The Research on Islamic-Based Educational Leadership since 1990: An International Review of Empirical Evidence and a Future Research Agenda

Abstract

The aim of the present article was to systematically review international evidence about Islamic-based (a new term we suggest) educational leadership models published in peer-reviewed journals between 1990 and 2021. We conducted a systematic review of the literature by following the steps identified by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). These steps were data source identification, search, data collection, eligibility criteria selection, data selection, and data analysis. They were aimed at enabling us to answer the following research inquiries: (1) What are the existing developments in research on Islamic-based educational leadership and policy? and (2) What are the main themes presented in these studies? Here, the results are presented first in a macro-outlook elucidating the main trends of this research (topical areas, geographical areas, approaches, and methods). The main themes that emerge from the analysis are: (a) policy, reforms, and stakeholders; second, educational leadership models and styles; and third, gender, feminism, and social justice. We share theoretical and methodological conclusions and outlines of some possible future research directions to contribute to inter-faith, equity, and diversity.

Challenges of Inclusion of Almagirai in Nigerian School Feeding Scheme

“…Islamic education can be defined in its most literal sense as efforts made by the Muslim community to educate its members and transmit the legacy of Islamic knowledge, first and foremost through the Qur'an and the Sunnah. All educational opportunities provided to Muslim and non-Muslim learners that draw on Islamic principles fall under the general term "Islamicbased education" (Arar et al, 2022). This Islamic educational philosophy cannot be boiled down to rote memorization of over 1440-year-old lifeways.…”

Exploring Female Muslim Educational Leadership in a Multicultural Canadian Context

“…It represents a psychological contract between a leader and his followers that he will try his best to guide them, to protect them, and to treat them justly" (p. vii). Arar et al (2022), in their systematic review of Islamic-based educational leadership, reveal that no studies were published on Islamic leadership between 1990 and 2003, with the first study coming in 2003. Furthermore, although several scholars have been studying Islamic educational leadership, efforts to define educational leadership from an Islamic lens are theoretical (Brooks and Mutohar 2018).…”

Exploring the Landscape of Research in Islamic Education: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review

“…Previous researchers have made various efforts to solve the problem in Islamic religious education. Some studies have focused on Islamic-based education and the role of Muslim educators who teach with knowledge and principles (Arar et al, 2022). Other studies have investigated the shift in the authority of religious education and the unique management system of Islamic boarding schools, which has produced top religious leaders (Maemonah et al, 2022;Rahtikawatie et al, 2021).…”

“…Other studies have investigated the shift in the authority of religious education and the unique management system of Islamic boarding schools, which has produced top religious leaders (Maemonah et al, 2022;Rahtikawatie et al, 2021). Islamic spiritual education also focuses on doing good deeds and considering work as worship (Arar et al, 2022).…”

“…The search results do not provide information on whether new research ideas related to Islamic religious education were found using systematic review methods and conducting bibliometric analysis. However, the search results do provide several studies that discuss Islamic-based education, including the roles and styles of Muslim educators, the Islamic model of education, and the interplay between knowledge and education from an Islamic perspective (Arar et al, 2022). The search results provide some studies related to Islamic religious education, but none of them mention being carried out using systematic review methods and conducting bibliometric analysis.…”