Transformational Leadership in Islamic Education: Integrating Islamic Values for Quality Improvement and Educational Innovation

Elsa Elsa; Kaharuddin Kaharuddin

Authors

Elsa Universitas Islam Negeri Palopo, Indonesia
Kaharuddin Universitas Islam Negeri Palopo, Indonesia

Keywords:

Transformational Leadership, Islamic Leadership Values, Educational Quality, Educational Innovation

Abstract

This review article examines transformational leadership in Islamic education by integrating modern leadership theory with Islamic ethical values and assessing its implications for educational quality and innovation. Using a narrative literature review and conceptual synthesis, the article reorganizes the source paper around four analytical themes: the integration of transformational leadership with Shiddiq, Amanah, Tabligh, and Fathonah; the contribution of visionary, inspirational, and collaborative leadership to educational quality; leadership pathways to educational innovation; and an integrated Islamic transformational leadership framework. The findings indicate that Islamic values strengthen the ethical legitimacy of transformational leadership while its managerial dimensions provide practical mechanisms for change. Vision clarifies strategic direction, inspirational communication builds commitment, collaboration distributes responsibility, intellectual stimulation encourages experimentation, and individualized consideration supports professional growth. The novelty of the article lies in combining these ethical and managerial elements into a unified framework linking moral credibility, shared vision, participatory culture, professional empowerment, innovation capacity, and continuous quality improvement. The framework implies that sustainable improvement in Islamic educational institutions requires ethical leadership to operate together with systematic organizational transformation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational leadership (2nd ed.). Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781410617095

Bramastia, & Yasin, N. (2022). Problematika manajemen mutu pendidikan madrasah dalam perspektif input-proses-output. Risâlah: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Studi Islam, 8(3), 1070–1083. https://doi.org/10.31943/jurnalrisalah.v8i3.325

Cahyono, I. M. S. R., Sedana, I. M., & Suwindia, I. G. (2025). Determinasi gaya kepemimpinan kepala sekolah, iklim kerja sekolah, semangat kerja guru terhadap kinerja guru sekolah dasar. Attadrib: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 8(2), 421–435. https://doi.org/10.54069/attadrib.v8i2.918

Gunawan, B. S., & Cahyani, S. (2024). Kepemimpinan transformasional kepala madrasah dan peningkatan mutu pendidikan di Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Nurul Iman Bandung. Shibyan: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 2(1), 31–47. https://doi.org/10.30999/shibyan.v2i1.3806

Harsoyo, R. (2022). Teori kepemimpinan transformasional Bernard M. Bass dan aplikasinya dalam peningkatan mutu lembaga pendidikan Islam. Southeast Asian Journal of Islamic Education Management, 3(2), 247–262. https://doi.org/10.21154/sajiem.v3i2.112

Kartika, I., Noerlitasari, Saputra, A. M., Purwaningsih, Y., Yuningsih, A., & Leman, S. (2025). Integrasi nilai-nilai Islam dalam kepemimpinan pendidikan. At-Tadris: Journal of Islamic Education, 4(2), 315–324. https://doi.org/10.56672/vf6x5n20

Lamirin, Santoso, J., & Selwen, P. (2023). Penerapan strategi kepemimpinan transformasional dalam meningkatkan kinerja organisasi pendidikan. Jurnal Ilmiah Kanderang Tingang, 14(2), 400–409. https://doi.org/10.37304/jikt.v14i2.259

Lasrin, H., Rubini, B., & Novita, L. (2025). The effect of transformational leadership and technological literacy on increasing teacher innovativeness. Al-Tanzim: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.33650/al-tanzim.v9i3.12058

Maryati, S. (2025). Kepemimpinan transformasional kepala madrasah dalam meningkatkan mutu pendidikan Islam di era digital. IQRO: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(2), 910–920. https://doi.org/10.24256/iqro.v8i2.8384

Thoyibah, F. A., & Hajizah. (2025). Model kepemimpinan profetik Rasulullah dalam konteks kepemimpinan transformasional modern. IHSAN: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 3(3), 582–589. https://doi.org/10.61104/ihsan.v3i3.1100

Trimulyo, J., Rahmawati, I., Lestari, H., & Thelma, C. C. (2025). The influence of transformational leadership on fostering management innovation in Islamic education institutions. Al-Tanzim: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 9(1), 316–326. https://doi.org/10.33650/al-tanzim.v9i1.10785

Utami, B. Y., Susanti, L., Rusdinal, & Achyar, N. (2026). Transformational leadership and motivation’s influence on teacher innovation and job satisfaction. Indonesian Research Journal in Education, 10(1), 170–184. https://doi.org/10.22437/irje.v10i1.48481

Wahyuni, F., & Maunah, B. (2021). Kepemimpinan transformasional dalam pendidikan Islam. Southeast Asian Journal of Islamic Education Management, 2(2), 141–162. https://doi.org/10.21154/sajiem.v2i2.51