An Islamic-oriented educational leadership model: towards a new theory of school leadership in Muslim societies

In recent years, research into educational leadership has prompted growing appreciation for the critical role which both cultural and societal tenets can have in shaping school leadership approaches. With that in mind, this study examines a school leadership model grounded in Islamic values and beliefs. More specifically, this study attempts to develop an Islamic-Oriented Educational Leadership (IOEL) model for Muslim school leaders. This is an exploratory study designed within a qualitative paradigm of the interpretive, grounded theory process. Data were collected from twenty-four international experts in Islamic educational leadership. Two main themes related to the IOEL model emerged from data analysis, namely: (a) Holistic Islamic Education, and (b) Cultivating Effective Model Leaders. Moreover, the researchers assert that the ways in which a school principal's ethical and religious beliefs affect their mindset illustrate the significance of context in shaping school leadership. This study's findings have practical implications.