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Decision making means choosing an affair among others through gathering information and analyzing data scientifically; this widens prospects for different solutions. Surely, there are some affairs that affect decision making, we mention some of them as follows:

-reading related information with analysis

-knowing the issue’s truth

-diagnosing the affair correctly

-widening thinking prospects

-getting suitable solutions

-being aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the affair

-knowing the decision’s importance

-knowing the affair’s different sides

We can compare decision making with the compact discs which receive the information as numerical symbols, then transform it into a picture and audio. Decision making includes studying the affair from all sides, then evaluating it and finally choosing the best one.

Conditions for a right decision-making:

There is a group of conditions that affect the rightness of decision making. These conditions are related to the nobility and the strong-will of the decision maker. We can clearly see these traits in the biographies of the prophets (peace be upon them), especially the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). Those truly exceptional people didn’t hesitate to do their duties for a blink. They were responsible for informing their message. In difficult situations, they used to make the most difficult decisions without any hesitation. Through good governance, they used to choose the best path in life and cross it with their firm determination, and solid will.

In the mission of our honorable prophet Mohammad (pbuh), which remained for 23 years, we find that many of the decisions he made with strong will, have turned things around such as: damaging the Idols of Al Kaaba, ruining Darar Mosque, insisting on applying God’s limits, and other incidents that show his strong will.

Same for Al Imam Ali (pbuh) who has made fateful decisions that no one else dares to make, except those of great ambitions. We can see this clearly in his talks and lectures. One time, he said about the stolen money from the Muslims Treasury:” I swear to god that if the money was paid for marriage and owning slaves, I will take it back. 1

Thus, excessive and misplaced fear is a sign of cowardice and loss of will, which are not the traits for those in the position of authority2. A manager, or a capable official, and the organizer of living issues are those who can make the needed decision with firm determination when they feel that the public interest requires that. Therefore, before making any decision, they should do the necessary counseling and investigation, as much as they can, in order to choose the right path, know its points of strength, so their decision will be correct with good consequences. Then the result will be the fruit of that success. 3

Al Imam Ali (pbuh) insisted on this truth by saying:” Victory is achieved by certainty and determination”. 4

Certainty in counseling, to organize the living issues, should be in the framework of flexibility. But when making a decision, you should get out of this framework and be certain and determined. This strategy in organizing living issues is one of the reasons for finishing work on time, standing in the way of the ambitions of others, paving the needed circumstances to organize living issues, and preventing others from interfering in the private affairs.

Kinds of Decisions:

The decisions made by a human being are of two kinds:

-decision of short term goals: include daily living issues, which are usually repetitive.

-strategic decisions of long term goals: usually they are affected by unknown affairs not taken into consideration.

A person, before making any decision, should take into consideration the factors related to the living and other important factors such as the economic affairs because sometimes the decision is fateful and may damage a complete entity. 5

The Art of Management in Living - A Novelistic Quranic Vision, Al Maaref Islamic and Cultural Institution

[1]) Ibn Shahr Ashub, Muhammad bin Ali: The virtues of the Abi Talib family, Lat, Najaf Al-Ashraf, Al-Rawdah Al-Haidari Holy Publications, 1376 AH, p. 377.

([2])Imam Ali (pbuh) said: “Excessive cowardice results from self-weakness.” Al-Wasiti, Oyoun Al-Hakam wa Al-Moawaaz, M.S., p. 298.

([3])Al-Hakimi, Studying the Phenomenon of Poverty and Development (Badeedeh Shanassi Faqr and Extension), M.S., Part 3, pp. 462-463.

([4]) Al-Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar, MS, Part 74, p. 165.

([5]) Al-Talib, Management and Leadership in Islamic Organizations (Directorates of Warhabri, Dar Tekleha-Islami), MS, pp. 103-109.