Leadership From The Perspective Of The Qur'an

Abstract

Leadership is a crucial element in social and organizational life. From the Islamic perspective, leadership is not merely authority but a trust (amanah) that must be exercised in accordance with Qur’anic values. This paper is motivated by the need for an ethical and spiritually grounded leadership concept to address contemporary leadership challenges marked by integrity and moral crises. The purpose of this paper is to examine leadership from the Qur’anic perspective and to identify the core principles of Islamic leadership. The discussion focuses on Qur’anic values related to trust, justice, consultation (shura), and leaders’ responsibility toward society. This study employs a qualitative library research method by analyzing relevant Qur’anic verses, classical and contemporary commentaries, and related scholarly literature. The findings indicate that the Qur’an frames leadership as a moral and spiritual responsibility requiring justice, honesty, wisdom, and commitment to public welfare. Leaders are accountable not only to their followers but ultimately to God. In conclusion, Qur’anic leadership principles remain relevant as ethical guidelines for developing leadership that is trustworthy, just, and oriented toward the common good.