Effective Leadership Habits: A Concise Guide From an Islamic Perspective

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: What is Leadership?

Chapter 2: Effective Leadership Habits

Chapter 3: Having Sincerity of Purpose

Chapter 4: Being Servant Leaders

Chapter 5: Leading with Integrity

Chapter 6: Communicating with Impact

Chapter 7: Dealing Justly with All

Chapter 8: Developing and Maintaining Trust

Chapter 9: Engaging in Participative Leadership

Chapter 10: Possessing and Projecting a Positive Attitude

Chapter 11: Understanding Balance and Relative Priorities

Chapter 12: Leading with Empathy

Chapter 13: Practicing Self-Care

Chapter 14: Conclusion

Appendix A: Selected Ahadith/sayings of Prophet Muhammad (saw) on Leadership

Appendix B: Caliph Ali’s Letter to Malik Al-Ashtar

About the Author

Works Cited

Index

Introduction

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his book is a guide to aid anyone looking to develop and/or improve their leadership skills. It is presented in a concise format to enable quick comprehension of important leadership principles and some key leadership habits and practices of highly effective leaders. It draws on universal leadership principles as taught in Islam and is applicable to anyone, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, looking to become better leaders.

Islam teaches that God-consciousness should pervade all aspects of human life and should not be limited to religious rituals alone. Thus, leading ethically, and striving to excel in one’s role as a leader is considered a religious duty for any Muslim leader.

This book draws on Islamic principles as taught in the Qur’an and Sunnah (sayings and practices of the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, peace be upon him), and on examples of effective leadership practices as demonstrated by the Prophet and his successors (Caliphs). These same values are observable in effective, ethical leaders of various faiths and traditions, making these principles truly universal.

The book is inspired by the author’s own experience as a leader and C-suite executive in corporate America, as well as his extensive study of management and leadership principles from both the Islamic and Western traditions. It is the author’s hope that it brings benefit to a varied audience looking for guidance on universal and everlasting principles of ethical and effective leadership.

Note on Arabic words, Translations and cited Islamic Works

Arabic terms are translated in most instances in the book. In a few cases, the transliteration of an Arabic term is also included to maintain as close a tie to its original Arabic word as possible. The words Allah and God are used interchangeably throughout the book. Additionally, the names of referenced chapters in the Qur’an (Islam’s Holy text) are cited along with the chapter and verse numbers, (e.g. Al-Anbiyah 21:73, refers to Surat Al-Anbiyah (Chapter of the Prophets/ Chapter 21, Verse 73 of the Qur’an). The referenced verses are also presented in both the original Arabic text and the English translation of the meaning.

It is customary in Islamic tradition when referencing the Prophets of God to add a salutary prayer after their names. Hence, the statement, Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (abbreviated in this book as saw), which means peace be upon him, is repeated after the name of Prophet Muhammad (saw) in the following pages.

Finally, there are extensive references to the sayings (Hadith/pl. Ahadith) of Prophet Muhammad (saw), throughout the book. These references are from classical authoritative works of Hadith, including Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud, and others. The Hadith work or works from which a particular saying is quoted is listed after the respective hadith.

Chapter 1: What is Leadership?

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here are many definitions of leadership. A common theme present in most of those definitions is the idea of an individual (the leader) exerting influence over others (a group or groups) towards the achievement of some common goals or purpose.

Islam views leadership as a trust (amanah) conferred on an individual by those he or she leads; a trust that he will guide them, protect their interests, and exert himself in bringing benefit to them while averting any undesirable outcomes from them. This fundamentally describes the nature of leadership, irrespective of the context. There is another critical dimension to the concept of leadership as taught in Islam, which is that not only is the leader accountable to the people he or she leads and who have entrusted him with their affairs, he is also (and most importantly) accountable to God for his actions and for the sincerity of his efforts in the discharge of his duties. The trust then is conferred on the leader by God, and by the people he serves.

Leadership involves exerting influence over the efforts of others, who entrust the leader with the protection of their interests and their welfare, and the accomplishment of the group’s goals. This trust is a divine responsibility, the discharge of which should be considered with seriousness. There is a grave warning against negligence in this respect. The Prophet (saw) said, "Verily, you may earnestly desire a position of leadership, but you will regret it on the Day of Resurrection." - Sahih Al-Bukhari

Hence from an Islamic perspective, leadership effectiveness can be thought of in terms of the degree to which the constituents’ interests and goals are met, the means via which those outcomes were pursued and achieved, and the degree to which the actions and intentions of the leader reflect the consciousness of his or her accountability to God in the discharge of their duties.

It therefore behooves a leader to strive to improve his or her leadership skills, and to strive to be the best leader that they can be. Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: Verily, Allah has prescribed excellence in everything. -Sahih Muslim.

He also said: Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim -Sunan Ibn Majah

Thus, a leader should pursue leadership excellence, and seek to improve his or her skills by acquiring knowledge on how to lead effectively, including seeking out and learning from the examples of successful leaders.

It is not uncommon for someone to feel ill-prepared or unqualified for leadership, and to shy away from leadership responsibilities. Humility and a strong sense of accountability often cause some of the most qualified people to shy away from leadership positions. Even the most accomplished leaders can be afflicted with the so-called impostor syndrome where they experience phycological doubts about their own qualifications and accomplishments and harbor fears of being found to be frauds. Focusing on educating oneself on leadership principles and practicing the habits we shall discuss in this book can be helpful in dealing with these phycological barriers, particularly for new leaders.

Nonetheless, it is important to have enough self-awareness of ones capabilities, and to seek to improve oneself in areas where one is deficient in leadership qualities. Indeed, effective leadership principles can be taught but the leader still must have the interest and capability to put those principles to work. Hence the earlier warning that many people who assume positions of leadership will in the end be regretful and would have been better off not taking those positions.

This is illustrated by an incident involving Abu Dharr, a companion of Prophet Muhammad (saw), who reported the response he got upon asking for a leadership position. "O Abu Dharr, the Prophet said to him, you are weak, and it is a position of public trust. Verily, on the Day of Resurrection it will only result in regret, except for one who takes it by right and fulfills its duties." In another narration of this incident, the Prophet said to Abu Dharr, "I love for you what I love for myself. Do not command even two people, and do not manage the property of an orphan." - Sahih Muslim. We see herein the advice given to Abu Dharr, an upright and pious man, who nonetheless, the Prophet deemed ill-suited for leadership positions.

Thus, a person should not permit self-doubt to discourage him from serving and should instead strive to improve his leadership skills