Spiritual Intelligence In Islam – A Framework For Total Excellence

This paper discusses the Islamic concept of spiritual intelligence and the significant effects associated with having spiritual intelligence to believing individuals including employees at work and/or in live. The backbone of the Islamic concept of spiritual intelligence is Islam, Iman and Ihsan. The Islamic spiritual intelligence starts with believing in the existence of Allah, in the Unity (Oneness) of Allah (Tawhid). The key to spiritual intelligence in an Islamic connotation is the believers’ quality of relationship with Allah and the love of Allah. Spiritual intelligence is not like mental intelligence (IQ) or emotional intelligence (EQ) advocated by the Western perspectives, which can be acquired directly. Spiritual intelligence is bestowed by Allah to the chosen believers who have established strong quality of relationship with Allah and have reached the salvation of ultimate love of Allah, above anything else in this world. This paper proposes that an Islamic spiritual intelligence is crucial for individual believers to realise and actualise their potential, above and beyond what they are capable of doing. Thus, it will directly affect the work performance of the believing employees. The significant impact of this paper is that it will guide believing employees to what is needed to achieve the spiritual intelligence in Islam. The spiritual intelligence in this paper will also produce a balance par excellence, in the employees between their pursuit of this world and the hereafter. This important for achieving the fitrah of human beings whose ultimate aim in their creation is to worship Allah.