1. Moral Authority

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Jazak Allah Khair