Leading a Madrasah: 7 Reflections Worth Considering

If you’re reading this while already serving as a madrasah head, then much of what I’m about to share may not be new to you. Take it as a reminder. As Mufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani (rahimahullah) would say, he would sit in post-Fajr reminders with the intention of benefiting, and he would always benefit, even though the advice came from simple villagers.

And for those who are new to leadership, or aspiring towards it, I make dua that Allah makes you great leaders, leaders who strengthen the legacy of our Habīb ﷺ and lead in the footsteps of the Sahābah.

Serving the Deen and the Ummah from a leadership position is a huge blessing from Allah. It is something we should constantly be grateful for. Especially leadership within a madrasah, because the impact you can make is huge. If you find yourself in this position, then it is purely from the fadhal of Allah.

As long as you recognise your value, understand the magnitude of your role and work with sincerity, knowledge and wisdom, you will not only transform your students, your impact will reach the entire madrasah community.

This is why I’m writing this piece. Leaders don’t have time to waste. The sooner we get the foundations right, the sooner we can begin making real change.

Look at Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu). His leadership was only 10 years, but look at the impact. Many of the Sahābah held leadership roles for short periods, yet their legacy remains. We also have the opportunity. We shouldn’t waste it.

1. Know Your Value

Recognise your worth.

You are not just managing a system or running classes, you are safeguarding the Iman of a generation. You are the means through which the name of Allah will continue to be taken.

Your value is not measured by salary, recognition, or status in the eyes of people. Your value is with Allah. Your value is that you are doing the work of the Ambiyaa.

When you truly understand this, it changes everything, your mindset, your energy, your sincerity and your approach to leadership.

2. Learn from Other Leaders

There are madrasah leaders who have spent years — sometimes decades — building their madrasah. What they can offer you is gold.

It will save you mistakes. It may even save you years.

When you go to them, go with the intention of learning. Not advising.

One of the most powerful pieces of advice I heard (and it was quite abrupt) was:

“Shut up and listen.”

And it’s true.

Not everything they say will apply to your context, and you don’t have to take everything on board. But there is always something to learn.

Also, study the lives of our mashāyikh. We’ve always heard:

“Don’t look at their intiha (final outcomes) — look at the ibtida (early stages).”

We all know this statement, but when it comes to applying it, we struggle.

They went through years of sacrifice, effort, difficulty and struggle before Allah opened the doors for them. The very same Allah will open doors of success and acceptance for you, inshāAllāh.

3. Observe Other Madrasahs Like an Inspector

Go and observe other madrasahs, properly.

Not casually. Not just walking in and out.

Go with a purpose. Know what you’re observing.

Look at:

• vision

• systems

• structures

• curriculum

• resources

• deeper objectives

• classroom environments

• how teachers teach

• how leadership operates

• communication with parents

You don’t have to agree with everything. You don’t have to adopt everything.

But there is always something to take.

As a leader, you should build this into your academic calendar. Make time. Visit madrasahs while classes are operating.

4. Network and Share Resources

Build connections with other madrasahs.

There is incredible work already out there. Some of our ‘ulamā have produced amazing resources that are not being benefitted from widely.

Through networking, we can:

• share resources

• save time

• avoid duplication

• benefit more people

I remember an ‘ālim once sent me a resource he had worked on for weeks. It was excellent, but we had developed something very similar nearly 10 years ago, and had already moved ahead with further developments.

It made me happy to see his effort, but also slightly sad, because that time could have been spent elsewhere more beneficially if there was connection.

By networking, discussing our khidmah, we can move much faster.

And don’t worry about credit. Give credit where it’s due.

Someone once asked me to remove our logo from a resource they wanted to use, but that’s like using a published book and refusing to teach it because the publisher’s name is on it.

We are here for khidmah, not recognition.

5. Invest in Your Own Development (CPD)

Just because we are placed in leadership does not mean we were born leaders.

Alhamdulillah, our Darul Ulooms have trained us in many ways, through responsibility, discipline, anjuman, bayans, leading Salah, but leadership requires continuous development.

We need to build:

• communication skills

• relationship skills

• conflict management

• resilience

• ability to understand and work with different personalities

We also need to understand education better:

• pedagogy

• assessment

• vision

• curriculum

• classroom practice

Read books. Listen to podcasts. Attend training.

If you haven’t studied education formally, consider doing so. This is your field, equip yourself for it.

6. Be Aware of the Challenges Facing Your Students and Parents

A leader must be fully aware of the realities of their students and families.

If something is affecting our youth, we must ask:

Where are we addressing this in our madrasah?

I remember an ‘Ālimiyyah lead once expressing concern about a student who was developing worrying views.

My question was simple:

Where in your curriculum or tarbiyyah programmes have you addressed this?

There was silence.

We cannot solve every problem. But we must at least try to address as many as we can.

Leaders don’t just complain about the situation, they take responsibility.

If anything, the only complaint a leader should have is their own inability to do more for the Deen. Our beloved Nabi ﷺ, despite being the best of leaders, complained about himself, SubānAllah:

اللهم إني أشكو إليك ضعف قوتي وقلة حيلتي

7. Don’t Settle, Think Beyond Your Madrasah

Do not fall into a comfort zone. Always remain active and challenge yourself.

Your madrasah will only be as strong as you are. If you are relaxed and laid back, your madrasah will become stagnant. But if you push forward and challenge yourself, you will create opportunities that can truly benefit your community.

Be a leader who works towards transforming the whole community, not just running a madrasah.

Do not limit your madrasah to Qur’an reading alone. The madrasah is just your platform, the objective is far greater. The goal is to bring every aspect of Deen into every home. It is to create the environment of Madinah Munawwarah in our community.

When you carry this mindset, you will never feel like you’ve done enough.

Once your madrasah is developed, start looking at the gaps:

• What are you doing for parents?

• What about those who have graduated?

• What about young people entering marriage, work, or business?

• What about emerging challenges?

If education is our field, then we must recognise that our Deen provides guidance for every stage of life.

Simply teaching young children — knowing much may be forgotten — is not enough. We must continue guiding and supporting beyond the classroom.

Fikr, Duā and Turning to Allah

These are your greatest tools. A leader should have fikr (real concern).

Sometimes that concern will keep you awake at night. Leadership does not stop at working hours.

Every incident, every trend, every challenge should make you think:

How do I protect my students and my community from this?

Turn to Allah constantly:

• through dhikr

• through duā

• through private moments with Him

Keep your students, your staff and your community in your duās.

Develop the same concern for your students as you would for your own children.

If you found this beneficial, or something resonated with you, I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts.

And if you feel your madrasah could benefit from some support, guidance, or simply a conversation, feel free to reach out in the comments below.