Developing the Leader in the Light of Islam

K. M. Rahmatullah

FAVP & Faculty Member

Islami Bank Training & Research Academy

Leadership

Leadership is the art of motivating a group of

people to act toward achieving a common

goal.

In a business setting, this can mean directing

workers and colleagues with a strategy to meet

the company's needs.

Leadership Definition

Leadership is the ability to

obtain followers

Leadership is an ability to move

people towards goals

Leadership Definition

Leadership

Ability Followerto move Goal

Leader

ability

Influencing people

Communication and recognition

Leadership is getting people to work

for you when they are not obligated

Five major ways to move people

Making Vision

Luring people

Public speaking

Ability of persuasion

By being the role model

Goal

Characteristics of leader managers

Leader managers are long-term thinkers who see beyond

the day’s crisis and the quarterly report.

Leader managers’ interests in their companies do not stop

with the units they head. They want to know how all of

the company’s departments affect one another, and they

are constantly reaching beyond their specific areas of influence.

Leader managers put heavy emphasis on vision, values, and

motivation.

Leader managers have strong political skills to cope with

conflicting requirements of multiple constituents.

Leader managers don’t accept the status

“Management is doing things right;

leadership is doing the right

things.” -

Peter Drucker

- Stephen Covey

“Management is efficiency in climbing

the ladder of success; leadership

determines whether the ladder is leaning

against the right wall.”

Leadership in Islam

In Islamic Shariah, leadership is mentioned specially by the word

Khilafa

Imam

Amir-ul-Muminin,

Amir,

Sayyid,

Qa`eed,

Malik,

Sheikh

Ra`i,

Leadership in Islam

Ibn Khaldun says

Leadership is an outcome of interaction between different social

groups

Al Buraey says

An Islamic leadership is to the one that seeks happiness for the

individual and society

Dr. Rafik Issa Beekun & Dr. Jamal Badawi says

Leadership is a sacred position that can solve the problems of

humanity and guide them to the eternal betterment of here and

hereafter

Leadership that has nothing to do with

leadership

Leadership with Knowledge

Leadership with Taqwa

Leadership with Seniority

Leadership with Age

Leadership with Gender

Leadership with the Body

Importance of leadership in Islam

Importance of leadership in Islam

Islam urges leadership obligatory. The

Messenger of Allah said,

"When three persons set out on a journey, they

should appoint one of them as their leader.”[AbuDawud].

ن اعاةا إلا بإمااراة ، والا إمااراةا إلا بطااعاة ، فاما ما اعاة ، والا جا ما ما إلا بجا لا إسلاومو عالاى غاير داه ق ا وا مان سا لاهم ، وا يااة لاو وا انا حا ومو عالاى الفقو ، كا داه ق ا وا سا

لاهم كا لاو وا لا انا ىا .فقو،كا]باب في ذهابي العيلمي -سنن الدارمي[

Importance of leadership in Islam

Servant-Leader

OriginsThe concept of servant-leadership is thousands of years old.

Introduction > Background > Characteristics > Paradoxes > Practice > Examples > More

375 B.C. Chanakya’s Arthashastra:

The [leader] shall consider as good, not what pleases himself

but what pleases his subjects.

600 B.C. Lao Tzu:

The greatest leader forgets himself and attends to the

development of others.

1970’s Robert K. Greenleaf:

The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural

feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first.

† © 2008 Benjamin Lichtenwalner

Introduction > Background > Characteristics > Paradoxes > Practice > Examples > More

Martin Luther King,

Mother Theresa

Mahatma Gandhi

† © 2008 Benjamin Lichtenwalner

Examples of historic Servant-Leaders

Lao Tzu

What is Servant Leadership

As a servant leader, you're a "servant first" , who

Focuses on the needs of others, especially team

members, before you consider your own.

Acknowledges other people's perspectives

Gives them the support they need to meet their work

and personal goals,

Involves them in decisions where appropriate

According to Islam, the two primary roles of a leader

are those of servant-leader and guardian-leader.

A leader is the servant of his followers (sayyid al

qawn khadimuhum). He is to seek their welfare and

guide them towards good.

As the guardian-leader the Islamic leader protects

his community against autocracy and oppression,

encourages God-consciousness and taqwa, and

promotes justice.

Servant-Leader and Guardian-Leader

Servant-Leader and Guardian-Leader

ادمهم يد القوم خا سايدىم خادم القوم سا

Servant-Leader and Guardian-Leader

كانا صلى الله عليو وسلم ياخيط ثوباو »ل الرجال في ل ما يعما وياخصف ن اعلاو وي اعما

« بيوتهم

Leadership principles followed by the Prophet

Muhammad (PBUH)

An in depth study of the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shows that he followed principles listed as follow:

1st Principle: To begin from the possible

Aisha, She said: “Whenever the Prophet had to choose between two options, he always opted for the easier choice” (Al-Bukhari).

2nd Principle: To see advantage in disadvantage

The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) guided by the Qur’an (94: 5-6), saw opportunities in every problem.

Leadership principles followed by the Prophet Muhammad

(PBUH) (Cont.)

3rd Principle: To change the place of action

He migrated to find more suitable place to fulfill his mission, that was to deliver the message of Islam.

4th Principle: To make a friend out of an enemy (Qur’an 41:34)

The life of the Prophet is an historical testimony of this. He returned bad deeds by doing good and that had a conquering effect over his enemies.

5th Principle: To turn minus into plus

A British orientalist remarked “He faced adversity with the determination to writing success out of failure”.

6th Principle: The power of peace is stronger than the power of violence

He ordered his direst opponents to go free after the conquest of Mecca. That resulted in them to willingly and immediately accept Islam.

Leadership principles followed by the Prophet Muhammad

(PBUH) (Cont.)

7th Principle: Not to be a dichotomous thinker

He always looked for a third option instead of focusing on 2 only.

8th Principle: To bring the battle in one’s own favorable field

He refused to engage in battles if he can sign treaties that can allow the confrontation of ideas instead of fighting. He knew Islam will prevail in those cases.

9th Principle: Gradualism instead of radicalism

He implemented social changes gradually rather than radically attacking all aspects at once.

10th Principle: To be pragmatic in controversial matters

He was willing to compromise in order to reach agreement as long as that does not affect the Islamic faith.

5 LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP

Level 1 Position : Rights

Level 2 Permission : Relationships

Level 3 Production : Results

Level 4 People Development : Reproduction

Level 5 Personhood : Respect

9 Unique Perspectives On What Makes A Great Leader

The Key to Leadership: PRIORITIES

The Most Important Ingredient of Leadership : INTEGRITY

The Ultimate Test of Leadership: CREATING POSITIVE

CHANGE

The Quickest Way to Gain Leadership: PROBLEM-SOLVING

The Extra Plus in Leadership: ATTITUDE

Developing Your Most Appreciable Asset : PEOPLE

The Indispensable Quality of Leadership : VISION

The Price Tag of Leadership: SELF-DISCIPLINE

The Most Important Lesson of Leadership: STAFF DEVELOPMENT

THE KEY TO LEADERSHIP

PRIORITIES : The Pareto Principle

Time : 20 percent of our time produces 80 percent of the results.

Counseling : 20 percent of the people take up 80 percent of our time.

Products : 20 percent of the products bring in 80 percent of the profit.

Reading : 20 percent of the book contains 80 percent of the

content.

Job : 20 percent of our work gives us 80 percent of our

satisfaction.

Speech : 20 percent of the presentation produces 80 percent of the

impact.

Leadership : 20 percent of the people will make 80 percent of the

decisions.

4 CRITICAL SKILLS OF BANKING LEADERS TODAY

VISION CASTING

TECHNOLOGICAL LITERACY

ADAPTABILITY

STRONG EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT

Four major problems facing the Islamic Leadership.

Un-Islamic Behavior

Inefficiency

Backwardness

Al-Fikr (Intellectual understanding)

Strategic Plan

Understanding the present

Putting a clear picture of the future

Have a plan to move from present to future &

Understanding the resistance that will stop you from

reaching that future and overcoming that resistance.

THANK YOU FOR

LISTENING