Prophetic Best Practices in Business for Human Capital Development

Human capital has been the most crucial current topic of this modern life. Competition in business and industry requires human resource that spells excellence, knowledgeable, discipline and visionary. With the rise of conscious market-driven community, many have concluded that to achieve the highest stake in business is to simultaneously reconstruct the moral consciousness. Henceforth, learning from past leaders, their legacy has been left with much to be desired by shortcomings, conflicts of interest and at times, destructions. In promoting the virtuous awareness, education has to take the lead through human capital development. In the attempt to apply the landmark practices of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and his management principles, this discursive overview intends to provide the application of the prophetic tradition in the management field as the foundation for application in aspects of discipline which include business, law, education, just to state a few. Therefore, this paper intends to study the Islamic management elements of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by providing insights to the following questions. The first question is, how does human capital development raise moral consciousness in terms of business practices set forth by prophetic tradition? Can current situations apply such emulations of managing human capital and hence, enhance the quality of our life within the family, in the community and for the nation? With the increasingly diverse expectations, management practices and skills of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) contribute to provide the pathway of managing the human capital development presented as answers to the above questions.


Introduction
Human capital has been the most crucial current topic of this modern life.It is the focal point of human resource that has to be supplied for the generation of economics capability that runs the whole global community (Ary, 1987).It is in the human capital theories that investing in education will develop skills of the people in the community and further enhances their productivity and subsequently contribute to the economic growth (Aburdeen, 2005).He further emphasised the correlation between levels of schooling and the level of economic development.Therefore, in meeting the competition in business and industry, it requires human resource that spells excellence, knowledgeable, integrity, discipline and visionary.With the rise of conscious marketdriven community, however, many have concluded that to achieve the highest stake in business is to simultaneously reconstruct the moral consciousness.The success of many current businesses has been the result of moral awareness in the organisation as displayed by Aburdeen (2005) in case studies on several companies.This is a contribution to justify that business success has to be based on the foundation of moral, if not values and integrity.
Although the Hadith is not their basis, the values are universal in creating business and related transactions that are successful.Nevertheless, as found in the prophetic tradition or the Hadith, the lessons are indicative of back-to-basics business practices.In his teaching, that if they are not within the guiding principle of Quran and the Hadith, Rasullullah (pbuh) does not regard one as his ummah.He, hence, provides a reminder to Man to observe accuracy and truth in any transactions.Nevertheless, emphasis on nurturing creativity and cognitive skills would give momentum to the economy.A comprehensive and holistic approach to train and educate future work force is necessary as the synergy of moral consciousness need to be in dialogue in order that the global community can seek comprehensive solution to both global and local issues.
In view of other discipline of studies and despite the great thoughts of Western civilisation, Kamaruzaman &Siti Akmar (2008) andSiti Akmar et al. (2011) mentioned that the perspectives of Islam remain vital and relevant.In addition, in a keynote address at the International Conference Dakwah and Islamic Management (IC DAIM 2010) held in Kuala Lumpur in November 2010, the eminent speaker, Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, reiterated that the complete human as a resource encompasses that of physical, social and spiritual aspects that have to be in equilibrium with one another.Hence, the complementary effect of the Eastern scholar's thinking on human capital development, takes on with the proposition of the Western scholars of human resource development.Further, Tun Ahmad Sarji (2010) reiterated clearly of the relevance that core values as practised in Islamic management develop complete human capital as a resource.He also listed the qualities aspired to be the core values as distilled into knowledge and faith, emotional commitment, skills and expertise, ability and potential, mental strength, attitude and spirituality.Henceforth, the qualities which are universal have been in place with substantiation by the Hadith as discussed further in the later section of the paper.Thus, the elements on spirituality set to be a significant variable as this area is currently very much discussed in literature.Furthermore, Ary (2009) concerted in his research that a total human comprises the capabilities of intellect, emotion and spirituality.Hence, the current discussion attempts to contribute in this term to the ready knowledge of human capital development.

Lessons from Past Business Compromises
History, recent or past has taken us to re-look at the existence of human capital of holistic being.Dzulkifli (2009) invited us to look at the recent falter as a result of education without the holistic quotients.It is in the need for a global change in higher education system that seems to be inevitable.Every scholar in the society wonders what the "university of tomorrow" would be like.The current system may seem obsolete and institutions of higher education (IHE) in every nation are under threat because of this crisis.This phenomenon did not occur within a day or two.Since the beginning of the millennium, the true role of IHE has faltered.One good We need leaders with the courage to build their companies to meet the needs of all their stakeholders, and who recognize the importance of their service to society.

Managing Human Capital Development
In creating and generating human resources, it is also only in recent years that published work on spirituality takes on a serious note in journals.
In his comprehensive review on Spirituality and Performance in Organization, Karakas (2010) reviewed 140 articles on the said issue, seems to agree on the fact that spirituality improves performance and organizational effectiveness, of which he verified the relevance spirituality provides in enhancing work performance.
Figure 1 reported positive relationship between spirituality at work and organisational productivity and performance (Karakas, 2010).However, he admitted that as much as there have been reservation on spirituality effect on organization, other research have proven that spirituality in-house practices have positive returns for the organizations.This diagram depicts the aims of the review by integrating three different perspectives on how spirituality enables or leads to organizational performance: In his work, Karakas (2010) introduced three perspectives on how spirituality benefits the organization as an individual and as a unit by itself.He listed that spirituality has its impact on the following by the fact that it enhances employee well-being and quality of life, provides employees a sense of purpose and meaning at work, and provides employees a sense of interconnectedness and community.In promoting the virtuous awareness, education has to take the lead through human capital development.In the attempt to apply such landmark practices of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and his management principles, this discursive overview intends to provide the application of the prophetic tradition in the management field as the foundation for the various activities in life that spurn economics and social values.Additionally, in the inculcation of these values there has to be comprehensive education for human capital development.As guiding principle, the key sources in Islamic teaching have also got to come from the first and the most important source, that is, the Al-

Sense of Community & Interconnectedness
Quran (Beekun & Badawi, 2005).The Holy Book is the verbatim word of Allah, while the second primary source is the Al-Hadith or in practice the Sunnah.These are the words, actions and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as in this paper, it is termed as prophetic practices.Both these sources offer the guiding principles that are presumed to be valid for all times and places (Beekun & Badawi, 2005).This is a reiteration on the key role of the sacred references that provide the basic principles to help Man with the guidelines in practising business.Deeper study on these two sources, understanding the functions laid down by the teachings and putting them into practice are prove that success will be promised.As this has been presented by Aburdeen (2005) on examples of cases -moral consciousness, values-driven and social responsibility -are boon to businesses which practise uncompromising ethics.
Let us view one perspective of providing altruism from a western expert.In quoting the works of Aburdeen (2005) from her book Megatrends, the concern for moral consciousness has set a foundation for a successful organisation.She justifies that conscious capitalism depends on the wisdom of enlightenment of self-interest which if we further scrutinise will permeate the propagation of the prophetic traditions.
Aburdeen listed several powerful trends that she noted will re-invent a free enterprise.These innovative ideas include (a) The power of spirituality in leadership and business: During the turbulent period, man tends to look within: in which 78 percent seek more spirit through yoga and meditation (Aburdeen, 2005).In these trying moments there exist Divine presence that two cases were quoted by Aburdeen as from Redken and Hewlett-Packard that their spiritual CEO helps transform the companies in such times.(2001) recorded such companies that perform big.As this is occurring, it has proven that the conscious consumers have left behind the mass market as they grow with awareness that whether they are purchasing hybrid cars, green building supplies or organic food, the consumers are getting them with their values.Therefore the brands that come with positive values will retain with the consumers.In Aburdeen (2005), her write up reiterates the ultimate consciousness on sustainability involves the moral consciousness of making the Earth a safe and healthy place to live in.Business that runs does not compromise on the environment and the need so those living.She confirmed that the present stock portfolios are green in more ways than one.Therefore, socially responsible investment (SRI) focuses on business which favours syariah-compliance investment in which the monies are not put in companies that produce or sell addictive substance such as alcohol, gambling and tobacco.The investors also seek out for companies that engage in environmental  (Beekun, 1996).

Prophetic Tradition in Sustaining Moral Consciousness
Mankind The historical turn of events that have taken place amongst the great corporations of the world have indicated that value-driven human capital has brought sustainability to their organisation (Ary, 2005).This is already in place when some guiding principles have been outlined for those dealing in business as the business code of ethics are profound in Islamic teaching as the Quran and Hadith are prime sources.Beekun (1996)  Therefore, this paper contribution is a reminder that Islam being a comprehensive way of life system, also encompasses different aspects in life activity, much so in business.The ethical guiding principles are to be continuously inculcated through education at every level.Education at the very beginning of age, formal or informal leading to lifelong learning, requires the inculcation of values, religious knowledge, not only in dissemination of knowledge through the syllabus, but also to be embedded in the curriculum as a comprehensive and integrated domain through teaching-learning experiences within the classroom or outside the learning compound.In the professional forefront, training providers may have to re-consider, revisit and re-live the training needs and contents to manage the development of human capital that sustains the economic generating power of the nation.In Universiti Teknologi MARA, for example, the contents of modules offered for training of human resource has to include the enhancement of faith and integrity elements that are used in delivering the courses.

Conclusion
There is an avenue to relook at our higher education courses as well as programmes and revisit its curriculum if it has a comprehensive element of Islamic relevance; or rather 'Islamisation' is only found in silo of its very own courses and programmes offered?Hence, if the element does exist it is good to always remember that such is obligation of every Muslim, or non-Muslim who uphold universal values to relive in all aspects of life, in particular in business and related transactions within their own organisation.

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organizations; We need leaders who have a deep sense of purpose and are true to their core values; Evidence has been that organisations in United States are talking about faith at work.Medtronic has recently awarded Eileen Fisher the "Spirit at Work" award.Besides Ford, Intel as well as other firms has begun to sponsor employee-based religious network.The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce has started its monthly sponsorship of 'spiritual' brown bag lunch.Leading from the middle is so common as such that the charismatic overpaid CEO is fast fading as the organisation is moving towards to forge a lasting change ordinary managers can make it.They do it via values, influence and moral authority, (b) the dawn of conscious capitalism: Many would associate altruism to enhancing business performance, a Harvard forum set in 2002 concluded that the sense of universal honour is crucial in order that companies achieve great heights.Further in her work, he mentioned of top companies and leading CEOs are re-inventing free enterprise to honour stakeholders and shareholders as inclusive element in the business entity.The surprising fact is that studies have shown that corporate good guys rack up great profits.
Hadith and his Sunnah, contribute to provide the pathway of managing human capital development.His teaching as documented in the Hadith and practised in his Sunnah could have been in the amnesiac mind of Man, both Muslim and non-Muslim.