Can our leaders and politicians come down from their high pedestals and be as modest and humble as Ahmedinejad? Can they sleep on the floor, eat plain food and live in simple houses instead of their mansions? Yes, this is the “President” of Iran, one of the most important Islamic countries. Ahmedinejad, the Iranian President is a living example of the perfect Islamic leader. The oil rich Iran is bestowed with all bounties of the world yet unlike our leaders and politicians, their president believes himself to be a humble servant of God, which in fact is the true teaching of Islam and the best mode of leadership.

When asked by the Fox News TV (USA) as to what he perceives of himself when he sees the mirror, Ahmedinejad replied, “I see the person in the mirror and tell him “Remember” you are no more than a small servant, ahead of you today is the heavy responsibility, and that is to serve the Iranian nation”. These don’t look like words coming from a “President,” do they?

This true Muslim leader still dwells in his own house, which is his only asset. Ahmedinejad does not even take his personal salary since he believes that it does not belong to him, but is a trust of the nation. Astonishing but true, he brings his own breakfast everyday. He donated the valuable carpets in the office of the presidency to a mosque in Tehran and replaced them with simple ordinary ones. He also closed the extravagant sitting area for the VIPs and instead adhered to an ordinary simple room. Every time Ahmedinejad appoints any minister, he gets an agreement signed by him which includes numerous clauses; the account of the appointed is watched and his relatives or family are not allowed to take any sort of undue benefit of his office is one of the most pertinent points. Unlike all other presidents, he refused to use the President’s Aircraft and chose to travel in cargo aircraft to save for the public treasury. When he has to stay in hotels, he makes sure he is not given a luxurious room with huge beds; he prefers to sleep on the floor like any ordinary man.

Ahmedinejad is surely following the same leadership style that the true Muslims leaders did. In Islam, leaders are appointed slaves of Allah whose only duty is to serve his creation. Prophet Muhammad (may peace b upon him) is definitely the best example of true leadership. After being appointed as the leader in Arabia, he did not move to a mansion or cashed his status and reputation, in fact, he made sure that every night before he sleeps, he would give out all that he had to the needy. When he passed away, he possessed nothing.

The idea of leadership in Islam is merely to serve others and not to misuse status and power and build your own bank accounts. If only leaders of countries like India and Pakistan would learn this leadership style from Ahmedinejad, these countries will definitely not remain deprived anymore.