Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2023)
Islamic Leadership: Towards a New Paradigm

Articles

“I Will Make Thee an Imam to the Nations”: Lessons for Nigerian Public Leaders in the Story of Prophet Ibrahim

https://doi.org/10.55831/ajis.v8i2.503

Published 12.08.2023

  • AbdulGafar Olawale Fahm
AbdulGafar Olawale Fahm
Senior Lecturer, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the contemporary challenge of bad leaders and public leadership in Nigeria and to identify the characteristics of Prophet Ibrahim as a model for leaders to enhance development in the country. This study is descriptive and qualitative. The country’s aspiration for credible public leadership, Prophetic Leadership Theory (PLT), public leadership within the context of spirituality and religion, and the life of Prophet Ibrahim from an Islamic perspective were reviewed, to identify a practical approach for Islamic public leadership ethics as a way of promoting national development. This article contributes to two main areas of development: Islamic public leadership, and various African contexts and cultures. Results show that prophetic public leadership ethics has the necessary attributes in enhancing the public leadership quality currently needed in Nigeria. The country leaders should focus on ethical and moral virtues, courage, avoiding corruption and corrupt practices, having the spirit of sacrifice and devotion, and being able to communicate sincerely to improve the nation-building process of the country. The prophetic public leadership framework proposed in this study can enhance the emergence of credible public leadership and leaders in Nigeria. The paper emphasizes the importance of prophetic public leadership ethics as a basis for choosing a leader and proposes a prophetic public leadership framework as shown by Prophet Ibrahim’s approach to be applied in Nigeria’s public leadership structure as a way of promoting national development.

Keywords

Public leadership, Prophet Ibrahim, Nation-building, Nigeria, Prophetic Leadership Theory

PDF

References

  1. Abah, Emmanuel, and Emeka Nwoba. “Effects of Leadership and Political Corruption on Achieving Sustainable Development: Evidence from Nigeria.” Public Policy and Administration Research 6, no. 6 (2016): 32–41.
  2. Abebiyi, Oluwashina. “Ballots and Bullets: Electoral Violence and Gubernatorial Elections in Oyo State, Nigeria, 2007–2015.” The African Review 48, no. 1 (2021): 74–99.
  3. Adunola, Shakirah. “UNILAG Muslim Alumni Holds Pre-Ramadan Lecture.” The Guardian, March 25, 2022. https://guardian.ng/features/friday-worship/unilag-muslim-alumni-holds- pre-ramadan-lecture/.
  4. Akindele, Babalola, and Solomon Agada. “National Development and Political Corruption in Nigeria: Leadership at Crossroad.” European Journal of Business and Management 5, no. 9 (2013): 170–79.
  5. Al-Razi, Fakhr-al-Din. Al-Tafsir Al-Kabir Aw Mafatih Al-Ghayb [The Great Interpretation or Keys to the Unknown]. Cairo: al-Matba’a al-Bahiyya al-Misriyya, 1964. http://www.altafsir.com.
  6. Ali, Abdullah. The Holy Qur-an: English Translaton of the Meanings and Commentary. Presidency of Islamic Researches, IFTA., 1989.
  7. Andrae, Gunilla, and Björn Beckman. The Wheat Trap: Bread and Underdevelopment in Nigeria. Zed Books Ltd., 1985.
  8. Asad, Muhammad. The Message of the Quran. 6 vols. Bristol: The Book Foundation, 2003. At-Tabariy, Muhammad. Tarikh Ar-Rusul Wal-Muluk [The History of the Prophets and Kings]. Cairo: Dar al-Ma’arif, 1906. http://www.alwarraq.com.
  9. Az-Zuhayliy, Wahbah. At-Tafsir Al-Munir Fil ’Aqeedah Wash-Shariah Wal-Manhaj The Illuminating Interpretation on Creed, Islamic Law, and Methodology]. Damascus: Darul- Fikr al-Mu’asr, 1997. http://www.shamela.ws.
  10. Bass, Bernard, Bruce Avolio and Leanne Atwater. “The Transformational and Transactional Leadership of Men and Women.” Applied Psychology 45, no. 1 (1996): 5–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.1996.tb00847.x.
  11. Booysen, Lize. “The Duality in South African Leadership: Afrocentric or Eurocentric.” South African Journal of Labour Relations 25, no. 3/4 (2001): 36–64.
  12. Brown, Kathleen. “Leadership for Social Justice and Equity: Evaluating a Transformative Framework and Andragogy.” Educational Administration Quarterly 42, no. 5 (2006): 700–745.
  13. Brown, Kathleen. “Leadership for Social Justice and Equity: Weaving a Transformative Framework and Pedagogy.” Educational Administration Quarterly 40, no. 1 (2004): 77– 108.
  14. Burns, James. Leadership. Harper & Row, 1979. https://books.google.com.ng/books?id= ptUJAQAAMAAJ.
  15. Busari, Abdul-Halim, Kaswadi Ali, Zaimuariffudin Nordin and Abang Ahmad. “Exploring Ihsan-Based Leadership among Academic Leaders.” Paper presented at the Qualitative Research Conference, Penang, Malaysia, May 24–26, 2016.
  16. Campbell, Robert. “Leadership Succession in Early Islam: Exploring the Nature and Role of Historical Precedents.” The Leadership Quarterly 19, no. 4 (2008): 426–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2008.05.007.
  17. Chukwurah, Daniel, Desmond Nnamani and Johnpaul Nduba. “Governance and Political Leadership in Africa: Focus on Nigeria @ 59.” Governance 4, no. 3 (2020): 36–46.
  18. Dansereau Jr., Fred, George Graen and William Haga. “A Vertical Dyad Linkage Approach to Leadership within Formal Organizations: A Longitudinal Investigation of the Role Making Process.” Organizational Behavior and Human Performance 13, no. 1 (1975): 46–78.
  19. Daramola, Folashade, and Akaninyene Etuk. “Leadership, Governance and Nation Building in Nigeria.” Addaiyan Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences 2, no. 3 (2020): 8– 19. https://doi.org/10.36099/ajahss.2.3.2.
  20. Editorial. “Life Has Lost its Value Under Buhari’s Nigeria.” Daily Trust, December 12, 2021. https://dailytrust.com/life-has-lost-its-value-under-buharis-nigeria/.
  21. Ejimabo, Nichodemus. “Understanding the Impact of Leadership in Nigeria: Its Reality, Challenges, and Perspectives.” SAGE Open 3, no. 2 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1177/ 2158244013490704.
  22. El’Amin, Zakiyyah. “The Leadership of Muhammad Prophet of Islam: An Integral Analysis.” PhD diss., Royal Roads University, 2008. http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS& PAGE=reference&D=psyc5&NEWS=N&AN=2008-99190-429.
  23. Eliogu-Anenih, Joy. “Strategic Leadership in Public Sector Administration in Nigeria.” PhD diss., Walden University, 2017.
  24. Essounga-Njan, Yvette, Helisse Levine, Ning Ding, and Samuel Mercier. “Leadership and Spirituality in Business and Public Administration: A Cross-Cultural Empirical Study Comparing the USA and France.” International Journal of Services and Standards 8, no. 4 (2013): 295–314.
  25. Ezeugo, Anthonia. “Corrupt Leadership, an Antecedent to Global Epileptic Socio-Economic Growth, Nigerian Example: Dramaturgy and Visions.” American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal 9, no. 2 (2017). http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3809264.
  26. Fairholm, Matthew, and Taylor Gronau. “Spiritual Leadership in the Work of Public Administrators.” Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion 12, no. 4 (2015): 354– 73.
  27. Fazeli, Hamidreza, Alireza Fazeli, Amirhossin Fazeli and Shokrollah Fararooei. “A Critical Study of Quranic Commentators’opinions of Verses About Prophet Ibrahim’s Imamate (As); An Innovative Analysis.” Journal of Positive School Psychology 6, no. 4 (2022): 1165–73.
  28. Fiedler, Fred. “A Contingency Model of Leadership Effectiveness.” In Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, vol. 1, edited by Leonard Berkowitz, 149–90. Elsevier, 1964.
  29. Gberevbie, Daniel, Segun Joshua, Nchekwube Excellence-Oluye and Adeola Oyeyemi. “Accountability for Sustainable Development and the Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria, 1999-2015.” SAGE Open 7, no. 4 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1177/ 2158244017742951.
  30. Greenleaf, Robert. Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness. Paulist Press, 2002.
  31. Hannah, Sean, and Bruce Avolio. “Leader Character, Ethos, and Virtue: Individual and Collective Considerations.” The Leadership Quarterly 22, no. 5 (2011): 989–94.
  32. Harmaini, Harmaini, Putri Jannah, Salmiyati Salmiyati and Kartini Tahir. “Trust and Character Development (Life Lessons from Prophet Ibrahim As).” International Journal of Islamic Educational Psychology 3, no. 1 (2022): 58–73.
  33. Hasan, Masudul. History of Islam. Srinagar: Alfa Offset, 2001.
  34. Heifetz, Ronald, and Marty Linsky. Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading. Harvard Business School Press, 2002. eBook edition.
  35. Hersey, Paul, Kenneth Blanchard and Walter Natemeyer. “Situational Leadership, Perception, and the Impact of Power.” Group & Organization Studies 4, no. 4 (1979): 418–28.
  36. Honore, Sewakpo. “An African’s Perspective on Leadership in The Book of Titus.” Ilorin Journal of Religious Studies 5, no. 2 (2015): 1–22.
  37. Hummel, Daniel. “Public Administration in the Islamic World: Considering the Importance of Religion, its Values and Culture.” Halduskultuur 19, no. 2 (2019): 23–38.
  38. Ibrahim, Azrin. “Accountability (Hisbah) in Islamic Management: The Philosophy and Ethics behind its Implementation.” International Journal of Humanities and Social Science 5, no. 8 (2015): 184–90.
  39. Igiebor, God’stime. “Political Corruption in Nigeria: Implications for Economic Development in the Fourth Republic.” Journal of Developing Societies 35, no. 4 (2019): 493–513.
  40. Iheriohanma, Ekeoma. “Capacity Building, Leadership Question and Drains of Corruption in Africa: A Theoretical Discourse.” Asian Social Science 7, no. 3 (2011): 131–38.
  41. Iheriohanma, Ekeoma. “Socio-Structural Pressures and the Challenges of Survival and Crime Committal in Nigeria.” Journal of Social Sciences 21, no. 3 (2009): 167–75.
  42. Ikegbu, Ephraim, and Samuel Bassey. “Ahamefula: Discovering Leadership Gaps of the African Being.” Cogito: Multidisciplinary Research Journal 11 (2019): 75–89.
  43. Islam, Anwarul, and Rezaul Miajee. “An Islamic Perspective of Leadership.” International Journal of Islamic Business & Management 1, no. 1 (2017): 14–16.
  44. Kalantari, Behrooz. “In Search of a Public Administration Paradigm: Is There Anything to Be Learned from Islamic Public Administration?” International Journal of Public Administration 21, no. 12 (1998): 1821–61.
  45. Katsina, Aliyu. “Reconstructing the Nature of Principles and Values of Public Administration in Islam.” Management and Administrative Sciences Review 4, no. 1 (2015): 112–19.
  46. Katz, Robert. Skills of an Effective Administrator. Harvard Business Review Press, 2009.
  47. Khan, Haroon. Globalization and the Challenges of Public Administration: Governance, Human Resources Management, Leadership, Ethics, e-Governance and Sustainability in the 21st Century. Springer, 2017.
  48. Lanre-Abass, Bolatito. “The Crisis of Leadership in Nigeria and the Imperative of a Virtue Ethics.” Philosophia Africana 11, no. 2 (2008): 117–40.
  49. Larcom, Shaun, Mare Sarr and Tim Willems. “What Shall We Do with the Bad Dictator?” Discussion paper no. 682. University of Oxford Department of Economics, 2014.
  50. Lawal, Tolu, and Ilepe Johnson. “Governance Crisis and the Crisis of Leadership in Nigeria.” International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2, no. 7 (2012): 185–91.
  51. “Leadership Recruitment: Missing Anchor in National Development, by Muiz Banire (SAN).” Muslim News Nigeria, March 31 2022. https://muslimnews.com.ng/2022/03/31/ leadership-recruitment-missing-anchor-in-national-development-by-muiz-banire-san/.
  52. Mamat, Ismail, and Anuar Noor. “A Model of Islamic Leadership Based on Hasan Banna’s Writings.” Journal of Education and Social Sciences 8, no. 1 (2017): 269–74.
  53. Mir, Ali. “Leadership in Islam.” Journal of Leadership Studies 4, no. 3 (2010): 69–72. https://doi.org/10.1002/jls.20180.
  54. Moses, Mark. “The Seven Biggest Problems with Leadership Today.” CEO Coaching International. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://ceocoachinginternational.com/ problems-with-leadership.
  55. Muhammad, Nik. “Prophetic Leadership Model: Conceptualizing a Prophet’s Leadership Behaviour, Leader-Follower Mutuality and Altruism to Decision Making Quality.” European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 3, no. 1 (2015): 93–106.
  56. Mujani, Wan-Kamal, Ezad Azraai Jamsari, Noor Inayah Ya’akub, Hamzaini Abdul Hamid, Wan Mohtar Wan Yusoff and Nur Riza Mohd, Suradi, Zinatul Ashiqin Zainol, et al. “Meaning of Leadership According to Islam.” Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences 6, no. 8 (2012): 1394–98. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0- 84874510689&partnerID=40&md5=e27bc9ae6ea64146e22757a43242c714.
  57. Naga, Muhammad. The Story of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) in Islam. Scribl, 2017. eBook edition.
  58. Nnabuife, Kate. “Defining and Enforcing Ethical Leadership in Nigeria.” African Journal of Economic and Management Studies 1, no. 1 (2010): 25–41. https://doi.org/10.1108/ 20400701011028149.
  59. Noegel, Scott, and Brannon Wheeler. The A to Z of Prophets in Islam and Judaism, vol. 176. Scarecrow Press, 2010.
  60. Ochulor, Chinenye. “Failure of Leadership in Nigeria.” American Journal of Social and Management Sciences 2, no. 3 (2011): 265–71.
  61. Ogunbela, Gbeminiyi, and Abayomi John Aluko. “The Quest for Gender Balanced Political Leadership in Africa: A Synchrony Towards Continental Development.” International Journal of Politics and Good Governance X, no. 10.1 (2019): 1–23.
  62. Okolie, Ugo, and Mevayerore Daniel. “Leadership Failure and Acute Youth Unemployment in Nigeria.” RUDN Journal of Public Administration 7, no. 3 (2020): 254–71.
  63. Olanike Sharon, Nicholas Omoregbe, Oladele Kehinde Joseph, Imhonopi David and Evbuoma Idowu Kikelomo. “Good Governance and Leadership: Pathway to Sustainable National Development in Nigeria.” Journal of Public Administration and Governance 6, no. 1 (2016). https://doi.org/10.5296/jpag.v6i1.9055.
  64. Omotola, Shola. “Elections and Democratic Transition in Nigeria under the Fourth Republic.” African Affairs 109, no. 437 (2010): 535–53.
  65. Özcan, Muaz. “The Bottleneck Metaphor of Leadership Culture: Explaining How Shared Understandings about Leadership Develop and Impede Diversity and Effectiveness of Leadership in Groups.” Frontiers in Psychology 12 (2021): 184.
  66. Pruzan, Peter, and Kristen Pruzan-Mikkelsen. Leading with Wisdom. Taylor & Francis, 2017. Qureshi, Ishtiaq. “Historiography.” In A History of Muslim Philosophy, vol. 2, edited by M. M. Sharif, 1195-1218. Delhi: Low Price Publications, 2004.
  67. Raba, Ahmed. Major Personalities in the Quran. A. S. Noordeen, 2001. https://books.google. com.my/books?id=42T7AAAACAAJ.
  68. Rath, Tom, and Barry Conchie. “What Makes a Great Leadership Team?” Gallup, February 3, 2009. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/237026/makes-great-leadership-team.aspx.
  69. Raudvere, Catharina. “Claiming Heritage, Renewing Authority: Sufi-Orientated Activities in Post-Yugoslav Bosnia-Herzegovina.” European Journal of Turkish Studies 13 (2011). https://doi.org/10.4000/ejts.4602.
  70. Samier, Eugenie. “Fairness, Equity and Social Cooperation: A Moderate Islamic Social Justice Leadership Model for Higher Education.” In Assembling and Governing the Higher Education Institution, edited by Lynette Shultz and Melody Viczko, 35–64. Springer, 2016.
  71. Samier, Eugenie. “Islamic Public Administration Tradition: Historical, Theoretical and Practical Dimensions.” Halduskultuur 18, no. 1 (2017): 53–71.
  72. Samier, Eugenie. “The Humanist Roots of Islamic Administration and Leadership for Education: Philosophical Foundations for Intercultural and Transcultural Teaching.” In Teaching Educational Leadership in Muslim Countries, edited by Eugenie Samer and Eman ElKaleh, 23–38. Springer, 2019.
  73. Samier, Eugenie, and Eman Elkaleh. “The Ethics of Islamic Leadership: A Cross-Cultural Approach for Public Administration.” Administrative Culture 14, no. 2 (2013): 188–211.
  74. Seijts, Gerard, Jeffrey Gandz, Mary Crossan and Mark Reno. “Character Matters: Character Dimensions’ Impact on Leader Performance and Outcomes.” Organizational Dynamics 44, no. 1 (2015): 65–74.
  75. Shedrack, Igboke, David Oguntuase and Eze Ikechukwu. “Corruption and the Crisis of Political Development in Nigeria.” FUDMA Journal of Politics and International Affairs 3, no. 6 (2020): 115–27.
  76. Shenton, Robert. The Development of Capitalism in Northern Nigeria. London: J. Currey, 1986.
  77. Sinanovic, Ermin. “The Majority Principle and its Application in Decision-Making Processes: An Exploration into Islamic Legal and Political Thought.” Masters diss., International Islamic University Malaysia, 2001.
  78. Spector, Bert. “Carlyle, Freud, and the Great Man Theory More Fully Considered.” Leadership 12, no. 2 (2016): 250–60.
  79. Subhani, Ayatullah. The Message. Karachi: Islamic Seminar Publication, 2004.
  80. Uroko, Favour. “Beyond National Religiosity: The Pericope of 1 Kings 3:3-14 and Leadership Challenges in Nigeria.” Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 3, no. 1 (2021): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.36079/lamintang.jhass-0301.177.
  81. Uzodinma, Umenyilorah. “Electoral Process and Peaceful Transition in Nigeria: The Role of the Theatre.” Journal of Modern Education Review 5, no. 9 (2015): 920–26.
  82. Vyas-Doorgapersad, Shikha, Lukamba Tshombe and Ernest Ababio. Public Administration in Africa: Performance and Challenges. Routledge, 2017.
  83. Wahab, Mastura, and Tajul Ariffin. “Towards a Core Islamic Work Value: Evidence from Islamic Legal Texts and the Muftīs’ Verification.” Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research 11, no. 1 (2020): 179–200.
  84. Weller, David, and Sylvia Weller. The Assistant Principal: Essentials for Effective School Leadership. Corwin Press, 2002.
  85. Yusuf, Abdullah. The Holy Qur’an: Text, Translation and Commentary. Beirut: Darul- Fikriyyah, 1938.
  86. Zandi, Gholamreza, Mohamed Sulaiman and Nayal Rashed. “Spirituality and Leaders Effectiveness: An Islamic Perspective.” Asian Economic and Financial Review 5, no. 1 (2015): 155–66.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Most read articles by the same author(s)