Tawahadic Approach

in Management

Introduction
In Islam, believers are to conform to the teachings of
the Quran and the sunnah or hadith (traditions) of
the Prophet.
An individual is created to be the khalifah
(vicegerent) of God on earth. As a khalifah, one is
obliged as the deputy of the Creator to prosper the
earth one lives on.
One never stops striving to improve oneself and
ones ummah (community). The Quran exhorts
believers to continuously enjoin good and forbid evil.
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 The Prophet has been depicted as possessing the

attribute of harsun (altruism), meaning sincerest
concern for the well-being of others, embracing
the attitude and practice of caring, sharing,
nurturing and bonding in ones relationship with
others.
It connotes unselfish orientation towards the
welfare of people, mindful of the feelings and
needs of those around us, always striving for winwin situations in life.

 Theodore Levitt of Harvard described management as

the rational assessment of a situation and the
systematic selection of goals and purposes (what is to
be done?); the systematic development of strategies
to achieve these goals; the marshalling of the
required resources; the rational design, organisation,
direction, and control of the activities required to
attain the selected purposes; and finally, the
motivating and rewarding of people to do the work.
This managerial approach is still regarded as a
pragmatic model that can be used to get things done
efficaciously.

 Michael Harts The 100: A ranking of the Most

Influential Persons in History (1978), mentions the
uniqueness of Prophet Muhammads leadership,
placing the Prophet as the most influential leader
in human history.
In it, he presents the qualities of a leader who was
a successful businessman, a spiritual reformer, a
charismatic commander, a just administrator, a
peace negotiator, a political strategist, a jurist, a
wise counsellor, and a prescient statesman in his
lifetime.
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Islamic Concept Of Management:

Management today is defined as Getting things done
through others.
Following this concept, A Manager is now understood
as the person who works through others. A good
manager, therefore, is a person who not only knows
what is to be done but exactly how to get it done. The
Holy Quran confirms:
We raise some of them above others in ranks, so
that some may command work from others...[43:32]

 This ayat from Surah Al-Zukhruf reveals in a nutshell as

to why God raised some people over others in ranks
that being, that they can get work done from them.
This Ayat (43:32) encompasses the entire philosophy
and wisdom of modern management. It emphasizes, in
essence, the creation of appropriate hierarchies and
the division of responsibilities subject to individual
capabilities.
It basically implies the creation of organizational charts
from the top management to the lower management.
It stresses the division of work and responsibilities
according to individual capabilities.
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 Islamic management, unlike the conventional

management, looks at the management of
organizations from the perspective of the
knowledge from the revealed sources and other
Islamic sources of knowledge.
The application is compatible with Islamic beliefs
and practices. There is no demarcation between
the secular and the religious; human life is an
organic whole. All human activities can be
ibadah provided they are guided by Allahs
commandments.
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 In Islamic management, the organizational

objectives are both economic and noneconomic and are subservient to the larger
purpose of human existence; whereas in
conventional management, organizational
objectives are also both economic and noneconomic in nature, but are subservient to
organizational interests.

 As in the days of the Prophet, modern management

needs strong leadership and excellent organisational
capabilities to achieve exponential success.
The super-ordinate paradigm of leadership provided
by the Prophet can be explained by a threedimensional orientation, fusing alignment,
attunement and empowerment in organisational
development.
When these three dimensions are cast, the outcome
will be organisational synergy, the framework within
which the strategic altruistic mind set should operate
and the future can be positively mapped.
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 Alignment constitutes an organisations vision of

greatness. It is the direction-setting aspect of
management, the inductive process (as opposed to
the conventional deductive process) that formulates
vision and mission statements. It describes the
business, the technology it envelopes, the
methodology it pursues, and the culture it embraces.
Alignment implies that everyone in the organisation is
moving towards the same objective, each in
agreement with the other. Where adjustments have to
be made, the parties involved will sit in mutual
consultation to resolve issues.
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 In the Prophets management paradigm,

alignment is synonymous with tawhid (the
Oneness of God), which is tempered by
iman (belief) and taqwa (God-fearing).
If people within an organisation is Godconscious, have strong faith and adhere to
a firm set of values, then the stage is set
for greatness.

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 Attunement is the esprit de corps, the will, the emotions,

the passion and the compassion that fires the process
towards goal attainment. Attunement has to move in
tandem with alignment.
In the Prophets management model, attunement means
ibadah righteous deeds performed daily as acts of faith.
When employees of an organisation continuously perform
good deeds and shun bad behaviour, the environment
becomes harmonious. There is a tendency to be
committed, truthful and loyal because they continuously
perform acts of quality in daily work.

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 Empowerment is the willingness to allow

skilled and knowledgeable people to use their
talents and energies at work. Quite often,
organisations and even nations falter in the
face of stiff competition or when adjusting to
new technology because leaders are not
confident in the abilities of their people. Such
people feel de-motivated.
But when alignment, attunement and
empowerment are employed in strategic
human resource development, people perform
because they feel wanted and appreciated.
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 In the Prophets governance model,

synergy implies movement towards alfalah (the forces of success and
prosperity).
Attunement, coupled with empowerment,
involves consultation, motivation and
building esprit de corps among team
members. It involves the emotions, the
intellect and commitment from the heart
(istiqamah).
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 Morale-wise, when decisions were made by

mutual consultation (syura) or consensus, they
not only increased the speed and efficiency of
actual operations but also fostered a high degree
of trust and support in the followers. Every
member becomes totally committed to the cause.

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Obedience, Respect and Authority

Obedience and respect for authority is the basic
fundamental requisite for taking work from others and
getting it done. Working through people actually
presupposes the willingness of people to obey. It is
therefore necessary for those people who are given he job
to complete a task to obey all legal and reasonable orders
and perform it responsibly, as Holy Quran instructs:
Obey Allah and His Messenger and those in position of
authority among you. [4:59]

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 This Ayat is a commandment and not a plea. To be a

good Muslim, it is incumbent upon the believer to
observe the ruling with willingness and honesty.
When this spirit of voluntary obedience is instilled in
the mind of an employee, the scope of the hierarchy
as envisaged by the Ayat is strengthened [43:32].
Needless to say, without the spirit of voluntary
obedience among those who work, the creation of
hierarchy will not serve any purpose.

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Joint Consultation and Team Work:

The modern world realized the importance of joint
consultation (Shura) and teamwork when the Japanese
based its management style on it and proved to the
world of its effectiveness. The Holy Quran advocates
for this concept:
...And those who do their work through mutual
consultation. [42:83]
Pass over (their faults), and ask for (God's)
forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of
moment). Then, when you have taken a decision put
your trust in God, for God loves those who put their
trust (in Him). [3:159].
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 In the Ayat [3:159] ALLAH is saying to His

beloved Prophet to consult with others and
then take a decision and after taking decision
dont take stress just trust ALLAH.
This ayat has beautifully stated not only the
about teamwork and joint consultation but also
about decision-making. A very simple and a
beautiful rule for decision-making. Just consult,
decide and leave rest of things on ALLAH.

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Principles Of Equal Opportunities

The principle of equal opportunities postulate that all
members of an organization shall have equal and fair
chances to grow, contribute, and be rewarded
accordingly. The Holy Quran emphasis this golden
rule:
O people We created you from a single male and
female couple and then divided you in nations and
tribes so that you may recognize one another. Verily
the most honourable among you in the sight of Allah
is he who is most righteous of you.[49:13]
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Motivation And Commitment

Making people what they are supposed to do requires a
certain degree of commitment, which can only be, achieve
through motivation. It is an established fact that the way a
Manager behaves or deals with the subordinates determines
the level and vitality of their motivation and commitment to a
great extent. The Holy Quran too speaks about this golden
rule:
(Telling the Prophet) If you had been stern and fierce of heart
they (the companions and followers)would have disappeared
from around you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for
them and consult them in the conduct of affairs [3:159]
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This beautiful Ayat emphasizes upon two aspects: one,

that compassionate and sympathetic behaviour towards
companions and followers, and second, the adoption of
participatory approach when dealing with them i.e.
consulting them, is the most effective way of
management.
If this golden rule is not observed then they will
disappear from you i.e. they wont pay attention nor
any interest in you or what your work entails. Both these
golden rules play vital role in the motivation of
subordinates and inculcating in them the spirit of
commitment and passion for work.
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Optimum Capacity Utilization

The following Ayat from the Holy Quran reveals
another golden rule that a Muslim should learn from
and practice in his daily life.
No soul shall have a burden laid on it greater than it
can bear [2:33]
On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it
can bear (Pray) Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden
greater than we have strength to bear. [2:286]
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 This principle is emphasizing on the fact that physical,

emotional, and intellectual capacity of an individual is
limited and not exhaustive.
Additionally, since every person is unique in his talents
and temperament, and in his skills, it is important not
to burden someone with a task that is beyond his scope
to deal with it.
This is an important principle of modern management.
If we add another ayat to the above mentioned ones,
we will come across a set of very comprehensive
principles for management and personal life.
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Allah swears by the token of time

By (the Token of) Time Verily Man is in loss,

Except such as have Faith, and do righteous

deeds, and (join together) in the mutual
teaching of Truth, and of Patience.
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