In this brief talk we observe a striking shift of reverence from the sultan—who first bowed before Allah and let divine humility shape his rule—to today’s cultural icons, whose fame often lacks any grounding in higher purpose. The old Ottoman courts taught that power without submission to God is empty; the sultan’s foremost duty was to submit, allowing his authority to be a service rather than a privilege.
The prophetic tradition reinforces this insight: “Whoever humbles himself for Allah, Allah raises him.” When leaders place their ego before the Divine, they lose the very foundation of true leadership. By contrast, when society lifts individuals whose only compass is fame, we replace lasting values with fleeting admiration. This reminder invites us to seek role models who embody humility, service, and devotion.
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