Islamic perspectives on good governance: A comprehensive analysis

Abstract

This paper explores the principles of good governance through an Islamic perspective and underlines their importance in the current political discourse. Emphasizing justice, accountability, and transparency within the context of Islamic governance, the directives are found from the Qur'an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), where leadership is looked at as a strong godly responsibility dedicated towards public welfare. Two such exemplars of exemplary case studies are the two reigns, namely of Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab and Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz. These two cases demonstrate how such ideals were translated into the administrative practice of governance and, at the same time, underscore the significance of social equality, public accountability, and community engagement for modern governance frameworks. Through an analysis of the congruence of Islamic and modern governance models, this study focuses on the integrability of ethical dimensions into leadership, further repeating the prescription that effective governance is fundamentally about justice and the improved welfare of citizens. Lastly, the findings illustrate the extent to which Islamic prescripts remain relevant in addressing modern issues of governance.