Document Type : علمی - پژوهشی
Authors
1
Researcher, Research Institute of Hawzah and University (RIHU), Qom, Iran
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3
Associate Professor, Department of Management, Research Institute of Hawzah and University (RIHU), Qom, Iran.
10.30471/mssh.2025.10907.2635
Abstract
Introduction and Objectives: Islamic management, with its emphasis on ethical values, material-spiritual balance, and Sharia-based decision-making, distinguishes itself from conventional management, which prioritizes financial profit, hierarchical structures, and short-term outcomes. This approach promotes ethical leadership, social responsibility, and long-term thinking, whereas conventional management focuses primarily on technical development. Due to the dispersion of studies, Islamic management faces challenges in gaining international acceptance. Islamic philosophy, with its rich logic and theoretical depth, can serve as a competitive foundation against modern and postmodern philosophies, reinforcing Islamic management theories.
Since the Islamic Revolution, Persian-language research in this field has expanded, yet questions remain unanswered, such as the contribution of Islamic studies to global management literature and the quality of their impact. An analysis of 3,722 records in Scopus indicates a substantial volume of studies in this domain; however, systematizing concepts and presenting a research-based framework is essential. This study, serving as a prerequisite for future credible research in this field, aims to identify key themes, clarify core concepts, introduce methodologies employed in related studies, and provide an analysis of leading countries and prominent authors in this area. The ultimate goal is to introduce Islamic management as a coherent and effective academic discipline to the international scholarly community.
The primary research question guiding this study is: What insights does a revisitation of studies on the impact of "Islam" on "management" at the international level yield? This question was formulated and refined through a review of existing literature, consultations with experts, and an examination of international scholarship on Islamic management. By introducing and analyzing Islamic management theories at the international level and presenting theoretical and applied research, this study seeks to pave the way for the theoretical and practical expansion of Islamic management studies, advancing the field from a subjective (doctrinal) stage to an objective (scientific) one.
Methodology: This study begins by addressing key questions, such as the nature of Islam, management, and how Islam influences managerial components, before solidifying the research problem. To address this problem, an appropriate research method was selected. A systematic review was employed due to its precise and replicable structure, which holds significant importance in the humanities, particularly management. Given the breadth of the research question, a scoping review—a type of systematic review—was chosen. This method is useful for comprehensively examining scientific literature, identifying research gaps, and laying the groundwork for future studies. Additionally, a scoping review provides an overview of the state of related research and establishes a suitable theoretical framework for knowledge development.
In this study, preliminary steps for the scoping review—including an examination of prior review studies, the scope of the research question, and the adequacy of information sources—were carefully considered. A total of 232 management-related terms and 94 Islam-related terms were extracted, with 31 keywords ultimately selected based on expert consensus. The search query was constructed using a combination of these terms and logical operators. To ensure comprehensive coverage, the timeframe was restricted to 1970–2023, and only English-language publications were included. Reputable databases such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, Emerald, ProQuest, and ResearchGate were used for sourcing. Screening was conducted using 19 filters, assessing relevance based on titles, abstracts, and, in some cases, full-text evaluations. From an initial pool of 3,722 studies, 1,919 met the inclusion criteria, representing the breadth of international research on the influence of Islam on management.
Results: The final dataset encompasses a wide range of topics related to Islamic business and management, including marketing, finance, human resources, and knowledge management. The collected sources—comprising journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers—exhibit considerable geographical diversity. Studies in this field were classified into nine major themes:
1. Islamic business ethics
2. Islamic marketing
3. Islamic management principles
4. Work ethics
5. Human capital development
6. Risk management
7. Spirituality and business
8. Consumer protection for Muslims (Halal certification)
9. Islamic organizational knowledge
These themes emerged from an analysis of 142 key concepts extracted from the studies.
Geographically, countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the United States, and the United Kingdom lead in knowledge production in this field. Indonesia has been active in emerging topics like Islamic leadership and workplace ethics, while Malaysia is a pioneer in Islamic finance. The U.S. holds a significant position due to its high number of publications and authors. Research networks indicate that Malaysia and Indonesia have the most international collaborations, whereas countries like Iran, Germany, and China have limited engagement. Egypt, Pakistan, and Iran are among the early contributors, while Indonesia and India are newer entrants.
Methodologically, qualitative approaches dominate, with tools such as interviews and questionnaires being the most frequently used. Additionally, 14 leading authors in this field were identified, with Mohammad Kabir Hassan topping the list with 34 publications on Islamic finance. The year 2022 marked the highest productivity, with 443 articles published in 75 academic journals.
Discussion and Conclusion: Research on the influence of Islam on management is not new. Based on the collected data, such studies began before 1970 and continued through 2023. This study demonstrates that Islamic teachings have played a significant and impactful role in global management and can be effectively applied to enhance organizational performance. Islamic management principles are grounded in reliable logic and closely align with management science and human nature. Thus, these teachings can benefit various business and management domains, regardless of an organization’s religious orientation.
Additionally, the study reveals that materialistic Western management principles can be integrated with Islamic thought, enriching management knowledge by incorporating both material and spiritual dimensions. For instance, Islamic motivational theories are more comprehensive than Western models (e.g., Maslow, McClelland, Freud), which primarily emphasize material aspects. Similarly, Islamic employment relations extend beyond formal and psychological contracts by incorporating religious dimensions.
A growing trend in the early 21st century involves empirical validation of Islamic management principles in organizational settings. The hypothesis that Islamic teachings are beneficial in business irrespective of religious orientation opens new research avenues, contributing further to management knowledge. The findings highlight the importance of integrating Islamic principles and values into managerial and organizational practices, demonstrating that alignment with Islamic teachings can positively influence management.
This study provides a foundation for deeper research in this field and underscores the increasing growth of Islamic management studies, emphasizing the need for systematic investigations.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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