Quran Verses about Leadership

وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٞ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ خَلِيفَةٗۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَۖ قَالَ إِنِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ٣٠

Wa idh qāla rabbuka lil-malāʾikati innī jāʿilun fil-arḍi khalīfah, qālū atajʿalu fīhā may yufsidu fīhā wa yasfikud-dimāʾa wa naḥnu nusabbiḥu biḥamdika wa nuqaddisu lak, qāla innī aʿlamu mā lā taʿlamūn.

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority."¹ They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we exalt You with praise and declare Your perfection?"² He [Allāh] said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."

قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَٰلِكَ ٱلۡمُلۡكِ تُؤۡتِي ٱلۡمُلۡكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلۡخَيۡرُۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ ٢٦

Qulillāhumma mālikal-mulki tuʾtil-mulka man tashāʾu wa tanziʿul-mulka mimman tashāʾu wa tuʿizzu man tashāʾu wa tudhillu man tashāʾ, biyadikal-khayr, innaka ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr.

Say, "O Allāh, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand¹ is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.

وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَيَسۡتَخۡلِفَنَّهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ كَمَا ٱسۡتَخۡلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمۡ دِينَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي ٱرۡتَضَىٰ لَهُمۡ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ خَوۡفِهِمۡ أَمۡنٗاۚ يَعۡبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشۡرِكُونَ بِي شَيۡـٔٗاۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ ٥٥

Waʿadallāhul-ladhīna āmanū minkum wa ʿamiluṣ-ṣāliḥāti layastakhlifannahum fil-arḍi kamastakhlafal-ladhīna min qablihim wa layumakkinanna lahum dīnahumul-ladhirtaḍā lahum wa layubaddilannahum mim baʿdi khawfihim amnā, yaʿbudūnanī lā yushrikūna bī shayʾā, wa man kafara baʿda dhālika fa ulāʾika humul-fāsiqūn.

Allāh has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves¹ after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.

۞ وَإِذِ ٱبۡتَلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ رَبُّهُۥ بِكَلِمَٰتٖ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامٗاۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِيۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهۡدِي ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ١٢٤

Wa idhibtalā ibrāhīma rabbuhū bikalimātin fa atammahunn, qāla innī jāʿiluka lin-nāsi imāmā, qāla wa min dhurriyyatī, qāla lā yanālu ʿahdiẓ-ẓālimīn.

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with words [i.e., commands] and he fulfilled them. [Allāh] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allāh] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers."

وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ نَبِيُّهُمۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ بَعَثَ لَكُمۡ طَالُوتَ مَلِكٗاۚ قَالُوٓاْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ عَلَيۡنَا وَنَحۡنُ أَحَقُّ بِٱلۡمُلۡكِ مِنۡهُ وَلَمۡ يُؤۡتَ سَعَةٗ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَالِۚ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَىٰهُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَزَادَهُۥ بَسۡطَةٗ فِي ٱلۡعِلۡمِ وَٱلۡجِسۡمِۖ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤۡتِي مُلۡكَهُۥ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٞ ٢٤٧

Wa qāla lahum nabiyyuhum innallāha qad baʿatha lakum ṭālūta malikā, qālū annā yakūnu lahul-mulku ʿalaynā wa naḥnu aḥaqqu bil-mulki minhu wa lam yuʾta saʿatam minal-māl, qāla innallāhaṣṭafāhu ʿalaykum wa zādahū basṭatan fil-ʿilmi wal-jism, wallāhu yuʾtī mulkahū may yashāʾ, wallāhu wāsiʿun ʿalīm.

And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, Allāh has sent to you Saul as a king." They said, "How can he have kingship over us while we are more worthy of kingship than him and he has not been given any measure of wealth?" He said, "Indeed, Allāh has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allāh gives His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing [in favor] and Knowing."

فَبِمَا رَحۡمَةٖ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمۡۖ وَلَوۡ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلۡقَلۡبِ لَٱنفَضُّواْ مِنۡ حَوۡلِكَۖ فَٱعۡفُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ وَشَاوِرۡهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمۡتَ فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلِينَ ١٥٩

Fabimā raḥmatim minallāhi linta lahum, wa law kunta faẓẓan ghalīẓal-qalbi lanfaḍḍū min ḥawlik, faʿfu ʿanhum wastaghfir lahum wa shāwirhum fil-amr, fa idhā ʿazamta fatawakkal ʿalallāh, innallāha yuḥibbul-mutawakkilīn.

So by mercy from Allāh, [O Muḥammad], 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 Allāh. Indeed, Allāh loves those who rely [upon Him].

۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُكُمۡ أَن تُؤَدُّواْ ٱلۡأَمَٰنَٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمۡتُم بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحۡكُمُواْ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦٓۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعَۢا بَصِيرٗا ٥٨

Innallāha yaʾmurukum an tuʾaddul-amānāti ilā ahlihā wa idhā ḥakamtum baynan-nāsi an taḥkumū bil-ʿadl, innallāha niʿimmā yaʿiẓukum bih, innallāha kāna samīʿam baṣīrā.

Indeed, Allāh commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allāh instructs you. Indeed, Allāh is ever Hearing and Seeing.

ٱلَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُاْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَمَرُواْ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَنَهَوۡاْ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡأُمُورِ ٤١

Al-ladhīna im makkannāhum fil-arḍi aqāmuṣ-ṣalāta wa ātawuz-zakāta wa amarū bil-maʿrūfi wa nahaw ʿanil-munkar, walillāhi ʿāqibatul-umūr.

[And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakāh and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allāh belongs the outcome of [all] matters.

يَٰدَاوُۥدُ إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَٰكَ خَلِيفَةٗ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ شَدِيدُۢ بِمَا نَسُواْ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡحِسَابِ ٢٦

Yādāwūdu innā jaʿalnāka khalīfatan fil-arḍi faḥkum baynan-nāsi bil-ḥaqqi wa lā tattabiʿil-hawā fayuḍillaka ʿan sabīlillāh, innal-ladhīna yaḍillūna ʿan sabīlillāhi lahum ʿadhābun shadīdum bimā nasū yawmal-ḥisāb.

[We said], "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allāh." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allāh will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَمۡرِ مِنكُمۡۖ فَإِن تَنَٰزَعۡتُمۡ فِي شَيۡءٖ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٞ وَأَحۡسَنُ تَأۡوِيلًا ٥٩

Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū aṭīʿullāha wa aṭīʿur-rasūla wa ulil-amri minkum, fa in tanāzaʿtum fī shayʾin faruddūhu ilallāhi war-rasūli in kuntum tuʾminūna billāhi wal-yawmil-ākhir, dhālika khayruw wa aḥsanu taʾwīlā.

O you who have believed, obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allāh and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.

وَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ أَئِمَّةٗ يَهۡدُونَ بِأَمۡرِنَا وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِمۡ فِعۡلَ ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِ وَإِقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِۖ وَكَانُواْ لَنَا عَٰبِدِينَ ٧٣

Wa jaʿalnāhum aʾimmatay yahdūna biʾamrinā wa awḥaynā ilayhim fiʿlal-khayrāti wa iqāmaṣ-ṣalāti wa ītāʾaz-zakāh, wa kānū lanā ʿābidīn.

And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakāh; and they were worshippers of Us.

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٖ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ٧٤

Wal-ladhīna yaqūlūna rabbanā hab lanā min azwājinā wa dhurriyyātinā qurrata aʿyuniw wajʿalnā lil-muttaqīna imāmā.

And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes¹ and make us a leader [i.e., example] for the righteous."

وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡ أَئِمَّةٗ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُ ٱلۡوَٰرِثِينَ ٥

Wa nurīdu an namunna ʿalal-ladhīnastuḍʿifū fil-arḍi wa najʿalahum aʾimmataw wa najʿalahumul-wārithīn.

And We wanted to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors

وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ أَئِمَّةٗ يَهۡدُونَ بِأَمۡرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُواْۖ وَكَانُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ ٢٤

Wa jaʿalnā minhum aʾimmatay yahdūna biʾamrinā lammā ṣabarū, wa kānū biʾāyātinā yūqinūn.

And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs.

يَقۡدُمُ قَوۡمَهُۥ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فَأَوۡرَدَهُمُ ٱلنَّارَۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡوِرۡدُ ٱلۡمَوۡرُودُ ٩٨

Yaqdumu qawmahū yawmal-qiyāmati fa awradahumun-nār, wa biʾsal-wirdul-mawrūd.

He will precede his people on the Day of Resurrection and lead them into the Fire; and wretched is the place to which they are led.

وَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ أَئِمَّةٗ يَدۡعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِۖ وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ ٤١

Wa jaʿalnāhum aʾimmatay yadʿūna ilan-nār, wa yawmal-qiyāmati lā yunṣarūn.

And We made them leaders¹ inviting to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped.

يَوۡمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمۡ فِي ٱلنَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَٰلَيۡتَنَآ أَطَعۡنَا ٱللَّهَ وَأَطَعۡنَا ٱلرَّسُولَا۠ ٦٦

Yawma tuqallabu wujūhuhum fin-nāri yaqūlūna yālaytanā aṭaʿnallāha wa aṭaʿnar-rasūl.

The Day their faces will be turned about in the Fire, they will say, "How we wish we had obeyed Allāh and obeyed the Messenger."

وَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّآ أَطَعۡنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَآءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا ٱلسَّبِيلَا۠ ٦٧

Wa qālū rabbanā innā aṭaʿnā sādatanā wa kubarāʾanā fa aḍallūnas-sabīl.

And they will say, "Our Lord, indeed we obeyed our masters and our dignitaries,¹ and they led us astray from the [right] way.

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِهِمۡ ضِعۡفَيۡنِ مِنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ وَٱلۡعَنۡهُمۡ لَعۡنٗا كَبِيرٗا ٦٨

Rabbanā ātihim ḍiʿfayni minal-ʿadhābi wal-ʿanhum laʿnan kabīrā.

Our Lord, give them double the punishment and curse them with a great curse."

لَّا يَتَّخِذِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ أَوۡلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَۖ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيۡسَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ فِي شَيۡءٍ إِلَّآ أَن تَتَّقُواْ مِنۡهُمۡ تُقَىٰةٗۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسَهُۥۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ٢٨

Lā yattakhidhil-muʾminūnal-kāfirīna awliyāʾa min dūnil-muʾminīn, wa may yafʿal dhālika falaysa minallāhi fī shayʾin illā an tattaqū minhum tuqāh, wa yuḥadhdhirukumullāhu nafsah, wa ilallāhil-maṣīr.

Let not believers take disbelievers as allies [i.e., supporters or protectors] rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing [i.e., no association] with Allāh, except when taking precaution against them in prudence.¹ And Allāh warns you of Himself, and to Allāh is the [final] destination.

۞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلۡيَهُودَ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰٓ أَوۡلِيَآءَۘ بَعۡضُهُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ بَعۡضٖۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمۡ فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنۡهُمۡۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ٥١

Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū lā tattakhidhul-yahūda wan-naṣārā awliyāʾ, baʿḍuhum awliyāʾu baʿḍ, wa may yatawallahum minkum fa innahū minhum, innallāha lā yahdil-qawmaẓ-ẓālimīn.

O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allāh guides not the wrongdoing people.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ دِينَكُمۡ هُزُوٗا وَلَعِبٗا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ وَٱلۡكُفَّارَ أَوۡلِيَآءَۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ ٥٧

Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū lā tattakhidhul-ladhīnattakhadhū dīnakum huzuwaw wa laʿibam minal-ladhīna ūtul-kitāba min qablikum wal-kuffāra awliyāʾ, wattaqullāha in kuntum muʾminīn.

O you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allāh, if you should [truly] be believers.