Ethics of Leadership and Political Crisis in the Caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Thalib: A Socio-Civilizational Perspective
Abstract
This study examines the ethical dimensions of leadership and the political crises that occurred during the caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Thalib (656–661 CE) within the framework of early Islamic social history and civilization. The governance of Ali unfolded amid a profound crisis of legitimacy and communal disintegration following the assassination of Caliph Utsman bin Affan. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, integrating historical and sociological analysis of classical sources alongside contemporary studies, using a library-based research design. The findings indicate that Ali’s leadership was rooted in principles of justice, knowledge, and high moral integrity. However, this political idealism frequently confronted a power landscape shaped by intrigue and competing interests. The Battles of Jamal and Shiffin, as well as the arbitration (taḥkim), illustrate how political conflict transformed into theological and social crises that contributed to the emergence of early Islamic sects such as the Khawarij, the Shi’a, and the Murjiʾah. These findings affirm that the leadership ethics of Ali ibn Abi Thalib represent an Islamic political vision grounded in justice, consultation, and the public welfare, while also offering moral insights for the development of contemporary Islamic leadership.
Downloads
References
Abrar, N., & Corresponding, I. (2018). Konflik politik semasa pemerintahan ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib. International Journal of West Asian Studies, 10(1), 60–73. https://doi.org/10.22583/ijwas.2018.10.01.06
Aldzakhiroh, N., Nopriansyah, B., Ramadhani, G. F., Mubaraq, Z., & Kholid, N. (2024). Political Dynamics of the Era of
Ali Bin Abi Thalib (Contribution of the Political System in Islamic Civilization). JUSPI (Jurnal Sejarah Peradaban Islam), 7(2), 152. https://doi.org/10.30829/juspi.v7i2.18659
Anis, M. (2016). Al-Khawarij Dan Al-Murjiah ( Sejarah Timbulnya dan Pokok-pokok Ajarannya). Jurnal Mimbar: Media Intelektual Muslim dan Bimbingan Rohani, 2(1), 26–41. https://doi.org/10.47435/mimbar.v2i1.280
Attamimi, T. A., Della, D. A., Khairunnisa, R., & Hasanah, U. (2025). Sejarah Sosial Pendidikan Islam Masa Khalifah Ali Bin Abi Thalib ( 656-661 M ) Politeknik Negeri Tanah Laut. AL YASIN: Jurnal Keislaman, Sosial, Hukum dan Pendidikan, 10(2), 143–155.
Brata, Y. R. (2017). Perang Shifin. Jurnal Artefak, 3(1), 85–96. https://doi.org/10.25157/ja.v3i1.304
Fazlurrahman, L. M. (2021). Khawarij dan Isu Radikalisme. Sophist : Jurnal Sosial Politik Kajian Islam dan Tafsir, 3(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.20414/sophist.v3i1.34
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2025 faisal_amir_toedien toedien; Syamruddin Nasution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with FOKUS: Jurnal Kajian Keislaman dan Kemasyarakatan agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
