You will find, I think, that those Islamist leaders with the most superficial understanding of the religion will be those who can endlessly talk about it, but who have no concept of how to implement it in real life.
They have speeches and slogans, but not strategies. They have Khutbahs but no Khutat. They offer motivational Islamic preaching , but not actionable Islamic policies.
And, I think, you will often find that they are themselves removed and distant from the people. They do not live in the same conditions, do not know about them, do not understand them, do not really even care about them. They talk but do not listen. And all of this indicates contempt, not compassion for the Muslims, and this cannot exist in a heart that understands the Deen.
Remember who will be the first three people judged on Yaum al-Qiyamah; those who did the best deeds, but did them fraudulently; the Mujahid, the scholar, and the charitable rich man..
Ibn Taymiyyah said, ‘The best of people after the Prophets are the Ulemaa’ and the Shuhadaa’ and the Siddeeqoon and the Mukhlisoon, and the worst of the people is the one who imitates them while giving the false impression that he is from them, while he is not from them’