It is a serious problem in the Islamic movement that Islamist leaders require none of the normal qualifications generally expected of other political figures. They may only be suited for delivering the Friday khutbah at a neighborhood masjid, but they can form party and become leaders without the slightest scrutiny. I am not talking necessarily about academic qualifications, but certainly intellectual ones. Even if they may possess knowledge of the Qur’an and Sunnah, they very often have no background in politics, economics or world affairs. They believe, and many of us go alongwith this belief, that it is sufficient for them to be decent, religious people in order for them to be good leaders; and this simplistic to the point of being childish.
I have not seen a single Islamist leader who has a clue about policy, with the exception of Shaykh Hazem. But what is worse than this is that I have not seen any Islamist leader questioned in detail about policy. They see their role, apparently, and we apparently accept this, as being restricted to mere rhetoric and demagoguery. They never have to explain how we are to apply Islamic law and principles to the actual issues our societies face. Rather, they seem to be engaged in a continuous campaign for power and position, without ever having to articulate what they would do with power if or when they attain it. And I think we have witnessed that this is because they really have no idea what to do with it.