PHILOSOPHICAL SUFISM AS THE CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATION OF ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP ETHICS
Keywords:
Leadership, Philosophical, Sufism
Abstract
The phenomenon of narrowing the meaning of leadership in modern organizations that are oriented towards technocratic achievements and performance indicators has led to moral degradation and the normalization of ethical deviations. In this context, Islamic leadership demands an ethical foundation that is not only normative, but also touches the inner consciousness of leaders. This article aims to formulate philosophical Sufism as the conceptual basis of Islamic leadership ethics through an examination of the ontological, epistemological, and ethical dimensions in the Sufi tradition. The research uses a qualitative method with a literature review approach, examining classical and modern works by figures such as Ibn 'Arabi and Suhrawardi, as well as contemporary literature on Islamic ethics and leadership. The results of the study show that philosophical Sufism, through the concepts of wahdat al-wujud, fana', and baqa', forms a framework of consciousness that places authority as a trust, not an expansion of the ego. Fana' marks the process of ego decay and the drive for power, while baqa' reinforces the moral steadfastness and moral stability of leaders. Therefore, philosophical Sufism provides an ontological and epistemological foundation for the formation of a more solid ethical disposition than normative and compliance approaches. In conclusion, Islamic leadership ethics should be understood as an architecture of consciousness that shapes actions, not merely rules of behavior. The implications of this study emphasize the need for spiritual guidance and ethical reflection integrated into leadership development so that the values of trustworthiness, justice, and accountability can endure under the pressures of modern organizations
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Mubah, H. Q., Soleh, B., Wahyudi, K., Roesminingsih, E., & Supratno, H. (2024). LEADERSHIP CONCEPT ANALYSIS STUDY IN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE. Re-JIEM: Research Journal of Islamic Education Management, 7(2), 343–361. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.19105/re-jiem.v7i2.7737
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ODA, Y. (1977). Fana’ and Baqa’ in Jalal al-Din Rumi. Bulletin of the Society for Near Eastern Studies in Japan, 20(1), 79-94,268. https://doi.org/10.5356/jorient.20.79
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Siti Mursalina, Fetti Nur Fatimah, Ilham Mubarok, & Dyah Qotrunnada. (2025). Inner Experience and Illumination in Suhrawardi’s Philosophical Thought. Al-Falsafah: Jurnal Pemikiran Dan Filsafat Islam, 1(1), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.61166/falsafah.v1i1.3
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Zed, M. (2014). Metode penelitian kepustakaan. Yayasan Obor Indonesia.
Ahmad, N. I. (2025). Internalisasi Tasawuf Falsafi Fana dan Wahdatul Wujud dalam Pendidikan Islam. Al-Zayn: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial & Hukum, 3(3), 2782–2792. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61104/alz.v3i3.1735
Arifka, A. (2025). MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE IN SUFISM THE STUDY OF UNIQUENESS OF SUFISM IN RELATION TO MYSTICISM. At-Thullab : Jurnal Mahasiswa Studi Islam, 7(1), 52–69. https://doi.org/10.20885/tullab.vol7.iss1.art4
Arroisi, J., Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, Syam’un Salim, M., & Taqiyuddin, M. (2022). Understanding ‘God as Reality’: Analysis of the Ontological Approach in the Tradition of Islamic Philosophy and Sufism. Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, 12(1), 138–163. https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.121.07
Ashforth, B. E., & Anand, V. (2003a). The Normalization of Corruption in Organizations. Research in Organizational Behavior, 25, 1–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-3085(03)25001-2
Ashforth, B. E., & Anand, V. (2003b). THE NORMALIZATION OF CORRUPTION IN ORGANIZATIONS. Organizational Behavior, 25(03), 1–52.
Assya’bani, R., & Falach, G. (2022). The Philosophy of Illumination: Esotericism in Shihāb ad-Dīn Suhrawardī’s Sufism. ESENSIA: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Ushuluddin, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.14421/esensia.v22i2.2398
Basri, H., Siti-Nabiha, A. K., & Abd. Majid, M. S. (2016). Accounting and Accountability in Religious Organizations: An Islamic Contemporary Scholars’ Perspective. Gadjah Mada International Journal of Business, 18(2), 207. https://doi.org/10.22146/gamaijb.12574
Böwering, G. (2016). Baqāʾ wa fanāʾ. Encyclopedia Iranica, III, 722–724. https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/baqa-wa-fana-sufi-term-signifying-subsistence-and-passing-away/?generate_pdf=1
Bungin. (2020). Metodologi penelitian kualitatif: Aktualisasi metodologis ke arah ragam varian kontemporer. Rajawali Pers.
Creswell, & Creswell. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Efendi, E., Putri, D., Amril, M., & Gazali, M. A. (2023). The Existence and Contribution of Sufism in Resolving Religious Conflicts. Islam Transformatif: Journal of Islamic Studies, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.30983/it.v7i2.7022
Fahrudin, F., Islamy, M. R. F., Faqihuddin, A., Parhan, M., & Kamaludin, K. (2024). The Implications of Sufism Akhlaqi to Strengthen The Noble Morals of Indonesian Students. El Harakah: Jurnal Budaya Islam, 26(1), 74–93. https://doi.org/10.18860/eh.v26i1.26192
Faza, A. M. D. (2019). TASAWUF FALSAFI. Al-Hikmah: Jurnal Theosofi Dan Peradaban Islam, 1(1), 56–70. https://doi.org/10.51900/alhikmah.v1i1.4050
Fisher, N. E. (2022). Flavors of Ecstasy: States of Absorption in Islamic and Jewish Contemplative Traditions. Religions, 13(10), 935. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13100935
Hakim, B. R. (2023). Tasawuf, Nasionalisme, dan Gerakan Sosial: Studi Spiritualitas Transformasional Abah Sepuh dalam Konteks Kolonialisme dan Kemerdekaan. Inovasi : Jurnal Sosial Humaniora Dan Pendidikan, 2.
Ji, S., & Hong, S. (2025). Hidden Costs of Performance Management: When Performance Feedback Encourages Gaming and Dysfunctional Behaviors. Public Performance & Management Review, 48(4), 768–792. https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2025.2486061
Kemenag, Q. (2022). Al Qur’an Surah An-Nisa Ayat 58. Qur’an Kemenag. https://quran.kemenag.go.id/quran/per-ayat/surah/4?from=1&to=176
Khaeroni, Ilzamudin, & Subhan. (2025). Prophetic Leadership for Sustainable Islamic Higher Education : A Systematic Literature Review of Transformative Values and SDG Alignment ( 2009 – 2024 ). Journal of Asian Islamic Educational Management (JAIEM), 3(2), 63–72. https://doi.org/10.53889/jaiem.v3i2.752
Kusdewanti, A. I., & Hatimah, H. (2016). Membangun Akuntabilitas Profetik. Jurnal Akuntansi Multiparadigma. https://doi.org/10.18202/jamal.2016.08.7018
Masorong, A. N. P. (2025). ISLAMIC ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNANCE. Advanced International Journal of Banking, Accounting and Finance, 7(21), 21–34. https://doi.org/10.35631/AIJBAF.721002
Mattson, C., Bushardt, R. L., & Artino, A. R. (2021). “When a Measure Becomes a Target, It Ceases to be a Good Measure.” Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 13(1), 2–5. https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-20-01492.1
Moleong. (2019). Metodologi penelitian kualitatif (Edisi revisi). PT Remaja Rosdakarya.
Mubah, H. Q., Soleh, B., Wahyudi, K., Roesminingsih, E., & Supratno, H. (2024). LEADERSHIP CONCEPT ANALYSIS STUDY IN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE. Re-JIEM: Research Journal of Islamic Education Management, 7(2), 343–361. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.19105/re-jiem.v7i2.7737
Mustamain, K. (2020). Ontologi Tasawuf Falsafi dalam Konsep Wahdatul Wujud Ibnu Arabi. Rausyan Fikr: Jurnal Studi Ilmu Ushuluddin Dan Filsafat, 16(2), 267–281. https://doi.org/10.24239/rsy.v16i2.630
Nasution, A. (2022). Bediuzzaman Said Nursi View on Ibn Arabi’s Concept of Wahdatul Wujud (Unity of Existence). Jurnal Theologia, 33(1), 67–86. https://doi.org/10.21580/teo.2022.33.1.11909
ODA, Y. (1977). Fana’ and Baqa’ in Jalal al-Din Rumi. Bulletin of the Society for Near Eastern Studies in Japan, 20(1), 79-94,268. https://doi.org/10.5356/jorient.20.79
Sinnicks, M. (2018). Leadership After Virtue: MacIntyre’s Critique of Management Reconsidered. Journal of Business Ethics, 147(4), 735–746. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3381-6
Siti Mursalina, Fetti Nur Fatimah, Ilham Mubarok, & Dyah Qotrunnada. (2025). Inner Experience and Illumination in Suhrawardi’s Philosophical Thought. Al-Falsafah: Jurnal Pemikiran Dan Filsafat Islam, 1(1), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.61166/falsafah.v1i1.3
Siverbo, S., Cäker, M., & Åkesson, J. (2019). Conceptualizing dysfunctional consequences of performance measurement in the public sector. Public Management Review, 21(12), 1801–1823. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2019.1577906
Taher, M. S. I. M., Yusof, S. A., Abdullah, S. R., Fazial, F., Ismail, M. S. I., & Ibrahim, N. (2025). The Role of Sufism in Shaping Ethical Practices and Business Integrity: Examining Spiritual Consciousness as a Mediator in Islamic Business. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Business, Finance, Management and Economic (BizFAME 2024) (Issue BizFAME 2024, pp. 38–58). https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-827-1_5
Tongat. (2021). FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MYTHICO- PHILOSOPHY THINKING ( TASAWUF FALSAFI ). Proceeding International Seminar on Islamic Studies, 2(1), 741–746.
Usman, A. (2022). Buku Ajar Tasawuf Falsafi. SUKA-Press.
Wang, J., Jia, Q., Dong, T., Yang, X., & Jiang, H. (2025). Ethical Dilemmas in Performance-Oriented Management: A Dual-Path Systems Model. Systems, 13(10), 900. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13100900
Zahrah, N. S. (2021). Fana’ dan Baqa’ dalam Perspektif Syekh Abdus Samad Al-Palimbani dan Relevansinya Dalam Konteks Kekinian. In Repository UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta (pp. 1–132). https://digilib.uin-suka.ac.id/id/eprint/46389/1/19205010051_BAB-I_IV-atau-V_DAFTAR-PUSTAKA.pdf
Zed, M. (2014). Metode penelitian kepustakaan. Yayasan Obor Indonesia.
Published
2026-03-18
How to Cite
Faqihudin, M., & Jinan, M. (2026). PHILOSOPHICAL SUFISM AS THE CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATION OF ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP ETHICS. Jurnal Ilmiah Spiritualis: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam Dan Tasawuf, 12(1), 19-37. https://doi.org/10.53429/spiritualis.v12i1.2136
Section
Satu
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