MAM Told Its People to Pray for Good Leaders. Now Comes the Hard Part

The Muslim Association of Malawi told its members to pray for good leaders on Independence Day. That was the easy part. The harder test comes on 26 July, when MAM holds its own chairmanship election and the community must show it means what it prays.

When the government announced it was scrapping state-funded Independence Day celebrations this year as part of austerity measures, MAM was among the first to applaud. Spokesperson Sheikh Dinala Chabulika described the move as patriotic, calling it "a demonstration of responsible leadership" in the face of the country's economic troubles. The association then instructed Muslims across Malawi to use their regular worship gatherings on 6 July to pray for the nation, for peace and prosperity, and specifically, in Chabulika's own words, to pray "that Malawi should have good leaders."

That is a worthy thing to say. It is also a challenge that cuts both ways. Malawi's Muslims make up a significant share of the national population. Their organised voice, through MAM, carries real weight in public affairs. When that voice calls for good leadership in the country, it implicitly commits MAM itself to the same standard.

The MAM chairmanship election on 26 July is not a footnote. It is a direct test of whether the association governs itself the way it asks the government to govern the nation. Transparency in how candidates are nominated, fairness in how members participate, and accountability in how the result is accepted, these are not optional extras for an Islamic body. They are amanah.

Du'a and civic engagement are not in competition. The Prophet, peace be upon him, taught that one ties the camel first and then trusts in Allah. Praying for good leaders while staying passive about who actually leads, whether in Lilongwe or in MAM's own offices, is half the work at best.

MAM's praise for the government's prayer-over-parties decision was genuine and well received. But the ummah is watching what happens next. July 6 was the du'a. July 26 is the action. Both matter.