Quranic Guidance on Leadership Skills
The Quran is the primary source of guidance for Muslims, and it contains many verses that relate to the skills and qualities of a good leader. Here are some examples of what the Quran says about these skills:
People management skills: The Quran instructs leaders to be just, kind, compassionate and consultative with their followers. For instance, Allah says:
فَبِمَا رَحۡمَةࣲ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمۡۖ وَلَوۡ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِیظَ ٱلۡقَلۡبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنۡ حَوۡلِكَۖ فَٱعۡفُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ وَشَاوِرۡهُمۡ فِی ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمۡتَ فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلِینَ
So what a great mercy it is from Allah that you (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), are lenient towards them; and if you had been stern and hardhearted (unsympathetic) they would have certainly been uneasy in your company; so forgive them and intercede for them and consult with them in the conduct of affairs; and when you decide upon something, rely upon Allah; indeed Allah loves those who trust (Him).
(Quran, 3:159)
Communication skills: The Quran emphasizes the importance of clear, truthful and respectful communication for leaders. For example, Allah says:
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوۡلࣰا سَدِیدࣰا
O People who Believe! Fear Allah, and speak rightly.
یُصۡلِحۡ لَكُمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلَكُمۡ وَیَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡۗ وَمَن یُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدۡ فَازَ فَوۡزًا عَظِیمًا
He will rectify your deeds for you and forgive you your sins; and whoever obeys Allah and His Noble Messenger, has indeed achieved a great success.
(Quran, 33:70-71)
Technical skills: The Quran acknowledges the value of technical skills and knowledge for leaders, and encourages them to seek more learning and improvement. For instance, Allah says:
وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدۡنِی عِلۡمࣰا
"And say: 'My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.'" (Quran, 20:114)
We can understand that the verse 20:114 is related to memorizing the Quran, as well as to seeking more knowledge in general. The verse also shows that knowledge is a blessing and a virtue that Allah bestows upon whom He wills, and that seeking knowledge is an act of worship and obedience to Allah.
Conceptual skills: The Quran urges leaders to use their intellect, reason and creativity to understand the signs of Allah and His creation. For example, Allah says:
إِنَّ فِی خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّیۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَـَٔایَـٰتࣲ لِّأُو۟لِی ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ
Undoubtedly in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day are signs for the intelligent.
ٱلَّذِینَ یَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِیَـٰمࣰا وَقُعُودࣰا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمۡ وَیَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِی خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلࣰا سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
Those who remember Allah while standing, and sitting, and reclining on their sides, and ponder about the creation of the heavens and the earth; “O our Lord! You have not created this without purpose; Purity is to You, therefore save us from the punishment of fire.”
(Quran, 3:190-191)
Leadership skills: The Quran defines leadership as a trust and a responsibility from Allah, and commands leaders to be humble, sincere and accountable. For instance, Allah says:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یَأۡمُرُكُمۡ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلۡأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰۤ أَهۡلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمۡتُم بَیۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحۡكُمُوا۟ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا یَعِظُكُم بِهِۦۤۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِیعَۢا بَصِیرࣰا
Indeed Allah commands you to hand over whatever you hold in trust, to their owners – and that whenever you judge between people, judge with fairness; undoubtedly Allah gives you an excellent advice; indeed Allah is All Hearing, All Seeing.(Quran, 4:58)
Problem-solving skills: The Quran teaches leaders to rely on Allah's help and guidance when facing difficulties and challenges, and to seek His forgiveness and mercy. For example, Allah says:
وَمَن یَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ یَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ مَخۡرَجࣰا
وَیَرۡزُقۡهُ مِنۡ حَیۡثُ لَا یَحۡتَسِبُۚ وَمَن یَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسۡبُهُۥۤۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمۡرِهِۦۚ قَدۡ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَیۡءࣲ قَدۡرࣰا
"And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent." (Quran, 65:2-3)
Time management skills: The Quran instructs leaders to be mindful of their time and use it wisely for good deeds and worship. For instance, Allah says:
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ
إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِی خُسۡرٍ
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡا۟ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡا۟ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ
"By time. Indeed, mankind is in loss. Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience." (Quran, 103:1-3)
Directing and oversight skills: The Quran advises leaders to delegate tasks according to the abilities and talents of their followers, and to supervise them with fairness and compassion. For example, Allah says:
لَا یُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ
"Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity." (Quran, 2:286)
And He says:
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجۡتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِیرࣰا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعۡضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثۡمࣱۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟ وَلَا یَغۡتَب بَّعۡضُكُم بَعۡضًاۚ أَیُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمۡ أَن یَأۡكُلَ لَحۡمَ أَخِیهِ مَیۡتࣰا فَكَرِهۡتُمُوهُۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابࣱ رَّحِیمࣱ
O People who Believe! Avoid excessive assumptions; indeed assumption sometimes becomes a sin, and do not seek faults, and do not slander one another; would any one among you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? So you will hate that! And fear Allah; indeed Allah is Most Acceptor of Repentance, Most Merciful. (Quran, 49:12)
Diagnostic, analytical and decision-making skills: The Quran encourages leaders to use their diagnostic, analytical and decision-making skills to evaluate situations and make the best choices. For example, Allah says:
وَإِذَا جَاۤءَهُمۡ أَمۡرࣱ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡنِ أَوِ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ أَذَاعُوا۟ بِهِۦۖ وَلَوۡ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰۤ أُو۟لِی ٱلۡأَمۡرِ مِنۡهُمۡ لَعَلِمَهُ ٱلَّذِینَ یَسۡتَنۢبِطُونَهُۥ مِنۡهُمۡۗ وَلَوۡلَا فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَیۡكُمۡ وَرَحۡمَتُهُۥ لَٱتَّبَعۡتُمُ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنَ إِلَّا قَلِیلࣰا
"And when there comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few." (Quran, 4:83)
These are some of the verses from the Quran that relate to the skills of a good leader. You can also find more guidance and examples from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who was the best leader and role model for all Muslims. I hope this answer was helpful and informative for you.