A Bedouin visiting Basrah asked its inhabitants, “Who is the leader of this area?”
They answered, “Ḥasan al-Basri.”
The Bedouin inquired, “Isn’t he a descendant of slaves?”
They answered, “Yes.”
The Bedouin: “How then did he become their leader?”
They said, “Because our people are in need of his knowledge while he has no need of our dunya (worldly possessions).”

The Bedouin replied, “That is real leadership.”

Ibn al-Qayyim