The Paradigms of Administrative Leadership: A Comparative Study Between Western Theories and Islamic Principles

Abstract

This research article is part of a broader study on the role of administrative leadership grounded in Islamic principles in developing the competencies of educational personnel in private Islamic schools. The objective is to compare the conceptual foundations and core components of administrative leadership as articulated in Western leadership theories and in Islamic principles. The study employed a documentary research design. Data were collected from relevant sources, including the Qur’an, the Sunnah, books, research articles, academic papers, and theses. The selection of those documents followed Scott’s (1990); (2006) criteria: (1) authenticity, (2) credibility, (3) representativeness, and (4) meaning (clarity). Data analysis was conducted using content analysis and inductive analysis as the main methods, with comparative analysis employed to identify similarities and differences between the two conceptual approaches. The research findings are presented through descriptive analysis. The findings indicate that administrative leadership as conceived in Western theories and in Islamic principles shares important commonalities yet exhibits significant differences in conceptual foundations, ultimate aims, and fundamental components. Western leadership theories, being human-constructed, reject divine guidance and aim primarily at worldly success. In contrast, leadership based on Islamic principles is God-centric, integrating religious and administrative dimensions, and views every individual as a leader within the scope of their responsibilities. Consequently, its core components encompass both spiritual and behavioral dimensions. Western theories, on the other hand, emphasize skills, efficiency, and empirical outcomes. While both perspectives share certain leadership traits such as honesty and intelligence, their underlying philosophies and ultimate purposes are distinctly different.