The Foundation of Knowledge: A Comparative Study in Islamic and Western Methods of Inquiry

Beekun and Badawi, both professors of management and strategy, have written this primer on leadership integrating contemporary business techniques with traditional Islamic knowledge. The leadership paradigm is changing, and a leadership model based on ethical principles is finally emerging-a position that Islam has taken from the start. The synthesis of the authors results in a highly practical and inspiring manual for developing leadership skills.

In their pursuit for organizational improvement, modern managers have been searching for effective management theories and practices in both the East and the West. The interest of managers has expanded beyond contemporary management schools to include even ancient ones. Nevertheless, little attention is currently paid to the Islamic management approach, one that has far outperformed its contemporaries and left indelible marks on the minds of innumerable researchers, leaders, and managers that have followed. Islam and Management will shed light on the Islamic approach to management and delineate important lessons from the teachings of Islam and the experiences of Muslims. People who should read this book include all managers seeking to enhance the effectiveness of their organizations. This book is particularly important for Muslim managers who will find its approach to be coherent with their cultural values. Topics covered in this book include organizational culture, planning, organizing, leading, motivating, controlling, competition, conflict management, and human resource management. This book also includes a chapter on the enriching leadership of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattâb, the second caliph of Islam. The hardcover version of this book that we have for sale is the revised 3rd edition, published in 2011.a