For 20 years, the Training Guide has empowered Islamic leaders with its comprehensive program in human development, education, and leadership, using the practice of da’wah. The guide mentors pioneers in social change by providing tools for success in communications, administration, and planning. It educates and motivates in a spiritually enriching and uplifting manner and provides a template for effective, inspired leadership according to Islamic principles and objectives.
The guide, based on systematic scholarship and decades of research, presents time-tested methods and examples that can be applied to numerous environments and populations. The guide is an essential tool for those launching an initiative, project, association, committee, or organization, and for anyone in a leadership position with social implications.
This training guide demonstrates how to exercise Islam-based leadership among one’s peers and the public. It defines effective leadership, characteristics of Islamic leaders, basic operational principles of Islamic leadership, and leadership in practice. Participants learn how to identify, test, and evaluate potential leaders, and acquire specific tools for effective problem-solving, decision-making, negotiation and compromise. These are based in the practice of mutual consultation (shura).
Allah reminds us that “for everything there is a better way.” We seek guidance from the Qur’an to define our leadership training objectives, and from the Prophet (SAW), who taught us the principle of leadership through service. This guide provides an overview of the Islamic movement and the need for training da’iyah, and addresses the major elements of leadership and essential individual and group skills. It details effective training methods, with examples of how the methods can be implemented in committees, organizations, and youth programs. Its step-by-step outlines and detailed checklists can be replicated and used in a variety of settings.
Each guide training mode can be tailored to the environment and population needing leadership, and prescribes action on the individual, local, and national levels. The guide is intended to prepare leaders to attain clarity (baseerah) in their work and among their groups, for the sake of Allah. It guides leaders to advance through Islamic stages of iman, ihsan, and itqan and to strive for improved performance. The overriding goal is to produce dynamic Islamic leaders who will pioneer social change by acquiring knowledge and practicing da’wah effectively and perceptively, according to the Islamic worldview.
The guide provides specific examples for planning and oversight, illustrating how they can be used in practical terms. It addresses specifics of the planning process and the fundamentals of evaluation and control of programs. Participants will be able to identify how evaluation helps plan implementation and how to use different evaluation techniques, tools and evaluation methods. Since effective leadership is proven by group results, the guide explores team building and group achievement, individual versus team performance, and the nuts and bolts of teamwork spirit.
As the Prophet (SAW) expressed, “Every one of you is a shepherd and every one is responsible for what he is a shepherd of.” To be effective in accomplishing their objectives, leaders should enhance their skills and self-development to succeed as da’iyah. The guide illustrates development areas such as public speaking, overseeing meetings, establishing organizations, chairing committees, and attitudes for personal growth and development. Readers will find all the tools needed for an emerging leader and a comprehensive program for professional development of more seasoned leaders.
How to use this book
Readers and users may customize The Training Guide for Islamic Workers to their specific leadership goals and objectives by selecting specific chapters and modes for use and duplication. For example, teachers may use multiple or specific chapters as part of their curriculum, and professors can download the book or specific sections and include it in a reading packet or handout. Furthermore, researchers may use specific content areas to support their research and reference the book.Likewise, youth group and other community leaders may use multiple or specific chapters as part of their programs. In preparation for Friday prayer, a khateeb may choose specific content from the book for his khutbah. Parents may use specific content from the book for raising their children, and employers of all types may reference the book in preparation for staff meetings and training sessions. Since good leadership benefits all areas of society, the uses for this book are innumerable.Gone are the days when training camps and programs were the monopoly of experts and specialists. With this book, practically any high school graduate can reasonably and successfully conduct a youth camp with ease and satisfaction.
Testimonials
"This book has a lot of great advice and puts a lot of the things we do as workers in perspective of working with excellence."
- Saif AlDeen
