The Concept of Servant and Islamic Leadership: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to explore and examine the similarities and differences between the concepts of Servant Leadership (S-L) and Islamic Leadership (I-L) through identifying the characteristics of both concepts as represented in the literature. Data,for analysis were collected from three major secondary sources: the literature of Islamic Leadership (I-L), Servant Leadership (S-L), and General Leadership (G-L). The result of an approach based on hermeneutics and content analysis revealed that the concept of Servant Leadership (S-L) accords with Islamic Leadership (I-L) particularly in the aspect of how both of the concepts focus on the aspect ethical leadership. Moreover; based on the nineteen clusters of Islamic Leadership (I-L) designed to examine the ten characteristics of Servant Leadership (S-L) in the open and axial coding process, this research found that the ten characteristics of S-L accord with the nineteen clusters, except in five clusters: justice and equity; profit-orientation; moderation and balance; spiritual, religious, faith in God and piety; and coerciveness under certain circumstances with limitations. The differences have suggested that in general the literature of Servant Leadership (S-L) should be enriched with more ideas pertaining to other aspects of leadership, for example Islamic Leadership (I-L) besides those to do with organisational leadership, while the literature of Islamic Leadership (I-L) should be enriched with more information pertaining to contemporary leadership processes and contexts.