Developing a Systems Model of Governance Functions Based on Qur’anic Teachings: Toward Effective and Just Governance in Contemporary Society

In the present age, desirable governance is not merely the distribution of power or
the exercise of authority; rather, it is a dynamic, systemic, and multi-actor process that coordinates, formulates policy, delivers public services, and regulates diverse domains of society. Under conditions of globalization, problem complexity, rising citizen demands, and the expansion of transnational institutions, the inadequacy of traditional state-centric approaches has become evident. Consequently, “good governance” has emerged as an alternative paradigm emphasizing principles such as justice, consultation, transparency, accountability, participation, and effectiveness. In Islamic societies, the Noble Qur’an, as the authentic divine source, possesses rich capacities for developing governance models that define these principles not merely as ethical precepts but as operational and systemic functions. However, a core problem is that many existing governance systems—including in Islamic societies—do not employ these foundations in a structured manner and within an up-to-date systems model. Hence, benefiting from Qur’anic teachings in the field of governance requires a rereading of key concepts such as justice, qiṣṭ (equitable balance), shūrā (consultation), and trustworthiness, and their translation into the design of functions capable of aligning with the needs and challenges of contemporary governance, including transparency, citizen participation, and social justice. This research aims to conduct a systemic analysis of governance functions grounded in Qur’anic teachings and to present an indigenous–Islamic model for contemporary society. The principal goal is to derive
a systematic framework that can redefine the value-based principles embedded in the
Noble Qur’an as policy-making and regulatory functions, thereby enabling improved governmental performance and enhanced public welfare. In pursuit of this aim, the study seeks to combine systems theory with Qur’anic concepts to offer a model that encompasses both divine principles and the requirements of advanced public administration; beyond reforming decision-making and executive structures, the model can institutionalize coordination among the branches of power, civil institutions, and the private sector on the basis of Qur’anic values, providing a practical pattern adaptable to local and global conditions. The research method is an analytical–descriptive approach employing a systems-theory framework. First, the theoretical bases governing the transformation from “government” to “governance” and the indicators of good governance were examined,
and the place of this transformation within political thought and public management
was analyzed. Then, focusing on two core functions of governance—policy-making and regulation—the relevant Qur’anic teachings were identified. The sources include the text of the Noble Qur’an, authoritative exegeses, and scholarly works in political science and public administration; data were collected documentarily and processed via qualitative content analysis to map, in a networked and systemic manner, the relationships between Qur’anic concepts and governance components. In this process, Qur’anic principles such as justice, shūrā, trustworthiness, and qiṣṭ were treated as system inputs, while participatory policy-making, just regulation, fair redistribution, and transparent accountability were defined as the system’s processes and outputs; feedback was considered on both worldly and otherworldly levels. The findings indicate that, alongside affirming the divine legitimacy of rule, the Qur’an places special emphasis on the governance process and
the quality of societal administration, viewing government as a vessel whose content
and essence must be shaped by justice, consultation, trustworthiness, anti-corruption, preservation of human dignity, and the negation of despotism. Examination of the governance of prophets in the Qur’an—such as David, Solomon, and Joseph (peace be upon them)—demonstrates the close linkage between political power and value-oriented governance. A systemic analysis of verses shows that these principles operate reciprocally and dynamically, generating a network of functions in which policy-making and regulation, as the two main axes, interact with other functions such as oversight, accountability, provision of just services, facilitation, and balance of powers. For example, justice—which is emphasized in numerous verses, including al-Naḥl 16:90—operates as a regulatory and redistributive function; consultation (Āl ʿImrān 3:159) provides the ground for participatory policy-making; the principle of responsibility (al-Isrāʾ 17:36) connects to oversight and accountability; the preservation of human dignity (al-Nisāʾ 4:135) aligns with the delivery of human-centered services; and combating corruption (al-Baqarah 2:188) links to deterrent policies and financial transparency. In the proposed model, these interactions are represented as a continuous cycle in which each function simultaneously serves as an
input and a feedback element for the others. Accordingly, the Qur’an-based systems model of governance can furnish an indigenous and divine response to the complex needs
of contemporary governance, provided that, in the design of policies and executive mechanisms, these functions are employed synergistically and coherently.