Spiritual leadership among youth: Fostering sustainable development towards Islamic values

Asmawi Ibrahim; Ahmad Aizuddin Md Rami; Mohd Fadle Mohd Isa; Ahmed Ahmed  Olaitan

doi:10.31893/multirev.2025327

Keywords:

youth

leadership

Islamic values

sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Abstract

This study explores the role of spiritual leadership in promoting ethical and sustainable development among youth leaders within an Islamic context. Using a qualitative research design, focus group discussions were conducted with 11 youth leaders from various community organizations, representing diverse leadership experiences and societal roles. This study highlights the importance of spiritual leadership in addressing the unique challenges faced by youth leaders, such as navigating ethical dilemmas, balancing personal and communal responsibilities, and fostering resilience in the face of socio-economic and cultural constraints. By emphasizing leadership qualities rooted in Islamic principles, including justice (adl), compassion (rahma), and stewardship (khalifah), the study underscores the necessity of holistic youth development programs that focus on personal growth, ethical integrity, and community responsibility. The integration of spiritual and ethical training into youth leadership development has been shown to be instrumental in nurturing resilience, strengthening moral decision-making, and fostering a sense of shared responsibility within communities. This study contributes to the broader discourse on leadership by providing empirical evidence and a culturally relevant perspective on the integration of Islamic values into youth leadership. Additionally, it highlights the importance of family, mentorship, and structured leadership training in shaping future leaders who are both morally upright and socially conscious. Furthermore, this approach aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), advocating for leadership models that prioritize inclusivity, social justice, and sustainable community development. By offering a faith-driven, values-based leadership framework, this study provides a pathway for cultivating a new generation of ethical and socially responsible leaders who are equipped to address contemporary global challenges while upholding Islamic ethical principles.
References
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Ibrahim, A., Rami, A. A. M., Isa, M. F. M., & Olaitan, A. A. (2025). Spiritual leadership among youth: Fostering sustainable development towards Islamic values. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(10), 2025327. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2025327

[1] Abdelgalil, R., Rissouni, K., & Alnaief, M. (2024). Sustainability in education from the perspectives of Islamic Shari'ah and the United Nations' SDG4. Manchester Journal of Transnational Islamic Law & Practice, 20(2).

[2] Ahmed, A. (2019). Impact assessments demonstrating improvements in community development indicators and ethical leadership skills among youth involved in these programs. [Unpublished manuscript].

[3] Ahmed, A. O., Oyetoki, A. O., & Salako, B. A. (2021). Youth participation in agroforestry practices in Nigeria: Problems and prospects. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment, 13(2).

[4] Aini, Z., Don, A. G., Mokhtar, A. I., & Fauzi, N. U. A. (2021). Muslim preacher’s persuasive strategy in dacwah communication to Indigenous People (Orang Asli) in Selangor. E-Journal of Islamic Thought & Understanding (E-JITU, 2, 1–16.

[5] Al-Aidarous, A. (2019). Islamic principles of leadership and governance. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18449-2

[6] Ali, B. (2023, September). Da'wah in Islam: Core tenets and contemporary challenges. Proceeding International Da'wah Conference, 1(1), 494–514.

[7] Alibašić, H. (2018). Sustainability and resilience planning for local governments. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72568-0

[8] Al-Jayyousi, O. R. (2016). Islam and sustainable development: New worldviews. Gower.

[9] Asari, N. A. M. (2024). Navigating personal finance: The role of Islamic education. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4846536

[10] Ataman, A., Baharun, H., Sanjani, M. A. F., & Safitri, S. D. (2024). Exploring complementary leadership styles in madrasahs by aiming at their impact on integrity and character development. Business and Applied Management Journal, 1(2), 118–133.

[11] Azwar, A. (2024). Illuminating the path of contemporary Islamic scholarship. al-Irsyad: Journal of Islamic and Contemporary Issues, 9(2), xvi–xx.

[12] Baharin, A. (2022). Glow inside & out. Puteh Press.

[13] Brooks, M. C., & Ezzani, M. D. (2022). Islamic school leadership: Advancing a framework for critical spirituality. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 35(3), 319–336. https://doi.org/[insert DOI if available]

[14] Christmas, C. M., & Khanlou, N. (2019). Defining youth resilience: A scoping review. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 17, 731–742. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-018-0006-6

[15] Doornich, J. B., & Lynch, H. M. (2024). The mindful leader: A review of leadership qualities derived from mindfulness meditation. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1322507. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1322507

[16] El-Sherbini, M. S., Tajudeen, Y. A., Oladipo, H. J., Oladunjoye, I. O., Adebayo, A. O., & Mahmood, J. (2023). Planetary health and Anthropocene discourse: The role of Muslim religious leaders. Challenges, 14(4), 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/challe14040046

[17] Fathoni, A. Y. (2024). Influence of pesantren da'wah in the digital space: An examination of the peaceful da'wah by Lora Ismael Al-Kholili. Journal of Pesantren and Diniyah Studies, 1(1), 45–58.

[18] Firdaus, F. N., & Prasetiya, B. (2024, December). Integrating leadership values in education: A study on Al Izzah High School curriculum. In International Seminar on Islamic Education & Peace (Vol. 4, pp. 656–674).

[19] Grin, J., Hassink, J., Karadzic, V., & Moors, E. H. (2018). Transformative leadership and contextual change. Sustainability, 10(7), 2159. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072159

[20] Hambali, M., Muttaqin, I., & Mubarak, R. (2023). Towards harmony and balance: A policy framework for state Islamic higher education leaders in nurturing student religious moderation. Al-Tanzim: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 7(3), 907–922.

[21] Islam, A., Zawawi, N. F. M., & Wahab, S. A. (2024). Rethinking survival, renewal, and growth strategies of SMEs in Bangladesh: The role of spiritual leadership in crisis situations. PSU Research Review, 8(1), 19–40. https://doi.org/[insert DOI if available]

[22] Khalid, F. (2020). Cultural resistance and the barriers to effective implementation of spiritual leadership programs. Journal of Leadership Studies, 13(2), 45–59.

[23] Maidugu, U. A., & Isah, A. T. (2024). Islamic education and its value: A vital means for the formation of national character. Bulletin of Islamic Research, 2(4), 725–744.

[24] Makhmud, I., Bustomi, A. A., Darmayanti, R., Vedianty, A. S. A., Amelia, N. D., & Hujjah, S. (2024). Strengthening PERGUNU's prophecy movement through mentoring at the NU branch leadership level in Pasuruan City. Jurnal Inovasi Dan Pengembangan Hasil Pengabdian Masyarakat, 2(2), 187–194.

[25] Mohamed, M. M. H. (2024). Cultivating spiritual and intellectual resilience in Muslim youth. In Serving with a Heart: Securing the Future (p. 265).

[26] Mulang, H., & Putra, A. H. P. K. (2023). Exploring the implementation of ethical and spiritual values in high school education: A case study in Makassar, Indonesia. Golden Ratio of Social Science and Education, 3(1), 01–13.

[27] Nagel, D. A., Penner, J. L., Halas, G., Philip, M. T., & Cooke, C. A. (2024). Exploring experiential learning within interprofessional practice education initiatives for pre-licensure healthcare students: A scoping review. BMC Medical Education, 24(1), 139. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05127-5

[28] Niamir-Fuller, M., Özdemir, I., & Brinkman, F. J. (2016). Environment, religion and culture in the context of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. United Nations Environment Programme.

[29] Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). SAGE Publications.

[30] Prabhu, C. J., Mehta, M., & Srivastava, A. P. (2020). A new model of practical spiritual intelligence for the leadership development of human capital in Indian universities. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 12(5), 957–973. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-01-2020-0011

[31] Roberts, K. (2023). Nurturing ethical integration: Honoring students' spiritual and religious values in public school counseling (Order No. 30694258). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2892662659). https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/nurturing-ethical-integration-honoring-students/docview/2892662659/se-2

[32] Ruhullah, M. E., & Ushama, T. (2024). Tawhidic leadership in the modern world: Bridging Islamic governance with universal values for peace and integrity. Al-Shajarah: Journal of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC, 29(2), [page numbers].

[33] Ruhullah, M. E., Ushama, T., & Norman, N. A. B. (2024). Al-‘Ulama Warasatul Anbiya: Theological leadership, wasatiyyah (modernization) in advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs). Profetika: Jurnal Studi Islam, 25(2), 317–336.

[34] Sanders, J., Munford, R., Thimasarn-Anwar, T., & Liebenberg, L. (2017). Validation of the child and youth resilience measure (CYRM-28) on a sample of at-risk New Zealand youth. Research on Social Work Practice, 27(7), 827–840. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731515606905

[35] Setiawan, A. (2024). Ethical decision-making in educational leadership: Insights from Islamic scholars. Edu Spectrum: Journal of Multidimensional Education, 1(1), 15–27.

[36] Setiawan, I. (2023). The significance of corporate social responsibility in sustainable development: An analysis from an Islamic law perspective. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 11(9), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v11i9.1234

[37] Surbakti, S. S. B., Harahap, R., & Hasanah, U. (2024). Future perspectives on the Islamic personality model: Integrating spiritual, moral, intellectual, social, personal, and behavioral dimensions for holistic development. Journal on Islamic Studies, 1(1), 17–35.

Abstract

References

How to cite