ASSIGNMENT NO 1

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP &

MANAGEMENT

SUBMITTED BY : ZEESHAN AFZAL

IST SEMESTER B.ED (SU-20-01-145-032)

SUBMITTED TO DR WASAL KHAN

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

SARHAD UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

PESHAWAR
 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ISLAMIC ADMINISTRATION

Administration has come until today as a phenomenon from the time of the Prophet Adam (as).
It has seemed as one of the most basic needs of humanity, because the innate nature of human
requires an efficient administration, and many natural events, which we can call the innate
nature of the universe, also teach us the administrative mentality.

To be able to define a system as an administration, these four elements must be together:

1- A particular thought system

2- A community that gathers around this thought system

3- The goals to be pursued, and the aims to be achieved, which are proper to the thought
system

4- A leader, or administrator, who coordinates and organizes all these elements in a particular
way of relationship and balance and ensures supervision. 1

Now, in consideration of the elements mentioned above, we can evaluate the administrative
mentality of Islamic civilization as follows:

1- Our thought system is Islam which we describe as “greater humanity” and the borders of
which are drawn by the Islamic scholars.

2- Our community – currently – is the 2-billion Muslim ummah.

3- Our aim and purpose are to secure the happiness of the two worlds, make the justice
prevalent under the sun, establish the order of the world, and raise the perfect human. And
many others can be mentioned here.

4- Our leader, administrator, is the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and, after his passing away, the
Khalifah who is charged with the Prophet’s duties except prophethood and represents him.
Before we continue with the principles of administrative mentality, I would like to draw your
attention to two hadiths that form the backbone of Islam’s administrative mentality:

The principles of administrative mentality in Islam

The administrative mentality in Islam is based on five elements: Trust, Justice, Merit,
Consultation, and Legitimacy. Islamic scholars stated that the administrations that are formed
based on these elements are ‘legitimate.’ 4

1- Trust

Trust means “confidence, uprightness, a thing put into someone’s protection.” As a term it has
got the meanings that the position of service and authority is entrusted to the administrator’s
protection, and these positions can be protected by confidence and uprightness.

In Islamic civilizations, administration is not only entrusted to administrators. The administered

is also held responsible for checking the administrator. It is the aim of an ideal society that the
administration is both entrusted to the administrator and the administered. In a narration, it is
said that the best of the jihads is to say the truth to the face of tyrant ruler. When he became
the Khalifah, Abu Bakr (ra) said, “Warn me if I stray from the justice.” Upon this, the companions
said, “We correct you with our swords.” Omar (ra) said when he became the Khalifah: “O
people! Obey me as long as I obey Allah and our Prophet. If I stray from the right path, correct
me with your swords.”

2- Justice

Imam Bediuzzaman Said Nursi evaluated the concept of justice in two ways: the positive justice,
which is to give the rightholder his due; and the negative justice, which is to discipline the
wrongful. 5

Legal arrangements have come into existence with the need for protecting the human honour.
The humanity has always been in search of being governed with justice; and the justice has
been accepted as the basis of the state. Prophets and holy books were sent to secure the
justice. Allah (swt) has commanded people to be just: “Indeed, Allah orders justice and good
conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression.” (Nahl,
16:90)
Another verse from the Qur’an about this subject is as follows: “O you who have believed, be
persistently standing firm for Allah , witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people
prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed,
Allah is acquainted with what you do.” (Ma’idah, 5:8)

3- Merit (suitability, capability)

It means “being worthy of, suitability, capability, competence.” In Islamic civilization, the
following five elements have vital importance in terms of an administrator or leader’s having the
merit: ‘ilm, taqwa, akhlaq, cability to govern, and justice.

Allah (swt) shows Adam (as)’s suitability for being the Khalifah on the earth with regard to his
scholarly superiority. By teaching all of the names, Allah (swt) showed that Adam (as) – and the
humanity in his person – is superior, under certain conditions, to the angel and is suitable for
being the Khalifah of the earth. 6

If an administrator does not have taqwa, that is, if he is not afraid of Allah (swt), his ‘ilm
(knowledge) has no validity. Because someone who cannot apply his knowledge to his life
cannot be appointed as an administrator.

Moreover, the most important characteristic that an administrator should have while leading
the Muslims is the moral, or akhlaq. Only one example is enough for this matter. Our Lord, Allah
(swt), addressed our Prophet (pbuh) in a verse: “So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you
were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would
have disbanded from about you.” (Al ‘Imran, 3:159)

4- Consultation (Istishara)

Mash‘ar is the beehive, shura is the honeycomb, mishwar is the spatula for gathering the honey,
and istishara is to gather the honey. (Mütercim Asım Efendi, Kamus Translation)

Holding a consultation with each other and making a decision about things, and then continuing
accordingly is called “istishara.” It is one of the fundamentals of Islamic administration. The
verse 42:38 (“…whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves…”) was revealed
at the period of Makka, when the Islamic State (in Madina) was not established yet. It is
emphasized in the verses of the Qur’an that the understanding of consultation should direct the
life.
“…And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation,
there is no blame upon either of them….” (Baqarah, 2:233)

“…and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah….” (Al
‘Imran, 3:159)

5- Legitimacy

Legitimacy means being proper to the public morality and the law. The legitimacy in Islamic
administration is the regulations which carry positive value in terms of religiosity, morality and
law, and which the religion approves. Legitimacy is based on the superiority of Divine Law. The
ordinance of the Qur’an is clear in this subject:

“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among
you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe
in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.” (Nisa, 4:59)

Muslim administrators, in terms of authority, are the implementers of Allah (swt)’s ordinances.
They cannot act arbitrarily in legislation, implementation and judgement or make any
concession to a person or a group.

During his caliphate, Ali (ra) gave an order. After a while he wondered if his order was carried
out, and asked:

“Did you do what I told you?”

Having not carried out the order yet, ashamed and timid, they said, “No.”

Ali (ra) warned them as follows: “I swear by Allah, you either do what is commanded, or the
Jews and the Christian come and walk all over you.