South Asian Academy of Management

Abstract

This paper presents a normative and integrative model of green leadership from an Islamic perspective, proposing that Islamic ethical principles can meaningfully enrich contemporary sustainability leadership frameworks. Drawing on classical Islamic sources—including the Qur’an, Hadith, and Nahj al-Balagha—as well as modern leadership literature, the paper outlines five core principles of Islamic green leadership: stewardship (khilafah), trust (amanah), justice (adl), humility (tawadu’), and moderation (wasatiyyah). These principles are shown to align with and extend existing sustainability leadership paradigms by grounding environmental responsibility in spiritual accountability, ethical governance, and intergenerational justice. The paper argues that this values-driven framework offers a compelling response to the shortcomings of compliance-based or instrumental approaches to sustainability and calls for culturally resonant, ethically anchored leadership practices, especially in Muslim-majority contexts.

Citation: Syed, J. (2025). An Islamic Perspective on Green Leadership. SAAM Working Paper Series 25051. South Asian Academy of Management.

Indicative Discussion Questions

1. Can religious values and spiritual accountability be an effective driver for corporate sustainability? Why or why not?
2. How does Islamic green leadership differ from conventional sustainability leadership models?
3. How does the Islamic concept of khilafah (stewardship) reshape our understanding of environmental leadership?
4. In what ways does amanah (trust) influence long-term thinking in business leadership?
5. How can principles like wasatiyyah (moderation) be integrated into business operations?
6. What are the practical challenges of applying Islamic green leadership principles in modern organizations?

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