Annisa Essack | kzn@radioislam.org.za
26 July 2026 | 11:30 CAT
5-minute read

Internationally renowned Islamic scholar, author and leadership consultant Sheikh Mirza Yawar Baig believes the Muslim world’s greatest leadership challenge is not a lack of knowledge, but a failure to disagree with dignity.

Speaking to Annisa Essack on The Daily Round-Up on Radio Islam International during his visit to South Africa, Sheikh Baig reflected on the state of the Ummah, the qualities that define true leadership, the growing influence of social media and artificial intelligence (AI), and the responsibility Muslims have to build stronger, more compassionate communities. Throughout the interview, one message stood out: true leadership is rooted in service, humility and accountability before Allah.

The Crisis Isn’t Disagreement. It’s How We Disagree

After spending more than three decades mentoring leaders across the globe, Sheikh Baig says the greatest leadership crisis facing the Ummah is not disagreement itself, but the inability to disagree with respect.

“We disagree on everything,” he said. “And also our manner of disagreement are atrocious. We seem to have lost the teachings of Rasoolulah  and the Sahabah and what he taught them about adab al-ikhtilaf (etiquette of disagreement).”

He believes disagreements have become increasingly personal and divisive, whether within families, organisations or entire nations. Rather than seeking understanding, many people enter discussions determined only to prove themselves right.

“The issue is not knowledge, the issue is ego. We have very inflated egos, everyone thinks that he is God’s gift to mankind. And we begin from the standpoint that there is no way I can possibly be wrong and therefore the other party is always wrong,”

Even when consensus cannot be reached, Sheikh Baig says Muslims should at least be able to respectfully agree to disagree, a quality he believes has become increasingly rare.

Knowledge Isn’t the Problem. Ego Is

Despite unprecedented access to Islamic knowledge through books, lectures and digital platforms, Sheikh Baig argues that knowledge itself is not the issue.

“The issue isn’t knowledge,” he said. “The issue is ego.”

He observed that many people approach discussions convinced there is no possibility they could be mistaken. That mindset, he warned, leaves little room for sincere dialogue, reflection or personal growth.

Drawing on the example of the four great Imams, Sheikh Baig highlighted the humility that characterised their scholarly disagreements. Although each believed their own opinion to be correct, they always acknowledged the possibility that they could be mistaken and that another opinion might ultimately be right.

“It was a position of humbleness and actual reality,” he said.

Unlike the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, whose guidance came through divine revelation, every other human being is capable of error. Remembering that reality, he said, should shape the way Muslims engage with one another.

Whether resolving disagreements between spouses, parents and children, colleagues or friends, meaningful dialogue can only take place when both parties accept they may not have all the answers.

Leadership Is Service, Not Status

For Sheikh Baig, one of the greatest misconceptions about leadership is the belief that it comes with titles or positions of authority.

“Leadership is really service. Leadership has nothing to do with holding position,” he said.

History repeatedly shows that the people who leave the greatest impact are often those without formal authority. Their influence comes not from position, but from their willingness to serve others selflessly.

Sheikh Baig described service as the very foundation of Islamic leadership, pointing to the Seerah of Rasulullah ﷺ as the ultimate example. The Prophet ﷺ consistently placed the needs of others before his own, serving the young and old, the wealthy and the poor with equal compassion.

He also recalled the well-known incident involving Sayyidina Abu Bakr (RA). After becoming the first Khalifah, a young girl feared he would no longer milk her family’s goats because he had become the ruler.

Instead, Abu Bakr (RA) reassured her that he would continue helping them, explaining that leadership had only increased his responsibility to serve the people.

“People loved thm because they served them,” Sheikh Baig said.

Four Qualities Every Muslim Leader Should Cultivate

Asked what qualities define an effective Muslim leader, Sheikh Baig identified four principles that should guide anyone entrusted with responsibility.

The first is an unwavering commitment to the truth.

“An absolute commitment to truth, to be truthful, no matter what the cost,” he said, lamenting that much of today’s political leadership appears to value the opposite.

Secondly, leaders must remain lifelong learners.

Learning, he explained, begins with humility and recognising that no one knows everything. The willingness to keep learning is what enables leaders to grow and remain effective.

The third quality is compassion.

Leadership should never become a licence to exercise power over others. Instead, genuine leaders empathise with people’s struggles and seek solutions that benefit those they serve.

Finally, Sheikh Baig added a fourth principle that he believes is equally important: accountability.

Every leader, he said, must remember that they will ultimately answer to Allah (SWT).

That awareness shaped many of Islam’s greatest scholars. Rather than pursuing positions of influence, many deliberately avoided them because they understood the immense responsibility that accompanied leadership.

Raising a Generation of Confident Muslim Leaders

One of the greatest challenges facing Muslim communities today, Sheikh Baig believes, is preparing young people to navigate a world dominated by social media, identity struggles and constant digital distraction.

He compared social media to walking into heavy rain without an umbrella.

“It is raining, and I insist on going out in the rain without an umbrella or a raincoat  and I am saying somehow I must not get wet. If it is raining, you either stay at home, don’t go out or if you have to go out, protect yourself,”

In the same way, he argued, Muslims cannot immerse themselves in harmful digital environments and expect to remain unaffected.

The Hidden Cost of a Screen Generation

Expressing concern about children’s growing dependence on digital devices, Sheikh Baig cited research suggesting that excessive screen exposure at an early age can affect cognitive development.

“My point is, who is doing it to you? Nobody. I am choosing to do it to myself.”

Rather than blaming technology alone, he believes parents must accept responsibility for the choices they make.

“Social media is there, so don’t touch it. I mean there is alcohol, so don’t drink it,” he explained.

For Sheikh Baig, technology should remain a tool, not a way of life. Phones have an important role in communication, he said, but social media platforms should be approached with caution and discipline.

“This is where self-control comes in.”

Are We the Customer or the Product?

The discussion then shifted to artificial intelligence and the business model driving today’s digital economy.

Sheikh Baig argued that many people believe they are simply consuming content online when, in reality, they have become the commodity being sold.

“In the AI world, in the world of social media, if you are the consumer, you’re actually the product.”

He explained that a small group of people design and control these technologies, while billions unknowingly provide the attention and personal data that sustain them.

“You don’t have to be one of these two,” he said. “There’s a third option, which it that you are neither the consumer nor the product.”

That option, he explained, is choosing to remain an independent thinker who uses technology intentionally rather than allowing it to shape every aspect of life.

Winning the Battle for Young Minds

Sheikh Baig also warned that digital platforms have become powerful tools for shaping public opinion.

He believes repeated messaging, whether true or false, has the power to influence how people think, vote and perceive entire communities.

According to Sheikh Baig, these carefully crafted narratives are delivered through entertainment, gaming, advertising, news and social media, often reinforcing particular worldviews over time.

“Over and over, repition, and these messages come to you in different forms, in cartoons, in little children’s play, in Lego toys. They come to you in multiple forms, in the form of entertainment, in the form of news, in all sorts of stuff, games. Gaming is one of the major ways in which mind change happens,” he said.

He expressed concern that children are being exposed to persuasive digital content long before they have developed the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate what they are seeing.

For that reason, he urged parents to take a far more intentional approach to their children’s relationship with technology, encouraging outdoor play, face-to-face interaction and real-life experiences instead of endless hours in front of screens.

“It is very important that in this world, we live consciously, we live intelligently, and we make very serious choices to do or not do something,” he said.

Service Is the Strongest Form of Da’wah

As his visit to South Africa drew to a close, Sheikh Baig was asked what single piece of advice he would leave with South African Muslims.

His answer echoed the central message of the interview.

“One single point of advice is – create organisations of service where you help others and serve others.”

From what he witnessed during his visit, Sheikh Baig believes South African Muslims have established a remarkable tradition of community service. He praised the work being done through feeding schemes, elderly care, hospitals, welfare initiatives and humanitarian projects.

However, he believes much of that work remains unseen beyond the Muslim community.

Let the Good Be Seen

Sheikh Baig acknowledged that many organisations avoid publicising their work out of sincerity (ikhlas), fearing it may appear boastful. Nevertheless, he believes there is an important balance to be maintained.

He argued that negative perceptions of Islam have been fuelled by years of misinformation and deliberate propaganda. The most effective response, he believes, is not confrontation, but allowing people to witness Muslim service first-hand.

“But it is very important to make the good work that you are doing, make it public, let people know what is happening, so that the overall impression about Muslims changes.”

Visible acts of service, he said, speak louder than slogans or public relations campaigns because they allow Islam’s values to be experienced rather than merely explained.

Building Bridges Through Action

Sheikh Baig also encouraged Muslim organisations to ensure their humanitarian work reaches a broader audience, including government institutions, faith communities and civil society.

Whether through interfaith initiatives, community partnerships or public engagement, he believes these efforts help present a more balanced understanding of Islam while strengthening relationships across society.

Although there will always be more work to do in addressing poverty, inequality and hardship, Sheikh Baig believes South African Muslims have earned a reputation for serving society with distinction.

“I think that the South African Muslims have created a very, very remarkable and a very positive position for themselves. I am quite happy to say that it doesn’t exist anywhere else.”

A Leadership Model Rooted in Faith

Throughout the interview, Sheikh Mirza Yawar Baig returned to the same enduring principles: humility over ego, service over status, truth over popularity and accountability over power.

For him, effective leadership is not measured by titles or influence, but by character, compassion and a sincere commitment to serving others for the sake of Allah.

In a world increasingly shaped by division, distraction and digital noise, his message is both timely and timeless. The future of the Ummah, he believes, will not be shaped by those seeking influence, but by those willing to serve.

For South African Muslims, his parting message is clear: lasting change begins with humble leadership, unwavering integrity and service to humanity for the sake of Allah.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up presented by Annisa Essack.