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The model of leadership upbringing

نموذج التربية القيادية

Tareq al-Suwaidan's model for taking a person from ordinary to effective: five elements of five parts each, convictions, interests, skills, relationships and role models, with evidence from the Sira.

Depth

At a glance

Region
Global / Diaspora
Review

Politics, governance and authorityEthics and character

Summary

"The model of leadership upbringing" is the second model in the making of a leader for Tareq al-Suwaidan, coming after discovery and before training; he set it out in episodes 14 to 18 of his programme "Secrets of Prophetic Leadership". 1 2 For him it is the way to move a person from ordinary to effective; moving him from effective to leader is the work of training. 1 3 It has five elements, each with five parts that he calls "quintets": convictions, interests, skills, relationships and role models. 4 5 6 Upbringing, he says, is not checking homework, food, sleep and clothes, but changing convictions, adjusting interests, developing skills, building relationships and choosing role models. 7 8

Convictions

A conviction for him is what stands behind every behaviour and decision; negative convictions show in words like "impossible" and "I can't". Adults' information and skills change easily, he holds, but their convictions only with difficulty, unlike children's. 9 10 11 Convictions have five parts: creed, principles, values, understanding of life, and ambitions. 12 He defines creed as all the firm rational and emotional convictions that a religion or idea plants in its followers, and says the early Muslim victories were victories of creed, with some thirty thousand bringing down the Persian state, in his account. 13 14 Principles are settled convictions that become a method governing conduct; his example is the Prophet ﷺ at Ta'if, who, offered that the two mountains of Mecca be brought down on its people, refused, hoping that from their descendants would come people who worship God. 15 16 17 For values he cites Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. 18 Understanding of life is awareness of what is happening locally and globally "without illusions". 19 Ambition is a distant, large goal; his example is the Prophet's announcement at the Trench of the opening of Syria, Persia and Yemen. 20 21

Interests

Interests are what occupies a person's mind, especially in free time, and they show in how he spends his weekend; what is needed is balance between them, because leadership is exhausting. 22 23 24 They are five: spirit, mind, emotion, body and money. 7 For the spirit he cites the Prophet's standing in night prayer until his feet swelled; for the mind, that reason is the basis of moral responsibility; and he counts blind imitation as the greatest obstacle to thinking. 25 26 27 He defines emotion as a psychological readiness that leads to feelings and behaviour, and holds that a leader must keep his personal feelings out of his decisions, though without feeling he will sacrifice people carelessly. 28 29 The body, in Islamic thought as he puts it, is a trust, not a possession. 30

Skills

A skill for him is "an ability its holder practises with ease and mastery", a definition he says is his own. 31 Skills are of five kinds: mental, physical, social, technical or special, and leadership-administrative. 32 For memory he cites al-Shayma' bint al-Harith, the Prophet's foster-sister, who made herself known to him among the captives of Hawazin by a bite he had given her as a child, whereupon he spread his cloak for her. 33 34 35 For intelligence, the ruse of Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman on the night of the Trench; for planning, the chain of steps that led up to the conquest of Mecca. 36 37 38 For a special skill, Zayd ibn Thabit, who learned the Jews' script at the Prophet's request at fifteen or sixteen. 39 40 Leadership skills, he says, can be taught to children. 41

Relationships

Relationships have five rules for him: choosing, building, depth, ending and repair. 42 43 44 45 46 Choosing goes by temperament, cultural level, social background, hobbies and difference of age, and his example is the Prophet's choice of Abu Bakr as companion; building passes through circles beginning with oneself, then the mother, the father, kin, society, the community and the world. 42 47 43 On depth he cites the hadith on moderation in love, and says the Prophet's love for Abu Dharr did not lead him to give him office. 44 48 On ending, he says relationships are built gradually and ended at once, citing the marriage of Zayd and Zaynab bint Jahsh (may God be pleased with her) to show that two good people may still not make a good match, and the story of Barira and Mughith. 45 49 50 On repair, he holds that ties of kinship are kept even when they go bad. 46

Role models

A role model for him is "the applied model of principles and values", someone whose deeds match his words; the Prophet is the model in everything, and each Companion is a model in his own field. 8 51 52 Role models have five rules, among which he names: choosing by righteousness, good character, words matching deeds and mastery of the field; close contact with the model and following his books and media; judging the model only within his field; and diversity, since there is no absolute model but the Prophet. 53 54 55 56 One may follow Steve Jobs in creativity, he says, but not in how he treated people. 57

Connections

Explore the connections

Subject of
Asrar al-Qiyada al-Nabawiyya, Secrets of Prophetic Leadership (television programme)

People and things also explored

The leader's eight roles and training in general leadership· The environment that fosters leadership· Bad leadership and its seven types· Specialised leadership and training in it· Followership and the eight kinds of follower· The model for discovering leaders· Leadership and the leader's six roles· Situational leadership

Sources

  1. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:03:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  2. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:01:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  3. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:04:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  4. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:05:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  5. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:02:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  6. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:03:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  7. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 15, at 00:06:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  8. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 18, at 00:02:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  9. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:06:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  10. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:07:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  11. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:08:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  12. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:10:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  13. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:11:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  14. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:14:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  15. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:19:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  16. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:22:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  17. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:25:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  18. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:30:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  19. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:37:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  20. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:44:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  21. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 14, at 00:46:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  22. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 15, at 00:03:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  23. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 15, at 00:04:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  24. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 15, at 00:04:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  25. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 15, at 00:08:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  26. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 15, at 00:14:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  27. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 15, at 00:18:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  28. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 15, at 00:29:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  29. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 15, at 00:35:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  30. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 15, at 00:46:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  31. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:04:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  32. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:07:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  33. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:09:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  34. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:10:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  35. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:11:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  36. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:14:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  37. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:16:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  38. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:20:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  39. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:39:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  40. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:40:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  41. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 16, at 00:46:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  42. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 17, at 00:12:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  43. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 17, at 00:20:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  44. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 17, at 00:27:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  45. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 17, at 00:40:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  46. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 17, at 00:47:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  47. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 17, at 00:14:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  48. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 17, at 00:34:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  49. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 17, at 00:41:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  50. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 17, at 00:44:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  51. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 18, at 00:03:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  52. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 18, at 00:07:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  53. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 18, at 00:08:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  54. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 18, at 00:15:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  55. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 18, at 00:24:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  56. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 18, at 00:35:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  57. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Asrar Al Qyada Al Nbawya, episode 18, at 00:09:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The model of leadership upbringing”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/al-tarbiya-al-qiyadiyya/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-11-02.

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The leader's eight roles and training in general leadership

Tareq al-Suwaidan's model of training in general leadership: eight roles, direction, example, change, motivation, training, relations, intervention and empowerment, each with two elements, two competencies and a training skill for each; everything else is management, to be delegated.