In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

He is The First Person From An Ethnic Minority Background to Hold One of The Great Offices of State! This is nothing new in our rich Islamic history. Al-Allaamah Saaleh Aala ash-Shaikh [may Allaah preserve him] stated:

When the Muslims conquered the different regions of the earth and Islam spread, the affair became as if it started from the non-Arabs, until the people of Persia and other non-Arabs became the scholars and the Imams of the mosques, and people acquired knowledge from them. It is recorded in Islamic history that many non-Arabs led the Muslims in knowledge, in issuing religious verdicts and many affairs. Take for example Abu Haneefah [may Allaah have mercy on him] who was not an Arab, and Imam Al-Bukhaari [may Allaah have mercy on him] and how his book became an upright example, and there’s none amongst the Muslims except that he (or she) knows Imam Abu Abdillaah Muhammad Bin Ismaa’eel Al-Bukhaari. And consider other examples – besides Al-Bukhaari and Abu Haneefah – amongst the Imaams of Islaam. So when Islam came with its implementation, it abolished the differences that were initiated by the people and those non-Arabs became the leaders and Imaams of the Arabs; why? Because they carried the religion, raised the banner of pure Islamic monotheism – there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and because there is no distinction in virtue between a non-Arab and an Arab, except through fear of Allaah. When the Muslims disciplined themselves with Islaam, there was no dispute between them regarding social class by way of that pre-Islamic dispute and distinction, because indeed neither did they accept leadership nor give precedence to anyone based on this; rather they accepted everyone because people are equal in this affair.

Quraish’s rulership, the Umayyad rulership and the Abbasid rulership ended; then the rulership of the Mamluks arose and thereafter the rulership of Banee Uthman – meaning in the beginning when it was upright; so the Muslims obeyed them and they became the leaders and rulers, because the Muslims saw that there was welfare for the people in doing so (based on the texts of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, and understanding of the Sahaabah). Therefore, class differentiation and its practice was abolished from the beginning; rather no one had any reservation in implementing Islam. So, Islamic history attests to the implementation of this great principle. (1)

Seeking After Leadership Is Not Allowed

Politician: “Vote for me”. Citizen, “No”. Politician: “Why”. Citizen: “Abu Musa [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “Two men from my tribe and I came to the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]. One of the two men said to the Prophet, ‘O Allah’s Messenger! Appoint me as a governor’ and so did the second. The Prophet said, ‘We do not assign the authority of ruling to those who ask for it, nor to those who are keen to have it'”. [Saheeh al-Bukhaari. 7149]

Imaam Al-Bukhaari [rahimahullaah] said, ‘’Chapter: If somebody does not seek authority of ruling, then Allaah will surely help him [if he is given such authority].’’

Narrated Abdur-Rahmaan Bin Samura: The Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, ‘’O Abdur-Rahmaan! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand, then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking [for it], then you will be helped [by Allaah] in it. If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then you should expiate your oath and do what is better.’’ [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari, Number 7146]

The one who seeks authority and receives it will not be helped. It is well known that to be in authority is accompanied by difficulties, so the one who does not receive help from Allaah will be trapped within it and thus loses both his Dunyah and Aakhirah. Therefore, the sensible person does not ask for authority, but if he is suitable and it is given to him without him asking for it, then indeed the truthful and trustworthy one [i.e. The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wsallam)] has promised him that Allaah will help him. [An Excerpt: Chapter: (باب من لم يسأل الإمارة أعانه الله عليها )in ‘kitaab al Ahkaam’ Saheeh Al-Bukhaari with Fat-hul Baari]

When Is One Excused For Desiring Leadership

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said: The difference between the desire for righteous leadership as opposed to merely desiring leadership: It is the difference between exalting the command of Allaah and being sincere to Allaah as opposed to love of exalting oneself and hastening towards the fulfilment of desires. Indeed the one who is sincere to Allaah and exalts Him, he loves that his Lord is obeyed and not disobeyed; [loves that] Allaah’s Word should be uppermost and that all affairs of the religion should be established sincerely for the sake of Allaah, and [that] the servants should obey Allaah’s commands and keep away from what Allaah has forbidden. He is sincere in his servitude to Allaah and sincere to Allaah’s creation in calling them to the path of Allaah. So he loves to be [an upright] leader in the religion; rather he asks his Lord to make him from the leaders of the righteous people who are followed, just as he is a follower of the righteous. Therefore, if this servant -[i.e. this person] who calls to Allaah- loves that he is considered dignified in the eyes [of the people], revered and beloved in their hearts and is one followed amongst them, so that he is trusted by them and they follow the example of the Messenger through him, then this [desire of his] does not harm him; rather he is praised for it. That is because the caller to Allaah loves that Allaah is obeyed and singled out in worship. He loves to be a means by way of which [people] are aided to [obey Allaah, single out Allaah in worship and follow the Messenger]. And due to this, [when] Allaah mentioned those chosen slaves of His- whom He praised in His revelation and will grant the best of reward on the day they meet Him- He mentioned them with the best of their deeds and characteristics, and then said: [ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٍ۬ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا – And those who say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqun]. (pious) 25:74

So they ask Allaah to grant them the comfort of the eye by making their wives and offspring obedient to Allaah, and to grant them happiness in their hearts due to being followed by the righteous in obedience and servitude to Allaah. That is because a trustworthy leader in the religion co-operates with [others] upon obedience [to Allaah and His Messenger], and that is to call them to [sound] leadership in the religion, whose foundation is patience and certainty, as Allaah [The Most High] said: [ وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ يَہۡدُونَ بِأَمۡرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُواْ‌ۖ وَڪَانُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ – And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). [32:24]

Therefore, in their supplication -[in Soorah Al-Furqaan Ayah 74]- to Allaah that He makes them leaders of the righteous people, is that Allaah guides them, grants them success, bless them with beneficial knowledge and righteous actions–outwardly and inwardly–without which [sound] leadership in the religion cannot be achieved.

This is different from [merely] seeking leadership, for indeed its seekers hasten to obtain it in order to achieve their goals, [such as] exaltedness in the earth; enslavement of the hearts to them, attachment to them and aiding them in all their goals, whilst they are exalted and everyone subservient to them. This pursuit of leadership brings about corruption-which none can enumerate except Allaah- such as rebellion, envy, transgression, enmity, oppression, trials, being ardent in defending oneself at the expense of violating the rights of Allaah, exalting those despised by Allaah and belittling those honoured by Allaah. (2)

Legitimacy, Consent, and the Search for a Successor! Brief Rebuttal Against Some Views of Frederic C. Hof – (Former US Special Envoy to Syria) – Regarding Rulership In Islam:

https://salaficentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/legimacy_and_Consent.pdf

[Ref 1: Listen here: https://video.link/w/j4azb ]
[Ref 2: An Excerpt from ‘Ar-Rooh’ pages 487-489’. slightly paraphrased]