ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the growing corpus of literature in the field of educational leadership which demonstrates that educational leadership is understood and practised differently within societies, cultures and organizations. The notion of educational leadership in Islam derives from the Islamic philosophy of education, while the contextual variations of conceptualization and practice across Muslim societies can be traced to given interpretations of religious texts, reinforcing the interplay between context, faith and concepts. Philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of educational leadership conceptualizations in Islam are linked to the broader aims of education and its contribution towards the development of nafas and Ummah. This social and collective dimension of educational leadership in Islam links it to the role ascribed to the prophets and parents, commanding respect and authority. Muallam or teacher who leads and guides the learners towards knowledge and righteousness, also has the authority and status of a parent, the highest authority within the Islamic social system.
