Fellowship

Summary

iLead
Future Leaders Fellowship

Leadership is the process of applying a set of values, attributes and skills that are conducive to influencing oneself and others to achieve a set of common goals.

This fellowship aims to produce dynamic leaders who will pioneer social change by acquiring knowledge and wisdom (hikmah), and practicing da’wah with perceptiveness and communication that is convincing and effective.

It combines academic inspiration and training from leading specialists, on the job training through engagement with regional and global challenges, and individual development and executive mentoring and coaching support by harnessing modern digital, interactive, personalised and virtual learning systems.

At a Glance

DURATION: 2 years
Year 1: Aug 2025 to July 2026
Year 2: Aug 2026 to July 2027

FACE TO FACE EVENTS:
4 Face to Face Weekend Retreats

ONLINE LEARNING:
Structured Self-paced Online Modules
Live Webinars and tutorials (weekly)

MENTORING:
Paired with a mentor for the duration of the program

PILOT COHORT GROUPS:
10 (UK); 10 (Nigeria); 10 (Malaysia); 5 (Mauritius); 5 (Sri Lanka); 5 Caribbean; 5 (Europe); 10 (Turkiye); 5 (Other countries)

ORGANISERS:
International Institute of Islamic Thought
International Institute of Muslim Unity
Islamic Education Trust Nigeria

Unique Features

Key Program Highlights

Comprehensive curriculum

Faith-inspired personal and skills development curriculum geared towards fellows engaged in diverse communities who are passionate about change. The curriculum provides sound knowledge and understanding of Islamic traditions and values rooted in a balanced and comprehensive interpretation.

Self-paced online learning

Bite-size training material, designed for flexibility and to allow engagement of Fellow from different global geographical regions.

Mentoring

carefully matching Fellows with leaders from other sectors to inspire, guide and share good leadership practice.

Peer-to-peer support

The opportunity to engage with and learn from peers in similar roles and from expert practitioners and academics in key areas of concern both online and in residential settings.

Praxis

Giving space and time for the practice and integration of new knowledge and insights in-between modules working with non-governmental organisations.

Accreditation

Delegates who successfully complete the program will be awarded certificates from the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) and the International Institute of Muslim Unity (IIMU).

Aims and Objectives

A 2 year experiential learning journey will provides tools, frameworks and experiences required to become:

Ethical & Balanced

Value-based and ethically driven citizens who have a well-grounded, balanced understanding of Islam.

Godly & Upright

God-conscious and caring; conscientious, morally upright and exemplary in character.

Changemakers

Leaders who contribute positively to the growth and development of a just and peaceful society.

Empowered Role Models

Inspiring leaders with a strong ethical foundation, capable of informed decision-making and action.

Programme Structure

Bridging Faith and Holistic Leadership Development for High-Potential and Senior Leaders.

YEAR 1: Living with Purpose for high-potential leaders

A unique leadership experience for high-potential leaders to develop a well-grounded, balanced understanding of Islam needed to become role models, mentors and changemakers – possessing the capacity to evaluate, form decisions and take action based on doctrinally grounded principles and beliefs, morals and ethics.

It will allow Fellows to develop confidence and remove self-doubt, break through barriers, aspire to inspire, and grow the foundations needed for their future success.

This foundational phase focuses on deepening participants’ understanding of faith-inspired leadership. Key components include:

• Exploring the Heart: Discovering personal purpose and building a profound connection with one’s faith.
• Engaging the Mind: Mastering contemporary leadership theories, power dynamics, and leadership psychology.
• Cultivating Character: Developing virtues such as wisdom, courage, empathy, and humility.
• Practical Applications: Hands-on experiences, including internships and projects, to apply knowledge to real-world challenges.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Embracing and celebrating the richness of diverse perspectives.

YEAR 2: Leading with Purpose for senior leaders

This program is designed for graduates from the Living with Purpose program. It aims to equip leaders to all the key leadership skills needed to better collaborate across boundaries to transform systems and organizations.

For graduates of Part 1, this phase delves into advanced leadership skills, including:

• Effective communication and emotional intelligence.
• Global perspectives: Cross-cultural leadership and international case studies.
• Sustainability and impact measurement.
• Customized learning paths, including online courses tailored to participants’ interests.
• Ongoing mentorship and community engagement.
• Strategic partnerships to broaden impact.
Core Learning Areas:
Our curriculum integrates faith-based values with contemporary leadership theories, including:
• Transformational leadership.
• Servant leadership.
• Emotional intelligence.
• Ethical leadership.

Terms and Conditions

Building the Ideal Candidate:
Who We're Looking For

Who is the ideal candidate for this program?

This pilot program caters for university students, graduates and professionals who have a keen interest in developing their knowledge, understanding, practice and skills.

Fellows should possess the qualities:

• Imaginative: Individuals who are creative in their problem-solving, and who can imagine change in an innovative and visionary manner
• Inquisitive: Individuals who are curious about the wider context in which they operate, and take an interest in areas outside of their specialisms and different ways of thinking and being
• Passionate: Individuals who can demonstrate purpose, self-motivation, and enthusiasm about the change they wish to bring about
• Courageous: Individuals who aren’t afraid of change, having difficult conversations, and confronting their fears
• Authenticity: individuals who are self-aware, recognise their strengths and weakness, and are deeply engaged with their communities
• Compassionate: Individuals who care deeply about others, and are committed to helping their community and solving societal issues

Who meets the selection criteria?

• 20 to 35 years with a fluency (both written and spoken) in English
• Open to diversity of thought and aspire to become positive changemakers.
• Track record of participating & volunteering in within local community.
• Can give commitment of time and energy to benefit from the program.
• Possess basic social media and IT skills.
• A courageous, action-oriented risk taker.
• A potential strategic thinker who has creative ideas and wants to shape and influence the future.
• A reflective practitioner who wishes to learn from experience, group work, as well as formal teaching situations.

What are the program expectations?

Fellows will be encouraged to:
• Engage in active self-reflection, appreciating the importance of self-knowledge in leadership;
• Support fellow participants by taking responsibility for the co-creation of a safe and respectful learning environment within the setting of the Program;
• Enhance their critical and creative thinking enabling them to consider new ways to meet ongoing personal and community challenges, and vision new futures;
• Consider pastoral care practices and how to support wellbeing within Muslim communities;
• Increase in their knowledge and understanding of the media and public spheres, and learn how to engage within these at various levels;
• Increase in knowledge and understanding of other faith and minority communities and the power of dialogue and collaboration with such communities to further shared values and goals;
• Refine their capacity for communication with different audiences including navigating differences of various kinds, and the ability to translate Islamic culture, values and wisdom for both a Muslim and non-Muslim audience.

Program Delivery: How do we shape tomorrow's leaders?

What are the Practicalities and Commitments?

Year One of the Fellowship will run from Jan. to Dec. 2024.
Virtual Induction Day will be on Sun. 5th Jan 2024.
Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses.
Participants must commit to attending all residential retreats, LIVE webinars/workshops, completion of self paced learning modules.
Participants must commit to regular mentoring meetings.
[Entrepreneurship]

What is the Application Process?

APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants must complete an application form which can be acquired by emailing and must be completed and returned by midnight on 16th December 2023.
All shortlisted candidates will be formally interviewed for this Program. Zoom Interviews will last approximately 30 minutes.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
Upon graduation participants will be invited to become part of a global Alumni network of purpose-driven leaders, committed to making a positive impact.

Fellowship Curriculum

THE HEART (QALB)

Living life with meaning and purpose
Implications and Relevance of Tawhid
The personification of God’s attributes
Pillars of Islam – relevance and implications
Role of Ibadah in developing a personal and private relationship building with Allah
Diseases of the Heart and treatment
The significance of Niyah (Intention) and Ikhlas (Sincerity) in management and leadership.
Taqwa, Ihsan – Traffic Lights and the spiritual immune system
Dhikr and Ibadah, Muhasabah (introspection)
Tafakkur (meditation and self-awareness
Commitment to Allah, contentment and fi Sabeel Allah as intrinsic motivators for Islamic work.
Developing your conscience, self-Awareness, self-Control, and self-Motivation

THE MIND ('AQL)

Importance of Knowledge, Responsibility from Knowledge
Relevant Revealed Knowledge (Qur’an and Sunnah) to Management and Leadership, Relevant Acquired Knowledge (Ayat of Creation and Others)
Implications of Tawheed on Leadership, Management and Leadership Concepts
Functions of Management, Leadership Styles
Change Management, Teambuilding and Management
Holistic Thinking of Social and Global Issues
Critical and Creative Thinking (Sushi and Sharks)
Problem Solving and Decision Making
Analytical Skills
Critical Listening
Research Skills
Triangulation, Paradigms, Biases and Assumptions
Reflection / Tadabur and Tafakur, Curiosity, Intellectual Humility, Safe Space (Freedom and Courage), Doubt Management and Refutation
(Intelligence vs Thinking / Horsepower vs Driving Skills)
Lateral Thinking (6 Thinking Hats), In vs Out of the Box Thinking, Shura and Management of Ideas
Ideas as Seeds of Reality, Obstacles to Thinking
Group Think and Cascading, Wisdom of Crowds vs Folly of a Mob
Dialog and Debating, Brainstorming
Usul Alfiqh, Maxims (Shari’ah Intelligence), Diversity and Tolerance,
Use of Questions, Analogies, metaphors and parables

CHARACTER (AKHLAQ)

Nature of Insan and its implications on social interactions
Personality types and tests
Developing transcendence, courage, wisdom, Justice, Temperance, humanity
Role Modelling and setting the Example

TRAITS OF EFFECTIVENESS (SAMAAT)

Taking Responsibility
Goal Setting and Strategic Planning
Prioritizing / Time Management
Mutual Benefit
Mutual Understanding (Empathy)
Collaboration (1+1=11)
Continuous Improvement
Energetic

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES (KIFAAYAAT)

Management Functions (Planning, Organization, Implementation, Evaluation)
Leadership Styles / Theories
Communication Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Problem Solving and Decision-Making Skills (Root Cause Analysis)
Financial Literacy and Management
Fundraising Management
21st Century Skills
Critical Thinking and creativity
Collaboration
Social media and ICT skills
Motivational Skills
Organizational Governance and Performance
Emotional Intelligence
Ethical Intelligence
Team Building
Conflict Management
Managing Meetings
Project Management
Delegation
Succession Planning
Negotiation Skills
Mentoring and Coaching Skills
Networking and social media skills
Social Entrepreneurship
Volunteerism
Ethics of Engagement (Da’wah)
Community development and Building Institutions

IMPACT/BENEFITS (MANAAFI'/ATHAR)

Realization of Maqasid
SDGs from an Islamic Perspective
Contemporary Social Issues
Social Entrepreneurship
Social Intelligence
Building Institutions
Seven Cs of Community Development
Volunteerism, Da’wah

Program Logistics

INSTRUCTORS

Shaykh Nuruddeen Lemu, Nigeria.
Salatu E. Sule, Nigeria.
Shaykh Nasir Bello, Nigeria
Professor Dawood al-Hidabi, Malaysia
Dr Saleh Bazead, Malaysia
Dr Hisham alTalib, USA
Dr Ahmad Totonji, Turkey
Dr Usman Bugage, Nigeria
Dr Rayes Mustafa, UK
Dr Riza Mohammed, UK
Hussain Shefaar, UK
Sherin Parveen, UK
Professor Rafik Beekun, USA
Dr Zahid Parvez, UK
Muhammad Totonji, Saudi Arabia
Farook Murad, UK
Naveed Idris, UK

READING LIST

Islam the Natural Way by AbdulWahid Hamid
In the Early Hours by Khurram Murad
A Journey to God by Jasser Auda
Way to the Quran by Khurram Murad
Inter Personal Relationships An Islamic Perspective By Khurram Murad
The Sirah of the Prophet by Yasir Qadhi
Leadership: An Islamic Perspective by Rafik Beekun
Muhammad: 11 Qualities that changed the world by Nabeel Al-Azami
Shariah Intelligence by Dawah Academy, Nigeria
40 Hadith on community service and activism by Mohannad Hakeem
Training Manual of the Islamic Worker by Hisham alTalib
Etiquettes of Engagement by Hisham al Talib
Living where we don’t make the rules by Ebrahim Rasool [editor]

RESIDENTIAL MASTERCLASSES

RESIDENTIAL DATES & VENUE
All residentials in the UK will be at Markfield Conference Centre, Ratby Lane, Markfield, LE67 9SY, UK

Retreat Themes

Living With Purpose
Spiritual Intelligence
Shariah Intelligence
Aspire to Inspire
Leading With Purpose
Strategic Planning and Implementation
Leadership Skills
Social Activism
Entrepreneurship
Developing Spiritual Intelligence

WEBINARS

Living with Purpose
Spiritual Intelligence
Prophetic Leadership
Quranic Study Techniques
Character Building
Prophetic Leadership
Conflict Management
Interpersonal Skills
Problem Solving and Decision-Making Skills
Financial Literacy and Management
Fundraising Management
Critical Thinking and creativity
Motivational Skills
Organizational Governance and Performance
Emotional Intelligence
Ethical Intelligence
Succession Planning
Negotiation Skills
Networking and social media skills
Social Entrepreneurship
Volunteerism
Ethics of Engagement
Community development