One of the qualities of a good leader is integrity. However, to find a leader with high integrity today is like searching for "red sulphur" (al-kibrit al-ahmar), an analogy in the Arab tradition to indicate a difficult task, if not impossible.
Etymologically, "integrity" comes from the Latin word "integer", meaning "whole, entire" or "intact".
In mathematics, we have numbers that can be written without a fractional component called "integers". An integer is a number with no decimal or fractional part, whether negative or positive, including zero.
It is "a whole number", not a fraction. From "integer", it became "integritatem" (Latin), then "integrité (Old French), then it entered English sometime in the 1400s as "integrity", a noun meaning innocence, blamelessness, chastity and purity.
Integrity today refers to "the practice of being honest and showing consistence and uncompromising adherence to strong and ethical principles and values".
As we can see from the original word, integrity is embedded with the meaning "whole, intact" and "perfect", in the sense that one's honesty, principles, beliefs and ethical values remain intact, consistently unscratched and whole in spite of all temptations that lure one to be otherwise.
One of the many opposites of integrity is hypocrisy, where one knows ethical values and principles, but ignores them and acts in contrary to what one claims to believe.
The great British writer C.S. Lewis said "integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching".
People with religious beliefs, especially Muslims, who believe that God sees them 24/7, "doing the right thing even when no one is watching" does not mean that God is not watching them.
Islam is a religion that places seeking the pleasure of God as the ultimate aim in this world and encourages Muslims to do good at all times and forbids evil even when there is no one watching.
The "surveillance" or monitoring of fellow human beings over one's behaviour is not the way Islam teaches us, for we do good or avoid harm not for the pleasure or displeasure of others, but rather to see the pleasure of God alone.
Seeking the pleasure of fellow humans in doing good things is regarded as ostentation (riya') and regarded as haram in Islam for it is a form of polytheism (shirk).
Piety (taqwa) is the characteristic with the highest spiritual value and will determine one's worth in the Hereafter. It is to have God in your consciousness at all times in this world, whether you are in public or alone.
The Quran says: "Indeed, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the most pious of you (akramakum 'ind Allah atqakum)" (al-Hujurat: 13).
Integrity indicates honesty in all aspects of life. It includes taking only what belongs to you and not taking things that do not. This includes bribery. Taking bribes is one of the indicators of a person's lack of integrity.
Sadly, this is somewhat rampant in this country these days and is becoming cancerous now. A Muslim should not only avoid taking bribes, but also taking things that do not belong to him.
It was reported in the Prophetic Traditions that the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by a date on the road that had fallen and his sight fell upon it and he said, "if it was not that I fear the dates are from the alms, verily I would eat it".
In another tradition, the Prophet saw his grandson Hasan take a date from date alms and put it into his mouth, and the Prophet removed it from his mouth and said to Hasan: "do you know that we, the sons of Bani Hashim, do not eat alms".
What is the lesson from this tradition? Indeed, the lesson is that we, Muslims, do not take what does not belong to us even as small and trivial as a piece of a date, what more taking bribes!
The Prophet (may peace be upon him) is the most pious person and he is also the person with the highest integrity as demonstrated in his lifetime and recorded in numerous Prophetic traditions.
One who is pious undoubtedly is also a person with integrity.
The writer is senior fellow, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times