The Role of Spiritual Leadership in Enhancing Organizational Commitment in Islamic Universities
Keywords:
spiritual leadership, organizational commitment, Islamic education, higher educationAbstract
This study examines the role of spiritual leadership in enhancing organizational commitment within Islamic higher education, with particular reference to the University of Zawia, Libya. Grounded in value-based leadership theory and Islamic educational principles, the study investigates how dimensions of spiritual leadership-vision, hope/faith, altruistic love, meaning/calling, and membership-influence employees’ organizational commitment. A quantitative correlational research design was employed, and data were collected from 150 academic and administrative staff using a structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS. The findings reveal that both spiritual leadership and organizational commitment are perceived at high levels. Among the leadership dimensions, vision and meaning/calling recorded the highest mean scores, indicating the importance of purpose-driven leadership in Islamic institutions. In terms of organizational commitment, affective and normative commitment was stronger than continuance commitment, suggesting that employees are primarily motivated by emotional attachment and moral responsibility rather than material considerations. Correlation and regression analyses further demonstrate a strong and significant relationship between spiritual leadership and organizational commitment. The study concludes that leadership grounded in Islamic values and spiritual principles plays a critical role in strengthening employee commitment and institutional cohesion. The findings offer practical implications for educational leaders, emphasizing the need to enhance trust, shared vision, and value-based management practices in Islamic universities.
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