Western academia has witnessed a rapid proliferation of literature on Islam, particularly in the post-9/11 era. A notable portion of this corpus consists of ‘introductory works’, predominantly authored by ‘American Islamicists’. This study critically analyzes how Islam is portrayed in a limited selection of significant introductory textbooks published (in revised editions) between 2010 and 2025. Using critical content analysis, the findings reveal a conflict between a sophisticated understanding of Islamic intellectual traditions and the framing of Islam within Western epistemological contexts. This study aims to enhance readers’ understanding of current pedagogical and epistemological trends in Western studies of Islam, highlighting the importance of critical self-reflection, diverse perspectives, and culturally attuned teaching methods.

This research explores the emerging role of productive Waqf as a pivotal alternative to the economic sector. Focusing on Indonesia and Malaysia as the huge potential for improving the Sharī‘ah economy, Waqf is of paramount importance in developing the financial system. Both countries have distinctive characteristics and policies governing the Waqf, albeit they have not yet maximized productive Waqf as the path to building a mechanism for a sustainable economy. Thus, the research aims to delineate the challenges and opportunities inherent in developing asset empowerment as productive Waqf. It employs a qualitative-exploratory approach and proposes a governance model for productive Waqf policies with ATLAS application. The primary data was retrieved through expert-led interviews involving academics and practitioners, including the Department of Sharī‘ah and Economics at the University of Malaya and the Division of Nazir Development and Waqf Management at the Indonesian Waqf Board. The research comprehensively maps the characteristics of both countries in managing Waqf policies encompassing government, bureaucracy, legal systems, social and economic conditions, and environmental and technological factors. This research uses PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technology, Environment, and Law) and SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) analysis. The research finds that the productive Waqf is an effective governing policy model and a strategic pathway for every country to achieve sustainable economic development.

Since the commencement of hadith as one of the Islamic branches of knowledge, scholars had given a lot of attention on the authentication process of hadith corpus. This is to avoid the exploitation or dissemination of non-authentic hadiths that can divert the society from the true Islamic practices. With that being said, little work has been done on systematic review on the hadith authentication methods. Therefore, this study discusses a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) related to the topic. A total 115 literatures were identified from the initial searching process. The number was eventually reduced to 53 after screening and qualification evaluation process. This study found that the methods divided into two themes: information and communication technology (ICT) and conventional method. Under these themes, there are topics and sub-topics that further detailed the process of hadith authentication. The study identified several limitations such as the imbalance between methods of authentication, incomprehensive manipulation of data set, and the absence of authentication methods developed for a specific group of people. Key words: hadith, authentication, method, systematic

This study looks at how Islamic brotherhood influences business social responsibility (BSR) practices among Muslim entrepreneurs, focusing on Islamic principles like justice, fairness, and compassion. It explores the key motivations, both internal and external, that drive BSR behaviours in Muslim-owned businesses. Using a qualitative approach, the study involved semi-structured interviews and snowball sampling, selecting ten respondents who met the study's criteria. Thematic analysis was applied to identify emerging themes. The findings show that Islamic brotherhood strengthens individuals' core values, encouraging them to engage in moral development and incorporate BSR practices into their businesses. The study suggests that Muslim entrepreneurs see their businesses not just as commercial ventures, but as a way to fulfill religious and ethical duties, promote community development, and support charitable causes. These faith-based motivations align with ethical business practices, highlighting the importance of Islamic principles in shaping responsible business behaviour within the Muslim entrepreneurial community. This research is significant because it contributes to both theory and practice, showing how faith-based motivations drive ethical decision-making in business. The study also offers practical insights for policymakers and business leaders on how to design BSR strategies that appeal to Muslim entrepreneurs, encouraging them to adopt practices that benefit society.

The stability of Islamic banks is critical to the financial systems of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, yet the role of intellectual capital in supporting that stability remains underexplored. This study addresses the research problem of insufficient understanding of how Intellectual Capital Efficiency (ICE) specifically Human Capital Efficiency (HCE), Structural Capital Efficiency (SCE), and Relational Capital Efficiency (RCE)—affects the financial stability of Islamic banks. The primary objective is to empirically investigate the contribution of ICE components to enhancing financial stability, using reliable performance metrics such as the capital-to-asset ratio and net profit margin. To achieve this, the study employs a dynamic panel data approach using the hierarchical Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) estimator. This methodology is justified due to its effectiveness in handling endogeneity issues, unobserved heterogeneity, and autocorrelation in panel data. The dataset includes 37 Islamic banks operating across six GCC countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates from 2010 to 2021. ICE variables are introduced sequentially into the model to measure their individual and combined effects. The results reveal that HCE and SCE have a statistically significant positive impact on financial stability, while the influence of RCE is more context dependent. These findings validate the resource-based theory and provide practical insights for bank managers and policymakers, encouraging strategic investments in intellectual capital to sustain institutional resilience in competitive Islamic financial markets.

Takaful industry in Bangladesh has been facing numerous problems. The study explores the operational dilemmas of family Takaful (Islamic life insurance) in Bangladesh and recommends approaches to meet the challenges. A qualitative method is used in this study, using data from thirty-two respondents, along with officers and Sharʑah board members of Takaful companies, as well as Takaful participants. The findings revealed a lack of legislation, regulations, and policies for the development family Takaful in Bangladesh. Furthermore, mismanagement and profit-driven activities have adversely affected the family Takaful industry in Bangladesh. The ignorance of participants about the family Takaful is another setback in establishing a sustainable Takaful industry in Bangladesh. The study proposed strategies to overcome the challenges such as the family Takaful industry in Bangladesh may use commercial contracts that give Sharʑah-specific funding and adopt different models of Takaful in accordance with the legislation of Malaysia. The findings of the research will be immensely useful in overcoming the constraints that the family Takaful in Bangladesh is now confronting.

The potential for being intolerant, radical, or even extreme is more common in public schools than in madrasahs (Islamic schools). However, religious moderation practices in madrasahs have not been able to dominate public space. This study aims to analyse and disclose the process of socialisation and institutionalisation of moderate religious culture in Indonesian madrasahs. This paper is an ethnographic study of the madrasahs (Islamic senior high schools) in Solo, Central Java, with an interpretive-constructivist approach. The data were collected from in-depth interviews and field observations with 105 respondents, including madrasah principals, teaching staff, and students who were selected purposively. Three processes of reduction, interpretation, and conclusion are applied for data analysis. The results revealed that the socialisation and institutionalisation process in madrasahs had succeeded in instilling moderate religious culture among students. Students understood the concept of religious moderation very well, i.e. being in the middle position, meaning not too extreme whether left or right. However, it is understood only in terms of social relations, not faith (‘aqīdah). Besides, the results show that the process has not been oriented towards interreligious and digital literacy and has not led them to make religious moderation a collective action. Students are not actively involved in responding to religious and social diversity issues around them. Moreover, Solo is often accused of being an intolerant city. It is because of students’ lack of literacy or comprehensive knowledge regarding the understanding and practice of religious moderation. Then, moderate groups, which are basically dominant, remain silent, so they prefer to act permissively toward intolerant behaviours. Again, the history of religious conflicts in the past has made identity politics increasingly intense in Solo. Lastly, there is an absence of public figures who are supposed to be catalysts for moderate movements. So, the findings suggest massive campaigns against moderate action among students and made them consider its necessity in public spaces, including on social media.

This study examines the role of the Awqaf Properties Investment Fund (APIF) in shaping socio-economic development in Somalia through the lens of international cooperation and Islamic political economy. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach and secondary data analysis, the research highlights how APIF, facilitated by multilateral institutions like the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), serves as a strategic instrument of international development. The findings demonstrate that APIF not only supports small-scale organizations in high-risk areas but also strengthens transnational economic ties by integrating Islamic financial mechanisms into global development frameworks. The primary contribution of this study to the existing body of knowledge in this field is its demonstration of the potential for Islamic finance, particularly the waqf-based initiatives it examined, to function as an alternative paradigm within the broader context of the international political economy, offering a sustainable and cooperative approach to fostering economic resilience. The insights derived from this study underscore the increasing relevance of Islamic financial instruments, such as waqf, in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and in advancing international development strategies.

The Holy Qur'an, revealed approximately 1400 years ago, encompasses teachings that extend beyond spiritual guidance to include insights into natural phenomena. This study investigates the Holy Qur'an's perspectives on metallurgy, specifically focusing on iron extraction and steel production as described in Surah Al-Kahf. Through a descriptive-analytical qualitative approach and thematic analysis of verses 96 and 97, which detail the construction of a barrier using iron and molten copper, this research explores the metallurgical processes implied in the text. Surah Al-Kahf was chosen for its explicit references to iron and its applications, particularly in the narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn, offering a unique lens for examining ancient metallurgical knowledge. By comparing these Quranic descriptions with modern scientific understanding of iron smelting, alloying, and purification, the study reveals a remarkable alignment between the two. The findings suggest that the Holy Qur'Én references advanced metallurgical techniques, such as the use of fluxes and alloying agents, which parallel contemporary practices in iron and steel production. This research not only highlights the Holy Qur'an's scientific dimensions but also contributes to the broader discourse on the intersection of religious texts and scientific knowledge, demonstrating the potential for interdisciplinary dialogue between theology and materials science.

This cross-sectional survey explored the influence of religion on Pakistani journalists by applying the Belief into Action Scale. The study based on responses from 300 journalists, discovered influence of religious beliefs held by the journalists of digital and electronic media on their professional (journalistic) practices. The findings demonstrated that the Belief into Action Scale was a highly reliable measure to assess the influence of religion on Pakistani journalists. The results observed that Pakistani male journalists were more influenced by religious beliefs than their female counterparts. Similarly, the journalists employed in digital media setups displayed a greater inclination towards faith while performing their professional duties than the ones belonging to electronic media organizations. Moreover, the study participants with more experience and increasing age were found to be more practically religious and tended to be more influenced by their religious beliefs while fulfilling their professional responsibilities. However, this research discovered that the journalists holding higher academic qualifications showed a lesser tendency to practicing religion than their contemporaries with lower educational qualifications.