AN ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP MODEL FOR HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS: A VALUES-BASED FRAMEWORK GROUNDED IN AHL AL-SUNNAH WA AL-JAMA ‘AH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEPC.1164031Keywords:
Ahl Al-Sunnah Wa Al-Jama‘Ah, Higher Learning Institutions, Islamic Leadership, Islamic Education, Leadership ModelAbstract
This article proposes an Islamic Leadership Model for Higher Education Institutions (ILM-HLI) to strengthen Islamic education based on the values of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama ‘ah. Contemporary higher education is increasingly under pressure from globalization and value fragmentation, which requires a more integrated revelation-based leadership paradigm. Although existing leadership models in higher education partly emphasize modern administrative frameworks, there is still a need to better integrate Islamic epistemology, especially within the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah tradition. To fill this gap, this study has developed a holistic Islamic leadership model that can serve as a guideline for academic and institutional leadership. A qualitative design is used through document analysis, covering the main sources of Islam, namely al-Quran and al-Hadith, as well as the views of classical and contemporary scholars in Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah. Literature related to leadership inside educational institutions was also analyzed to ensure more complete data. The data were analyzed thematically to obtain the core constructs underlying the proposed model. The findings of this study demonstrated a conceptual model consisting of three interrelated dimensions: Rabbani Core (monotheism and spiritual awareness), Insani Core (moral integrity, ethical behavior, and social well-being), and Idari Core (strategic leadership and efficient governance). This dimension is supported by five core values, namely amanah (trust), 'adl (justice), hikmah (wisdom), syura (consultation), and ihsan (excellence). These five core values serve as the driving force behind leadership practices. Guided by the values of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama ‘ah, the ILM-HLI model highlights a systematic, value-based leadership approach. This approach not only enriches the existing field of knowledge but can also serve as a reference for implementers and policymakers. In practical terms, the results of this study can be used to improve the process of policy formulation, curriculum content organization, and planning of more strategic leadership development programs.
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