Islamic Moral Economy Research Articles

Exploring the foundations of Islamic moral economy: a return to substantive morality

Purpose This paper aims to explore the general flaws in the theorization of Islamic economics, particularly its failure to incorporate substantive morality into its framework. Since a considerable number of Islamic economic studies remain within the bounds of instrumental morality, this paper seeks to propose an alternative understanding of Islamic economics by emphasizing the essential role of Islamic moral economy (IME) through substantive morality. Design/methodology/approach The study critically examines the theorization of Islamic economics through a discursive methodology. The adopted method and strategy allow for the discursive evaluation of conceptual developments within the field of modern Islamic economics. It proposes an authentic definition of IME by outlining its paradigmatic framework of political economy, value system, axiomatic approach and operational principles. Findings Islamic economics has been theorized in a reactive and reflexive manner, aiming to provide an alternative to the neoclassical hegemonic discourse. However, it has largely neglected its inherent moral dimension, focusing instead on instrumental morality and failed to embed substantive morality into its system. By introducing an alternative reading of Islamic economics, this study presents IME as a distinct economic model that centers substantive morality in its theorization. Originality/value This paper contributes to the existing literature by offering a novel perspective on Islamic economics that challenges the prevalent instrumental approach and emphasizes the importance of substantive morality. It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding IME as a distinct economic model, thereby enriching the discourse on Islamic economics with an authentic and morally grounded paradigm.

Understanding Islamic Economics as an Islamic Moral Economy

Understanding Islamic Economics as an Islamic Moral Economy

Testing the development impact of islamic banking: Islamic moral economy approach to development

Redistributive justice and stakeholder development have been central objectives of the Islamic moral economy for which Islamic banking was considered a facilitatory operational tool. Being its institutional form, the emergence of Islamic finance is, therefore, related to rescuing ‘human, land, labour and capital’ so that extended stake-holding governance can be achieved. As opposed to the institutional logic of conventional finance, within the Islamic moral economy paradigm, Islamic finance, theoretically, is expected to essentialise justice and equilibrium and equalise development opportunities for all stakeholders to fulfil their development path towards perfection. To assess the Islamic moral economy performance of Islamic banking, this paper uses HDI and GINI as the dependent variables to determine short-run and long-run relationships between Islamic banking growth and the development of the economy through socioeconomic indicators. The data covers the period 2000–2021 with fourteen countries with a systemic presence of Islamic finance, The results show that although Islamic banks did not cause an increase in inequality, as opposed to expectations, they neither caused a decrease in the sampled countries. As for the effect of Islamic banking expansion on human development, it positively contributes to human development only in the long run under certain conditions, which cannot be established in the short run. If sustained, this should be considered positive progress as opposed to the experience observed in the initial period of Islamic banking.

The influence of national and individual Islamic governance on Islamic banks’ social performance

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the relationship between Islamic governance and the social performance of Islamic banks, pioneering a new aspect in terms of the impact of the National Shariah Board (NSB) on the social performance of Islamic banks. The essential body in the Islamic banks in charge of Islamic governance is the Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB). Therefore, in this study, the authors explore how the characteristics of the Shariah board and Islamic governance mechanisms influence the social performance of Islamic banks.Design/methodology/approachPanel data methods are applied to the annual data of 43 banks from 14 countries over the period 2012–2018 to explore the impact of Islamic governance on Islamic banks’ social performance. The authors have used all available bank annual reports in the given period. Social performance is measured by Maqasid al-Shariah (in terms of the goals of the Islamic moral economy) index using a comprehensive evaluation framework. Islamic governance is represented by the improved Islamic Governance Score (IG-Score) index, which measures the quality of Islamic governance in Islamic banks. In the research, the authors also introduce the frequency of SSB meetings in IG-Score.FindingsThe findings suggest a strong link between Islamic governance and the social performance of Islamic banks, illustrating the importance of the Shariah board in achieving maqasid. On the other hand, the research discovered that NSBs are inefficient and the existence of NSB can jeopardize the social performance of Islamic banks. The results of this research imply valuable recommendations for Islamic banks that are keen to improve their social performance.Originality/valueBesides investigating the impact of SSB governance on the social performance of Islamic banks by using an improved IG score index, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the impact of NSBs on the social performance of Islamic banks.

Religiosity and Charitable Giving on Investors’ Trading Behaviour in the Indonesian Islamic Stock Market: Islamic vs Market Logic

This study examines retail investors’ trading behaviour and its determinants in the Indonesian Shari’ah stock market by mainly focusing on the religious practice-related factors in the form of sadaqah or charitable giving on individual investors’ trading behaviour. Contextually, the Islamic moral economy (IME) assumes a direct relationship between religiosity and sadaqah giving due to the falah (salvation) oriented individual objective function, which can be reached through doing ihsan (beneficence for equilibrium). The findings based on a questionnaire survey distributed to individual investors on Shari’ah Online Trading System (SOTS) delineate that religiosity, accounting information, neutral information, personal financial needs, and the sadaqah feature have significantly affected investors’ trading behaviour in which the sadaqah feature is positively correlated, while religiosity factors are negatively correlated. Thus, despite the theoretical expectation through IME, this study evidences that Islamic logic is not the main determining factor, as market logic related factors seem to be more dominant in the behaviour of investors in the Indonesian capital market.

Struktuiranje modela islamske moralne ekonomije

This text treats the concept of rizq, homo-Islamicus, zekah and khalifah as a model of Islamic moral economy. At the beginning, the author presents the basic assumptions and principles of Islamic finance. The importance of individual work and effort in the path of acquiring risk or supply is emphasized. In addition, the principle of profit and loss sharing was emphasized. Then the author defines the philosophical foundations of economic development in the general Islamic conception, emphasizing the principle of building, improving the country and human responsibility in that process. With the aim of offering alternatives to the existing economic system, a model of Islamic moral economy should fulfill the ethical expectations of Muslims, whose fundamental components are: the idea of rizq, homo islamicus, zakat and khalifa. The concept of rizq, homo islamicus, zakat and concept of khalifa are explained in detail in this paper, where different interpretations in the Islamic thought tradition are presented, presenting a model of Islamic moral economy.

Islamic approach to corporate social responsibility: an international model for Islamic banks

PurposeThis study aims to present a corporate social responsibility (CSR) model that would apply to Islamic banks, considering the international aspect of social responsibility because CSR is not applicable in the same way in all types of societies.Design/methodology/approachBased on the extensive review of the existing literature, the authors aim to present an Islamic CSR model applicable to Islamic banks. This study is based on the international approach to CSR developed by Masoud (2017). Each responsibility has an equal share but with specific changes regarding the order of priorities between them and the type of responsibility.FindingsThe findings show that the existing literature provides several Islamic CSR models. Most of these models are general and offer guidelines to Islamic financial institutions, but no model applies exclusively to Islamic banks. Using these models for Islamic banks is challenging because of their specific business activities, especially in non-Muslim countries. This study proposes a model that could act as the main guideline for Islamic banks with enough flexibility to meet different market and stakeholders’ requirements.Practical implicationsThe model was not tested on a sample, and not all Islamic principles were considered. However, it is applicable for Islamic banks, especially considering internationalization in their businesses and the further development of Islamic banking. At the same time, this model puts ethical norms in the spotlight. This is particularly emphasized in the case of non-Muslim countries or in societies where a particular law does not regulate Islamic bank activities.Originality/valueAlthough there is a growing literature on this topic, existing studies primarily discuss the Islamic approach to CSR from the overall perspective, not in a specific industry. While some authors developed their own Islamic CSR models relying on the primary Shariah sources, others base their proposals on other classical CSR ideas. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study based on the CSR model developed by Masoud (2017), considering the relationship between economics and religion and the implications of the Islamic moral economy.

Alternative Dispute Resolution and Sustainability of Economic Development for the Consumer’s Benefit: An Islamic Moral Economy Perspective

Islamic Moral Economy (IME) rests on the idea of justice, goodness and fairness, and the social interest within the community. It provides a basic framework and moral-oriented principles to ensure the sustainability of economic development. In economics when contracts are formulated and signed, they are subjected to unexpected changes. Some issues may lead to disputes. The concept of Sulh (amicable settlement) can be used as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism to solve these disputes. The scholars interpret such as mediation, arbitration, and conciliation. This paper aims to examine the potential of the applicability of mediation as a tool for dispute resolution in encouraging sustainability of economic development from an IME perspective. Based on a desk review of academic, peer-reviewed literature and reports, the particular focus of this study is on how mediation could assist the consumers of Islamic Banking and Finance in getting justice by applying dispute settlement methods between the parties. This paper suggested that the consumer obtains much benefit if the IME adopts ADR or mediation in resolving dispute and simultaneously maintains the sustainability of economic development.

THE INFAQ THEORY OF ISLAMIC PENSION

This paper applies an Islamic economic perspective to a major conundrum besetting the Islamic world, namely, how to provide financial support to expanding ageing Muslim populations. The paper employs a qualitative method involving descriptive and analytical methods whereby primary and secondary data are analyzed to inductively form a formula for an Islamic pension scheme. The results of this study suggest that despite the benefits and worldwide application of pension schemes, proponents of Islamic finance remain ill-prepared and slow to devise prototypes of workable Islamic pension models designed to address the needs of ageing Muslim populations. The vast majority of existing pension schemes fail to comply with the principles and values of Islamic law and ethics. As a generality, Muslim populations would prefer to remain without pension provision rather than endorse a religiously unlawful policy. The paper proposes that infaq as a key institution of Islamic moral economy, provides an ideal foundation for the development of an Islamic pension model that satisfies both legal and ethical Islamic stipulations. Keywords: Islamic pension, Islamic welfare, Muslim elderly, Muslim employees’ pensions, infaq and Islamic moral economy.

Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure by Islamic Banks in GCC Region

This paper aimed to assess the level of CSR disclosure of Islamic banks in the GCC region against a backdrop of Islamic finance principles and Islamic moral economy, using content analysis to create the CSR disclosure index. As well, it employs the qualitative research approach, which is followed by measurement and the interpretation of the qualitative conclusions. This paper used the content analysis approach to examine data from annual reports a total of twenty-eight Islamic banks, analysing 334 annual reports from 2006 to 2019. Furthermore, Bahrain Islamic banks took first place, while Saudi Islamic banks earned the lowest rate in the region. However, when compared to previous studies, the level of CSR disclosure shows a slight improvement. Despite this, the data reveals that CSR disclosure remains low, at 55%. Commitment to debtors placed best in a cross-sectional analysis of CSR disclosure dimensions, with an overall value of 0.69. For Zakat, charity, and beneficent loans, the minimum score is (0.36). Several reports from the tested Islamic banks were found to be lacking CSR disclosure information, according to these findings. This research adds to the body of knowledge and will be valuable to policymakers, government entities, and regulators who may want to encourage Islamic banks to issue and determine a basic index for CSR disclosure policies in their annual reports and websites. In addition, future research may examine survey methodologies that include more in-depth interviews with administration and important stakeholder, which could improve the CSR disclosure degree of understanding in Islamic banking.

The Classification of Sharia Assets and Performance of Financial Portfolio

The paper investigates the Shariah compliant and conventional portfolios in financial settings of Pakistan during the period 2009-2019 by using Markowitz Minimum-Variance (MMV) framework. Using daily excess returns, we first investigate the impact of Shariah screening criteria on stock returns then we evaluate the overall risk of Shariah compliant and conventional portfolios. The results reveal negative impact of Shariah screening criteria on stock returns’ cross-section. Further, unconstrained portfolio investment strategy outperforms faithbased investing. Finally, the findings of the study suggest that induction guidelines employed in PSX for companies to be listed in Shariah compliant index needs to be reviewed to practically attain the objectives of Islamic moral economy such as avoiding Gharar (uncertainty) and Maysir (speculation). More importantly formulate a criterion that truly reflects Islamic principles of investing. In addition, more could also be done to educate investors about Shariah compliant stocks and enhance the projection of Shariah compliant index. Secondly, our study also indicates that investors that prefer faith based investing should be aware of the costs of faith investment in PSX. Investors can encounter additional costs while investing in Shariah compliant stocks. Moreover, these additional costs are driven high risk and low performance of faith portfolios.

Corporate Governance from an Islamic Moral Economy Perspective: The Dimensions and Analysis

Corporate governance from Islamic perspective is derived from Islamic worldview, whereby the God is at the apex and human beings are below Him. However, there is no unified definition of corporate governance under shari’ah point of view. To bridge the applicability of Islamic corporate governance model with Islamic moral economy framework, some key questions to be addressed are as follows. (i) do Islamic corporate governance models consistent with the aspiration of Islamic moral economy? (ii) what are the important dimensions of Islamic corporate governance? (iii) what is the concept of Islamic corporate governance inspired by the ideals of Islamic moral economy? To accomplish the objectives, this paper follows critical review analysis as a methodology, through which it aims to highlight how each Islamic corporate governance model models are being constructed and to compare those models with Islamic moral economy perspective. The paper proposes the suitable model of Islamic corporate governance under the Islamic moral economy perspective.JEL Classification: G34, O16How to Cite:Sakti, M. R. P., Tareq, M. A., & Kamiyama, H. (2021). Corporate Governance from an Islamic Moral Economy Perspective: The Dimensions and Analysis. Signifikan: Jurnal Ilmu Ekonomi, 10(2), 359-378. https://doi.org/10.15408/sjie.v10i2.21511.

Nexus between higher ethical objectives (Maqasid Al Shari’ah) and participatory finance

PurposeThis paper aims to conceptualize the nexus between the participatory finance and the higher ethical objectives within the Islamic moral economy, also termed as Maqasid al Shari’ah.Design/methodology/approachInsights from the extant Islamic economics and finance literature are integrated through an interpretative systematic review using the principles from critical interpretative synthesis (CIS).FindingsA coherent framework is synthesized comprising the typology of the Maqasid al Shari’ah, the axioms of participatory finance and their nexus which is formulated by theorizing the common thread of meaning through the axioms of participatory finance and Maqasid al Shari’ah at the interpretative level. This framework postulates that the participatory finance fits well in the ethos and the value system of Islam. Moreover, “social well-being” invariably provides the nexus between the Maqasid al Shari’ah and participatory finance.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the Islamic economics and finance literature by integrating the dissenting views from the divergent literature related to the basic philosophy of Shari’ah and participatory finance and provides grounds for policy implications, particularly, for designing the financial products. Moreover, it demonstrates an application of interpretative systematic review in Islamic banking and finance research.

Constituting an Islamic social welfare function: an exploration through Islamic moral economy

Purpose This study aims to theoretically explore and examine the possibility of developing an Islamic social welfare function (ISWF) within the Islamic moral economy (IME) frame by going beyond the traditional fiqhī approach. It focuses on issues of preference ordering and utility through the normative dimension of Islamic ontology, as expressed and articulated within the IME. Design/methodology/approach Being a theoretical paper, a conceptual and critical discursive approach is used in this paper. Findings To establish an ISWF, a narrow juristic approach remains inadequate; there is a need to integrate the substantive morality to complement the juristic approach to achieve the ihsani process as the ultimate individual objective, which makes an ISWF possible. As the scattered debate on the topic concentrates mainly on the juristic approach, the main contribution of this study is to present a model in which juristic and moralist positions endogenized and augmented to constitute ISWF. Originality/value As there is a limited amount of research available on the subject matter, this paper will be an important theoretical contribution. In addition, this study develops an IME approach rather than fiqh-based approach used in the available research, which makes it novel.

Islamic finance merging public finance within public–private partnership

PurposeThis paper aims to describe cooperation between public and private market players from different legal and religious orders. The author argues that such public–private partnerships (PPPs) enable the development of a possible convergence between selected areas of mainstream public finance and the Islamic moral economy (IME).Design/methodology/approachThis paper explores the theory of both mainstream finance and the IME, and using deductive reasoning from axioms, develops the assumptions of a theoretical approach to heterodox PPP. The proposed method affects the ability to find common platforms between mainstream public finance and the IME, through the example of public–private investment projects.FindingsThis endeavour is subject to trade-offs between profit maximisation and social justice values on the basis of long-term PPP contracts. The author shows the assumptions under which this compromise would be beneficial to public entities, multicultural societies and conventional and Islamic investors. It is proposed to distribute profit to the owners up to a predetermined value, above which the PPPs would finance public services for persons otherwise excluded from them.Originality/valueThe success of this approach must depend on a compromise between profit maximisation as the sole investment objective and investment guided by social justice values. Private investors can achieve a capped level of profit on a long-term contract basis, and public partners can obtain long-term contracts for providing public goods. Both would undertake a project with a strong emphasis on corporate social responsibility, with particularly large opportunities in developing Islamic countries.

Enhancing socio-economic justice and financial inclusion in Nigeria

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the roles of Zakat, Sadaqah and Qardhul Hassan within the context of the existing literature as major Islamic financial instruments for enhancing socio-economic justice amongst Muslims haves and have-nots as these enhance financial inclusion in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe discussion in this paper is based on secondary sources such as the divine knowledge contained in the Qur’an, Hadiths and the existing literature, such as previously conducted empirical studies and Islamic world view (Tawhidi epistemology).FindingsThis paper implores Islamic societies to use Zakat, Sadaqah and Qardhul Hassan as instruments that encourages wealth redistribution that promotes efficient and effective wealth redistribution between haves and have-nots as part of the vicegerent (khaliphah) role between mortal being (human) and his immortal creator (Allah). This paper concludes by suggesting the use of these Islamic financial instruments as means to enhance socio-economic justice and financial inclusion in the Nigeria’s Muslims’ communities that are negatively affected by the high rate of financial exclusion and poverty as had been previously practiced in the Muslim world throughout the Islamic history.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides critical suggestions on the ways Zakat, Sadaqah and Qardhul Hassan will contribute significantly towards assisting Nigeria in achieving its vision of reducing the financial exclusion rate that is currently put at 41.6% to 20% by the year 2020 and may foster inclusive growth and sustainable development. However, the limitation is that it is a mare conceptual study, and the future researchers may subject it to the scientific test to offer empirical evidence regarding the roles of Zakat, Sadaqah and Qardhul Hassan towards closing the gap of financial exclusion in Nigeria.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the existing literature on the doctrine of the Islamic moral economy by recommending the adoption of Islamic financial instruments as tools for enhancing income redistribution and financial inclusion.

Higher Ethical Objective (Maqasid al-Shari\u2019ah) Augmented Framework for Islamic Banks: Assessing Ethical Performance and Exploring Its Determinants

This study utilises higher objectives postulated in Islamic moral economy or the maqasid al-Shari’ah theoretical framework’s novel approach in evaluating the ethical, social, environmental and financial performance of Islamic banks. Maqasid al-Shari’ah is interpreted as achieving social good as a consequence in addition to well-being and, hence, it goes beyond traditional (voluntary) social responsibility. This study also explores the major determinants that affect maqasid performance as expressed through disclosure analysis. By expanding the traditional maqasid al-Shari’ah,, we develop a comprehensive evaluation framework in the form of a maqasid index, which is subjected to a rigorous disclosure analysis. Furthermore, in identifying the main determinants of the maqasid disclosure performance, panel data analysis is used by including several key variables alongside political and socio-economic environment, ownership structures, and corporate and Shari’ah governance-related factors. The sample includes 33 full-fledged Islamic banks from 12 countries for the period of 2008–2016. The findings show that although during the nine-year period the disclosure of maqasid performance of the sampled Islamic banks has improved, this is still short of ‘best practices’. Through panel data analysis, this study finds that the Muslim population indicator, CEO duality, Shari’ah governance, and leverage variables positively impact the disclosure of maqasid performance. However, the effect of GDP, financial development and human development index of the country, its political and civil rights, institutional ownership, and a higher share of independent directors have an overall negative impact on the maqasid performance. The findings reported in this study identify complex and multi-faceted relations between external market realities, corporate and Shari’ah governance mechanisms, and maqasid performance.

Contending with Capitalism: Fatwas and Neoliberal Ideology

Neoliberal economic theorists posit that the economic sphere is to be differentiated from the social world and governed by its own rationality that is distinct from religious, ethical, social, or political considerations. My article explores how the issuance of fatwas in the contemporary Muslim world discursively compete with neoliberal capitalist ideology by embedding religious ethics in economic discourse. First, I contextualize this analysis with a historical discussion on how the Muslim world was incorporated into the capitalist world-system, a process that peripheralized their established economic and cultural practices. Then, I examine the contemporary fatwas on commercial transactions that are issued by an international Muslim organization. My overall argument is that the Islamic moral economy proposes financial arrangements that represent alternatives to capitalist financial practices, which are the standard modes of operation in global financial institutions. Such practices pose a challenge to Muslim economic ethics and law, a challenge that Muslims are trying to negotiate using traditional legal practices such as the fatwa.

Institutionalising Justice in Islamic Finance

This research paper provides in-depth discourse on how justice can be operationalised in different Islamic financial institutions to achieve the objectives of the Islamic moral economy. The current financial institutions claiming to be Shari’ah compliant are more and more reflecting the behaviour of conventional financial institutions in terms of their impact on society. The paper proposes development of new Islamic financial institutions to endogenise the concept of justice based on the teaching of Qur’an and Sunnah. This will allow actualizing an ideal Islamic society based on equality, co-operation, and welfare with overall objective of the welfare of human beings through development of non-banking-financial institutions such as Islamic social banking, and zakah and awaqf based institutions and eventually promoting economic development. Furthermore, development of such institutions will also contribute to the financial inclusion of society.

Spirituality and subjective wellbeing

PurposeThis paper aims to compare free market capitalism and Islamic moral economy in terms of corresponding means and ends for a happy life. The paper reveals that global consumer culture is the inevitable outcome of secularization. As people pursue fulfillment with worldly possession, position and pleasure, they mistakenly think that higher material consumption would result in higher subjective wellbeing. Muslims are increasingly joining consumer culture because they are affected by global consumerism. The paper attempts to show that Islam has a potential to curb unsustainable consumer culture.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores a relationship between consumer culture and free market capitalism. It presents Islamic way of happiness as an alternative to hedonic happiness which is promoted by global consumer culture. It defines happiness as fulfillment in life through the realization of God and pursuit of His pleasure by finding transcendental meaning for having, being and doing.FindingsThe paper concludes that the Islamic way to happiness is different from hedonic happiness which leads to conspicuous consumption. It argues that once internalized, Islamic worldview would make possible to achieve a higher level of happiness without engaging in higher material consumption. It maintains that authentic happiness from an Islamic perspective is not the maximization of pleasure through indulging in consumer culture. Rather it is the fulfillment of heart and other faculties through remembrance (seeing the transcendental reality of the universe and the self) of God. Submission to God and living to gain His pleasure are the logical implications of such realization.Originality/valueThe paper reveals how consumer culture brings less happiness through more consumption, while Islam offers more happiness through less consumption.