The Seerah Paradigm of Emotional Intelligence: Prophetic Ways of Knowing and Being

Abstract

Emotional intelligence is the capacity to understand one’s emotions, skills, and thoughts. In psychology and organizational management, studying one’s own, others’, or groups’ emotions has become a cornerstone. This article examines emotional intelligence through a prophetic model guided by the teachings and practices of Seerah literature. To illustrate the core principles of emotional intelligence, the study is built on an integrated model that considers classical Islamic teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as Seerah, along with a contemporary emotional intelligence (EI) and leadership framework. By adopting a comparative approach, this study is guided by an interdisciplinary analysis that draws on Islamic studies, organisational behaviour and management, and psychology. The study identified self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy as religiously governed skills that are deeply embedded in Islamic ethics and moral values. The findings present a comparative discourse analysis that discusses how the prophetic model is exemplified through effective leadership, emotional intelligence, and behavior. Contemporary applications of emotional intelligence (EI) are explored along with effective leadership to show compassionate leadership with an integrated model of emotional intelligence principles and Islamic teachings. The study intended to highlight five key components of EI: religious, psychological, ethical, leadership, and divine laws. In line with the Qur’ānic verses, it suggests that EI skills can be helpful to look at Seerah and the Prophetic model as a direction to achieve guidance in all aspects.