Meritocracy in the Qur’an: A Critique of Modern Political Patronage Through the Story of Prophet Yūsuf

Abdurrahman Ahady, Sefriyono Sefriyono

Abstract


This research departs from the phenomenon of political patronage that still dominates the modern political system, especially in Indonesia. Patronage practices based on personal loyalty and political connections often hinder the creation of a fair and effective government, while meritocracy offers an alternative based on competence and integrity. In the Islamic context, the story of the Prophet Yūsuf as stated in Qs. Yūsuf [12]: 55 is a paradigmatic example of how meritocracy can be applied. This study aims to explore the values of meritocracy in the story of the Prophet Yusuf and how these values can be applied as a solution to overcome the challenges of modern political patronage. This research uses a literature-based qualitative method with a thematic interpretation approach and socio-political analysis. The thematic interpretation approach is applied to explore the Qur’anic messages relevant to the theme of meritocracy, while socio-political analysis is used to connect these values with the phenomenon of patronage in the contemporary political context. The results show that the story of Prophet Yūsuf provides a theological and ethical foundation for the application of meritocracy, which emphasizes integrity (ḥafīẓ) and competence (‘alīm) as the main criteria in the appointment of leaders. In conclusion, this study underlines that meritocracy, as exemplified in the story of Prophet Yūsuf, can be an alternative paradigm to replace patronage, while encouraging political reforms that are more just, transparent and inclusive.


Keywords


Meritocracy; Prophet Yūsuf; Patronage; Politics; Qur’an

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15548/tajdid.v28i1.11490

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