Building responsible men for tomorrow (Part 2)

Emotional intelligence, as described by Mayer and Salovey (1997), is the ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions wisely. In leadership, it enables calm decision-making, empathy, and resilience.

A teacher, imam, or entrepreneur with high emotional intelligence inspires trust and cooperation, even in adversity. Spiritual intelligence, defined by Emmons (2000) and King (2008), is the ability to apply spiritual values to daily life — to find purpose, act with compassion, and remain morally anchored in challenging situations. It helps young men connect personal ambition with divine accountability.

Together, emotional and spiritual intelligence cultivate ethical leadership — the kind that prioritises service over status, integrity over image, and community welfare over personal gain.

Such leadership is what Ghana, and the world, needs: men who lead with conscience, competence, and compassion — embodying responsibility in every sphere of life.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “True education must correspond to the surrounding circumstances or it is not a healthy growth.” For Ghanaian youth, education must therefore include mentorship, entrepreneurship, and service.

A responsible man takes charge of his learning, his career, and his growth. He invests in his future with diligence, honesty, and a commitment to contribute positively to his society.

4. Responsibility in marriage and family life

Family is the bedrock of any society. Strong nations are built on strong families — and strong families depend on responsible men. The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” (Tirmidhi, Hadith 1162).

 In Islam, leadership in the home is not domination; it is service. The husband is a caretaker (qawwam), entrusted to love, protect, and guide with mercy. Responsibility in marriage means emotional intelligence, financial prudence, and spiritual leadership.

Sociologist Anthony Giddens (2013) in Sociology notes that modern family life requires emotional participation, not just financial provision. Men must be present not only as breadwinners but as role models, listeners, and teachers.

In today’s Ghana, we see families crumbling due to absentee fatherhood, domestic violence, and lack of communication. True masculinity is not measured by authority, but by empathy and responsibility. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم demonstrated this balance helping with housework, caring for his family, and treating all with gentleness.

When men lead with compassion and discipline, families thrive and when families thrive, nations prosper.

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai

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