Browsing by Author "Berghout, Abdelaziz, Ph.D"

This thesis proposes a comprehensive Qur’anic al-istikhlaf framework for examining al-sa'adah (happiness) in Islam, in response to some fragmented and reductionist approaches in both Western and Islamic scholarly traditions. While happiness is a central ethical aim across worldviews, modern secular frameworks often isolate material and psychological aspects, neglecting the moral, metaphysical, and teleological dimensions of well-being. Even within Islamic literature, discussions on al-saʿadah tend to be disjointed and hardly integrate the profound Qur’anic vision of the wholistic human being as khalifah (vicegerent) on earth. This study identifies some epistemological and ontological gaps in existing models and addresses them by proposing an integrated Qu'ranic framework grounded in the concept of al-istikhlaf. Using a qualitative and inductive methodology, it analyses Qur’anic verses, Hadith, and classical and contemporary scholarship to present a multi-dimensional model of the human being encompassing the rūḥ (spirit), qalb (heart), nafs (soul), ʿaql (intellect), bodily faculties and Fitrah (primordial nature). These are then placed in four relational domains: man’s relationship with God, with self, with others and with the universe. Findings indicated that authentic al-saʿadah, both temporal and eternal, is inseparable from fulfilling the divinely assigned role of khalifah. The Qur’anic al-istikhlaf framework reorients the discourse on happiness from a self-centred pursuit to one rooted in divine purpose, moral responsibility, and spiritual growth. It offers a cohesive alternative to prevailing psychological and philosophical models by framing human flourishing through the lens of sacred trust, ethical responsibility, and civilizational balance. This study thus contributes a spiritually grounded and epistemologically rich framework with practical implications for education, public policy, Islamic worldview renewal. It calls for further research into the application of the Qur’anic al-Istikhlaf model across diverse fields of human development and civilizational progress.

Contemporary studies in Islamic leadership reveal a noticeable gap in addressing the foresight dimension within early leadership models, particularly the experience of Caliph ʿUmar ibn al- Khaṭṭāb (may Allah be pleased with him), despite its profound strategic implications. This study seeks to address this gap by analyzing the foresight dimensions in ʿUmar’s leadership and examining their impact on strategic decision-making and the institutional development of the Islamic state. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology, relying on the examination of historical sources and the critical analysis of narrations within a scholarly framework that integrates classical Islamic sources with contemporary leadership and foresight concepts. It focuses on deconstructing the components of ʿUmar’s leadership model and analyzing his practices in administration, governance, and justice, while highlighting the connection between the guiding principles established by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and their practical manifestation in ʿUmar’s leadership. The findings demonstrate that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb established a leadership model characterized by clarity of vision, careful consideration of consequences, and the development of sustainable administrative and organizational frameworks, such as the diwān system, the regulation of public stipends, and the institutionalization of judicial justice. These practices contributed to political stability and the long-term sustainability of the state. The study concludes that this leadership model offers valuable insights for contemporary leadership contexts, particularly in the areas of statebuilding, future-oriented leadership, and the promotion of ethical values in public administration.

This study examined the reality of feminist organizations in the Kurdistan region and their activities related to Islamic jurisprudence. It also explained their criticisms of Islamic jurisprudence to determine the extent of their validity and the implications of their demands in the Kurdistan region. The study achieves this by exploring the history of the emergence of this movement in the West, uncovering the underlying approaches and adopting philosophies as a cornerstone for criticizing jurisprudential rulings. The nature of the study required the adoption of inductive, analytical, comparative, and field approaches. These approaches were employed to trace and elucidate the factors that led to these organization's emergence, to identify their trends, and to demonstrate the intellectual philosophies they adopted. This aimed to understand the reality of the Kurdistan region and the status of women within it, and subsequently to assess and analyze the demands of these organizations from a jurisprudential perspective. This approach sought to directly take their opinions without intermediaries and biases, as required by the principles of fairness and impartiality. The study sample included a variety of feminist organizations and movements, both secular and Islamic. The results showed that the criticisms directed at Islamic jurisprudence stem from a lack of thorough understanding of this science. According to interviews conducted by the researcher, many female activists demonstrated limited knowledge of jurisprudential rulings. Therefore, most of their criticism comes from a superficial reading of books and magazines available to them. Thus, this study revealed that these women not only lack full knowledge and understanding of Islamic jurisprudence but also of feminist ideology and its dangers. Their defence of this movement stems from their ignorance of the ideas it adopted, and their criticisms of jurists are characterized by unfairness and lack of knowledge. It is impermissible to derive jurisprudential rulings with prior knowledge and expertise once the jurist possesses this knowledge. The study also revealed that these organizations have significantly influenced Kurdish society in general. Therefore, the study recommended the necessity of researching and investigating these organization's activities, due to the gravity and seriousness of the issues they focus on, and their consequential effects on society. Therefore, it is necessary to educate family members about the religious and national duties, and the need to inform the public opinion about the customs and traditions that have caused injustice against women.

The study aimed to identify the qualities of good leadership and its role in developing the management of the Islamic thought: "A study of the model of Abdul Malik bin Marwan". It identified the political, social, and administrative situation in his reign as the most prominent features of the successful administrative leadership. The study also showed the impact of the successful administrative leadership on the development of management in Islamic thought, relating to the efforts of the great Caliph. It determined to what extent it is possible to benefit from his leadership model in developing leadership qualities in our contemporary time. Descriptive analytical approach was followed in the study through induction and text analysis. The study concluded that the successful administrative leadership of the above-mentioned Caliph was due to his special attention to the administrative system in his rule of the Islamic state. He followed the approach of the Caliph Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan in developing institutions and taking care of reforms, and thus he developed and promoted the administrative system. He also Arabized management and monetary, which is known as the Arabization movement. In addition, the Caliph Abdul Malik bin Marwan got an assistance of hiring a large elite of the most skilled men of his time in administrative policy. Besides, he organized the Islamic state on the basis of adherence to authority, sovereignty, and monopoly in which he organized the ruling system in a way that made him the unique master of the state. The study presented a set of recommendations, the most important of which is the necessity of directing scientific attention to such important and unique topics, through Islamic models and leaders in the Islamic history. The current study also presented a set of proposals in light of its findings.

The current study aims to identify the role of leadership competencies (malakat) and their importance in human development. The study focuses on the concept of leadership malakat, according to Ibn Khaldun's introduction. It also explores Ibn Khaldun's approach and how to make use of it in our contemporary reality. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach through induction, textual analysis, and their use in inference and conclusion. The study concluded that Ibn Khaldun's approach concerning leadership competencies (malakat) is extremely effective and unique. In order to enhance the capabilities of the administrative leadership and establish an ethical and value based culture that allows the renewal of human association, solving the problems that the Islamic nation and organising our lives in line with the Islamic way of life through education, learning and leadership development. The study suggested a set of recommendations, including: supporting more research that studies the introduction of Ibn Khaldun in all areas of both lives materially and socially, and the need to direct Muslim researchers to study the issues of human leadership in the light of the monotheistic vision. The study proposed a set of topics and issues to be addressed in the upcoming studies and researches in this important area.