emotional intelligence
The writer, Hasnain Walji (Texas, USA) is an entrepreneur, investor, technologist, and community volunteer. Born in Moshi, Tanzania, he is a researcher, speaker, and writer involved in developing professional training and e-learning applications in nutrition and integrative healthcare. He is President of Integrative Quest, Inc which specializes in formulating and marketing probiotics. He has authored 26 books, all written from a naturopathic perspective, endorsed by the Natural Medicine Society of England, and translated into several languages including Spanish, French, German, Turkish, Hungarian, Portuguese, and Chinese. A contributor to several journals on environmental and Third World consumer issues, he was the founder and editor of The Vitamin Connection – an International Journal of Nutrition, Health and Fitness, and Healthy Eating. He has written a script for a six-part television series, The World of Vitamins. His institutional work for the Muslim community spans over 30 years, Since 1976 he has served the World Federation of KSI Muslim Communities, as Secretary-General, Vice-President, and then as President of this august body. He is also a founding director and the Current President of the Mulla Asgher Memorial Library and Resource Center (MARC) in Toronto. He has served as editor of Shia International and Living Islam Magazines and is a regular contributor to a number of Islamic Journals. He has traveled worldwide, lecturing and reciting Majlises in English, Urdu, and Gujarati. He has a special interest in the History of the Khojas and currently working on a Documentary called The Khojas – A journey of faith. He is also a founding director of a Social Justice Institute called Penmanship For Peace focusing on the plight of persecuted minorities including the Shia in Pakistan and part of a team compiling a volume on Shia Genocide in Pakistan. His passion is in increasing interfaith understanding to make this world a better place for his five grandchildren. Dr Walji established MARC. He served as the Secretary-General of WF. Dr Hasnian Walji served as the vice president of WF during Mullah’s leadership in the capacity of the president of the World Federation.
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rophet Muhammad (SAW) was a multidimensional leader whose entire life exemplified emotional intelligence (EQ). His exceptional empathy and comprehension of human nature allowed him to form meaningful connections with individuals from diverse walks of life, regardless of their origins, ideologies, or socioeconomic status. The Prophet personified compassion, introspection, and societal harmony in all his guises: spiritual leader, political figure, and family man.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is to be aware of and be able to control one’s own and other people’s feelings. Important components for healthy relationships and conflict resolution are social awareness, self-regulation, and empathy. Interpersonal and emotional intelligence are the main foci of emotional intelligence (EQ), as opposed to intellectual capacity (IQ). Confidence, teamwork, and admiration are nurtured by leaders with high EQ. These qualities were exhibited by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who throughout his life demonstrated emotional intelligence by establishing rapport with people, fostering unity, and leading with compassion and acceptance.
The life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is filled with lessons in emotional and spiritual intelligence. When a farmer brought bitter fruit as a gift, the Prophet ate it all to spare the man’s feelings lest anyone of his companions comment on it —a profound act of empathy. During the reconstruction of the Kaaba, he united feuding tribes by having them all share in the honor of placing the Black Stone, preventing conflict and fostering unity. Even after being humiliated in Ta’if, he prayed for his attackers rather than seek revenge, and upon conquering Makkah, he offered amnesty instead of retaliation, healing divisions and building harmony.
Our examination here focuses on a single incident from his life—his encounters with the Christians of Najran—that eloquently illustrates his command of emotional intelligence. An example that is much needed with the sectarian strife that faces humanity today . The Christians of Najran were a prominent religious community in southern Arabia during the time of Prophet Muhammad. In 631 CE, they sent a delegation of 60 representatives, including their bishop, to Medina to engage in theological dialogue with the Prophet. The discussions primarily centered around the nature of Jesus and the concept of the Trinity. Despite disagreements, the interactions were respectful and peaceful. This led to the establishment of a treaty, known as the Najran Pact, which guaranteed their safety, religious freedom, and protection of their property in exchange for a tax.
Using emotional intelligence to promote peaceful coexistence can be seen as a deep manifestation of emotional intelligence (EQ). This encounter exemplifies how social awareness, empathy, and inclusivity can nurture human relationships, regardless of theological differences. Prophet Muhammad prioritized interfaith harmony over strict conventions. In this light, his method goes beyond basic people skills and ascends to a philosophical level, advocating EI as the bedrock for fostering interfaith cooperation and pluralism.
The Prophet’s actions provide credence to the idea that empathy, commonly regarded as an essential emotional competency, is also a moral obligation. He stepped beyond the periphery of doctrinal dispute by being open to dialogue with the Christians of Najran. Understanding the “other” is only part of his capacity to empathize with and meet their emotional and spiritual needs; it also involves seeing the common humanity that lies underneath ideological divisions. Prophet Muhammad’s decision to open his mosque to Christians was an act of active empathy, a conscious effort to break down barriers and center attention on the commonality of faith in a Creator. He exemplified a superior kind of empathy in this deed, the one that connects theoretical religious identity with concrete human experience. This view is consistent with the idea that the pinnacle of empathy is the ability to see the ethical treatment of every living thing.
The Prophet’s willingness to accommodate Christian worship in a holy Islamic place exemplifies his inclusiveness and, by extension, his ethos of diversity. Inviting people to pray in the mosque is a philosophical affirmation of religious pluralism, not just a kind gesture. Although the Prophet did not compromise any Islamic principle on a theological level, his openness to others showed a more profound realization that other religions have different approaches. This welcoming attitude is reflective of a cosmopolitan philosophy that holds that diversity is a source of human strength, and that unity can only be attained by embracing it rather than erasing it. The prophet’s insight into the moral need to foster environments conducive to conversation and collaboration in a multicultural world was on full display in his emphasis on peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.
Understanding Human Vulnerability as the Foundation for Ethical Sensitivity: Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) astute awareness of social dynamics was about more than just managing the political and social dynamics of his day. He understood that religious minorities are more susceptible to marginalization in any community, and by offering security to the Christians of Najran, he was doing more than simply making a political promise. He has a compassionate, profound understanding of society, which is evident in his guarantees of their safety and his care for their material and spiritual needs. This empathy is not a theoretical quality, but rather a framework for effective leadership in diverse communities. By seeing the “other” as an integral component of society’s moral and ethical fabric, the Prophet exemplified a kind of ethical leadership that puts the well-being of everyone, especially the marginalized, first.
Emotional intelligence in the Prophet’s contacts goes beyond the traditional psychological framework of conflict resolution and emotion management. A philosophical approach to leadership emerges, wherein knowing one’s own and other people’s emotions is interwoven with ethical concerns on one’s duty to act in the world. An advanced level of EQ is demonstrated when one can have meaningful conversations with individuals of different faiths and cultures without letting their own convictions be compromised. A key tenet of this method is the existential realization that genuine leadership is not about imposing one’s will on others but rather about encouraging empathy and comprehension that goes beyond the base desires for approval and control.
Hence, the emotional intelligence of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is an exemplary philosophical model for social unity and interfaith cooperation, and not merely a historical tale. His life serves as a reminder that emotional intelligence is more than just a collection of traits; it provides a moral compass for navigating the complex and varied world we live in. According to this theory, the most emotionally intelligent people are those who try to bring others together instead of dividing them, who show empathy instead of judgment, and who try to bridge gaps in understanding rather than create them. When seen through this prism, emotional intelligence is seen as a crucial part of the philosophical quest for a more equitable, peaceful, and welcoming society.
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