude continued to be a thorn in the chaff that increasingly threatened his rule.

The end of the generous caliph's life closed with a heartbreaking death. He was assassinated by a political faction that was disappointed with his leadership. His generosity did not always lead to the happiness of all. If we are honest, this tragedy could have been born partly because of the caliph's practice of nepotism.

Keep in mind, Uthman's nepotism was actually born instinctively, rich families tend to maximize the potential income in their own family environment. Abul A'la al-Maududi in his book Khilafah and Kingdom (published 1984) considers that Uthman's nepotism combined with the will to maintain group interests. Therefore, the distribution of leadership was eventually concentrated in one particular family line, and prevented infiltration from other families, which might be considered harmful to the system that was already running.

A person who has a wealthy personal background, such as material wealth, tends to have a tendency not to use their power to enrich themselves. Theoretically, individuals who have sufficient wealth beforehand, will not be tempted to take property that is not their right when leading later. This is because they already have sufficient financial resources, so there is no need to utilize their political positions for personal purposes.

Of course, the above assumption is theoretical. It needs to be addressed wisely, because usually excess wealth can lead to a double space: generosity like Caliph Uthman, or endless greed which actually leads to destruction.

A piece of wisdom above is certainly a good guide as a provision for future leaders, especially in organizing an honest and fair leader election process.