Timeless Leadership: Insights from Selected Letters of Imam Ali in Nahj al-Balagha and Their Comparison with some Contemporary Leadership Theories

Abstract

Leadership is one of the fundamental factors for the survival and progress of any organization or society. It plays a decisive role in the growth and development of communities and institutions. As a key pillar of management, leadership greatly influences the effectiveness of societies. This study compares and examines various prominent leadership perspectives, including 74 theories from Western scholars and 19 selected letters of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), from Nahj al-Balagha. The research seeks to answer questions such as: To what extent are the leadership concepts in the selected letters of Imam Ali applicable to today's world? How can studying Nahj al-Balagha contribute to progress and excellence in organizations? What are the goals and indicators of leadership development and excellence according to some Western scholars? The paper briefly explores characteristics and features of leadership derived from selected letters of Nahj al-Balagha and leading leadership theorists. The methodology is content analysis, reviewing theories of management and leadership scholars in comparison with the attributes, conditions, and skills of leadership as reflected in the selected letters. This comparative study highlights that leadership-beyond managerial dimensions-must be grounded in human and spiritual principles. In today's world, referring to Nahj al-Balagha is essential for the advancement and excellence of societies and organizations.

Keywords: Leadership, Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), Leadership Features, Components of Leadership, Nahj al-Balagha