Having the right leadership traits is more crucial than ever in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world. Modern leaders frequently have to face complex challenges while being expected to uphold strong ethical principles.
In Islam, leadership does not only involve making major decisions, setting the right directions for companies, and influencing others. It is more than that. A leader must guide their people with honesty, fairness, and compassion. Before expecting others to follow, leaders must first instill the desired leadership traits in themselves.
As emotional intelligence and ethical leadership gain more attention in organizations, the timeless principles of Islamic leadership offer valuable lessons.
Here are eight leadership traits rooted in Islamic values that can inspire and guide leaders now and in the future.
1. Integrity (Amanah)
Integrity, or Amanah, is probably one of the most important leadership traits a leader can possess. In Islam, leaders are entrusted with the welfare of other people, and thus their actions need to demonstrate honesty and transparency. Having integrity is about building trust in your team, clients, and community. A leader who acts with integrity creates a culture of honesty and respect that leads to long-term success. Honesty is also a part of the obligation of Muslims, and they need to be accountable to others and Allah (SWT).
Indeed, studies have consistently shown that trust is one of the biggest drivers of employee engagement and loyalty in today’s business world. According to Harvard Business Review, people who work at companies with higher trust in their people are reported to have lower stress levels, higher energy, and engagement, and less burnout, and are more satisfied with their own lives.
2. Justice (Adl)
Adl, or justice, represents an essential portion of Islamic leadership. Every decision shall be conducted justly and fairly, neither more nor less, neither morally wrong nor oppressing. One factor that is constantly mentioned in the Quran with regard to conduct is the importance of practicing justice. Under a leader who practices justice, everyone will feel valued and respected. In return, the working environment is harmonious, and people are willing to work together. According to the Quran, no matter whether someone is rich or poor, one should be firm in justice:
”O believers! Stand firm for justice as witnesses for Allah, even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or close relatives. Be they rich or poor, Allah is best to ensure their interests…” (Quran 4:135). This helped our relationship with others to become good, minimizing friction, and hence establishing stability within an organization.
3. Empathy (Rahmah)
Empathy, or in Arabic known as Rahmah, forms the basis for the understanding of the needs and challenges of others. This is one of the key leadership traits of the great leaders, such as Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Islamic leadership emphasizes that leaders should treat others with compassion and mercy. It means more than just listening to people; it requires a profound understanding of the emotional and practical challenges of those who are under one’s care.
In leadership, empathy means understanding the struggles of others and offering solutions. It also involves being patient and forgiving. When someone needs help, such as training to improve their skills, it is the leader’s responsibility to guide and support their growth. Today, leaders who show empathy engage better with their teams and leave no one behind. In fact, those under empathetic leadership are more likely to contribute more to the organization as they feel valuable and supported by the leaders.
4. Wisdom (Hikmah)
A really wise leader is knowledgeable but, more so, knows how to apply his knowledge in various circumstances. Hikmah, which means wisdom, encourages thoughtful decision-making. Wisdom in Islam is valued as it balances the intellect with experience and intuition. Leaders possessing wisdom, therefore, know the aftermath of all their actions and decisions taken.
In today’s fast-moving world, leaders need to be aware and able to adapt to the changing work environment. For instance, to make a strategic decision, leaders need to have important information, or it can harm the business performance and team morale.
5. Accountability (Mas’uliyyah)
Mas’uliyyah, or accountability, is one of the crucial leadership traits that the leader in Islam has to possess. In Islam, leaders are held accountable for their decisions and the well-being of the people being led. Accountability is being transparent in actions taken and responsible for whatever consequences result, either good or bad. Without accountability, employees lack clarity on how their work aligns with company goals, often due to unclear expectations from leaders. For example, a vague statement like, “Let’s make people recognize us as a leader,” leaves room for misinterpretation and disengagement.
However, if a leader sets clear goals like, “We aim for 1,000 sign-ups by month-end through targeted emails and social media,” and assigns specific roles to team members, everyone works towards the same objective with a clear purpose. This is why this trait is crucial to apply in today’s workplace since it will keep leaders focused on the goals and instill a sense of responsibility and accountability within employees.
6. Humility (Tawadhu’)
The humble leader leads with grace but never above his or her team. In addition, Tawadhu teaches leaders to listen down and even learn from others, whatever position they may be holding. Islamic teachings mean that no one is above anybody, and this should be reflected in what leaders say and do.
Generally, humble leaders usually command more respect from their teams than other kinds of leaders. They don’t try to assert dominance by pointing faults or blame onto others just to divert away their weaknesses. This behavior often damages relationships more. Instead, humble leaders value and appreciate every contribution from each person within the organization, even when they are at their lowest times. Humble leaders build mutual respect and collaboration.
7. Vision (Ru’ya)
A leader with no vision is just like a ship without a compass. Ru’ya, or vision, is one of the leadership traits of a leader to guide towards a clear and inspiring future. The Prophet Muhammad in Islam was very well renowned for his visionary leadership, always looking ahead and inspiring his followers to work towards a better future. The visionary leader today needs, therefore, not only to be able to see opportunities but also to clearly communicate his vision to others, motivating and aligning the entire team in that direction.
8. Courage (Shuja’a)
Courage is having the guts to make strong decisions. The courageous leader will not shy away from challenges or difficult conversations; rather, he will confront them with confidence and conviction. They are not afraid of making mistakes or appearing small, because they recognize that everyone starts small before achieving greatness.
Above all, Islam encourages courage, especially in the light of what is right and just. The more courageous a leader is, the more it overflows into his team by making them confident enough to take on hard problems without giving up easily.
Final Thoughts
The leadership attributes above, which are integrity, justice, empathy, wisdom, accountability, humility, vision, and courage, remain as valid today as they were centuries ago. They can trust leaders with such leadership traits, come together to have work done, and create value in the process. With these attributes, leaders will be more capable of facing challenges in the modern world while remaining true to values that are both universal and timeless.
