These are the lecture notes of the course "Principles of Governance and Leadership in Islam" which I teach at the School of Graduate Studies, University of Hargeisa, particularly in M.A. in Governance and Leadership classes.

1. The Model of Good Governance in
Islam
Week#2
Lecturer: Abdirahman Hassan Nur,
M.A., LL.B, B.A. and LL.M (Candidate).
Email: nurabdirahman43@gmail.com

2. Introduction
• The world has reached a consensus that good governance is
significant for human resource development in any society.
• In this context, the UNDP, IMF, World Bank, various NGOs and
numerous studies suggest that good governance primarily relies on
the institutional infrastructure. The literature further accepts that
the quality of leadership is significant for good governance.
• However, the primary determinants of good governance are
considered to be the infrastructure and organization’s design.
• The existing literature on good governance consists of contributions
of the mentioned organizations but it is not enriched with the
description of good governance that Islam contributes for mankind.
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3. Introduction….cont
• Therefore, it is important to compare the existing literature on good
governance with the relevant examples narrated in the Holy Quran and
Sunnah of the Prophet, p.b.u.h, for deriving and comparing the two models of
good governance.
• By default, every social setup institutionalizes systems for ascertaining
equilibrium in the dimensions of socio-politics, law and order, justice,
leadership, economy, education and defense. Social setups, therefore,
comprise of different institutions interacting with each other bounded by
heterogeneous laws, code of ethics, customs, traditions and culture.
• These components of a social setup require to be regulated by a government.
Despite delegating responsibilities to institutional components, nations, for
sustenance and growth, depend on the fair governance with which all the
stakeholders are regulated, protected and facilitated.
• Governance and its importance are agreed upon. However, in this era, the
world consciously focuses on the quality of government practices under the
pretext of good governance.
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4. Introduction….cont
• Good governance is considered abstract and indeterminable. Despite its
complexity, the social scientists and institutions interpret good governance
through the hallmarks mainly recognized as participation of all stakeholders in
society in political system, leadership, consensus based decision making, rule of
law and justice, transparency in policies and procedures, surety of equity,
responsiveness to problems, overall work effectiveness and efficiency, unbiased
accountability and a stable economy.
• Good governance is further believed to be free and immune from corruption and
social injustice. This concept is further not limited to the governments of
countries. Rather, its span encompasses the management of business
organizations as well under its sub-heading corporate governance.
• Although, it is difficult to quantize the parameters that epitomize good
governance, consensus states that the primary determinant of good governance is
the institutional infrastructure. Leadership and political structure are considered
secondary.
• As such, the institutional infrastructure is considered as a prerequisite for all other
determinants of good governance in a society.
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5. Contemporary World View on the
Model of Good Governance
• Based on the studies made, it has been perceived the following
model of good governance (GG) in view of the world as following:
GG ≈ PSL ↔ ES ↔ BS
• Where GG = good governance; PSL = political system and
leadership; ES = economic system; BS = bureaucratic system.
• The above equation clarifies that good governance is approximately
equal to its three main components that are political system and
leadership, economic system and bureaucratic system.
• However, this perception or view of good governance is yet not
confirmed or final. Therefore, studies acknowledge that yet good
governance is indeterminate.
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6. Open Discussion
• Current World View:
“Good governance is determined by the institutional
infrastructure.”
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7. Islamic Conceptual model of Good
Governance
• On the other hand, as a result of the comparative
pursuit of studies made, it was discovered that as
per the Holy Quran, good governance is a well
defined and adoptable concept.
• Based on the examples as mentioned in the Holy
Quran, the conceptualized Islamic model of good
governance derived from the Holy Quran is as
following:
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8. Islamic Conceptual model of Good
Governance…cont
GG = gg
Islamic Laws and Values
Unbiased System of Accountability
Systems for Transparent Planning &
Delegating Responsibility
Systems for Public Welfare
Political System for Electing/Selecting gg
Systems for Fair Justice, Law and OrderSystem of Defence
Interest-free Economic System
GG = Good
Governance
gg = Good
Governor
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9. Islamic Conceptual model of Good
Governance…cont
• In Islamic model of good governance, the divinely approved
leader is the center and origin of good governance.
• In the Islamic model of good governance, the Divine leader
is responsible for the smooth and effective
institutionalization of all necessary disciplines mainly
including Islamic (Allah’s) laws and values; a system for
recognizing/electing/selecting the Islamic leader; an
interest free economic system; a system for public welfare;
a system for defense; a system for fair and free justice; rule
of law and order; a system for transparent planning and
delegation of authority; an unbiased system of
accountability; and so on.
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10. THANK YOU!