Guidance on Disputes Over Imaginary Positions

Question:
Your Excellency the Shaykh. One of the brothers says: In our country and in other countries, the people of the Sunnah differ, despite being a minority, over formal matters and imaginary positions, such as president, manager, or head of an association, institution, or school. Some of them even establish a new association just to become its president. This results in disintegration, division, and estrangement in hearts and bodies. The topic of our gathering this year is very important. May Allah bless the committee, its founders, and the organizers. The questioner asks Your Excellency the Shaykh: We need specific guidance on this issue, knowing that the attendees are scholars and people of virtue from their respective countries.

Answer:
O brothers. The one who seeks the truth, this position or presidency does not matter to him. He seeks the truth, whether he is a president or a subordinate, because his goal is the truth.
As for the one who follows desire, who seeks desire, or seeks wealth, or seeks status, he is contrary to the path of the people of truth. The one who seeks the truth does not care about the position, does not care about wealth, does not care about status; what matters to him is the pleasure of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, they gathered at the Saqifah, the Saqifah of Banu Sa'ida. They wanted to appoint an imam to whom they would return after the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Their opinion agreed upon Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, upon Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), and their opinion united on this. No one said, "I am the leader, I am the one, I have a status." They did not submit to this.
They submitted to this willingly and out of desire, (may Allah be pleased with them and grant them satisfaction), because their goal was the truth, not greed, the world, or leadership. The one whose concern is leadership and greed has no remedy. But the one whose goal is the truth submits to the truth and to the one who upholds it. Have you heard the hadith? . In a narration by 'Abd al-Habashi, it is like a raisin, with the ends cut off, as in the narrations, because he is the one in authority, and the community does not stand except with a ruler, and the ruler does not stand except with obedience and submission. So the one whose goal is the truth does not care about the position, whether it comes to him or not. And if it comes to him, he utilizes it in obedience to Allah and in supporting this religion. He utilizes it for its specific benefits. And this is based on the sincerity of intention for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes.