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

• Published in: Journal of business ethics Vol. 170; no. 4; pp. 797 - 834
• Main Authors: Mergaliyev, Arman, Asutay, Mehmet, Avdukic, Alija, Karbhari, Yusuf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-05-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Banking; Best practice; Business and Management; Business Ethics; Civil rights; Data analysis; Disclosure; Education; Ethics; Financial performance; Governance; Human development; Indexes; Islam; Islamic countries; Islamic financing; Management; Moral economy; Original Paper; Ownership; Panel data; Philosophy; Political finance; Quality of Life Research; Social responsibility; Socioeconomic factors; Ethical performance; Islamic moral economy; Islamic banks; Determinants; Disclosure; -
• ISSN: 0167-4544; 1573-0697
• DOI: 10.1007/s10551-019-04331-4

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.