This paper aims to elaborate and discuss key Islamic principles of relevance to environmental ethics and sustainability agendas and reflect on implications for the operations of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to elaborate and discuss key Islamic principles of relevance to environmental ethics and sustainability agendas and reflect on implications for the operations of Islamic financial institutions (IFIs).
Design/methodology/approach
An exploration of the tenets of environmental sustainability enshrined in Islamic Shariah through a review of key Islamic texts and relevant prior literature.
Findings
The Islamic approach to the environment is holistic and unequivocal. Qur’anic verses describing nature and natural phenomena outnumber verses dealing with commandments and sacraments. Centrality of the environment in the Shari’ah and the Islamic injunction to command right and forbid wrong are suggestive of an affirmative sustainability agenda for IFIs.
Practical implications
Implications and opportunities for corporate managers, environmental movements and policy makers.
Originality/value
By encouraging Muslim engagement in Ijtihad, this work contributes to conceptual development within Islam. It will also be of value to accountability and ecology researchers seeking a better understanding of ecological practices and the internal histories of religions.
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In the light of major corporate failures worldwide, business ethics have become an increasingly important area of managerial competence and responsibility. Most studies on…
Abstract
Purpose
In the light of major corporate failures worldwide, business ethics have become an increasingly important area of managerial competence and responsibility. Most studies on business ethics in general and the work ethic in particular have been based on the experiences of Western nations, with a primary focus on the Protestant work ethic (PWE) as advanced by Max Weber. This paper aims primarily to explore the Islamic perspective to ethics, which follows the Judeo‐Christian tradition as the last of the three great monotheistic religions.
Design/methodology/approach
A range of relevant works published over the past two decades is compared with and heavily supplemented by extracts from the Islamic Holy Book, the Qur'an, in order to outline the Islamic approach to business and work ethics.
Findings
The paper highlights that within the Holy Qur'an and other aspects of Shari'ah, there is much with which to construct an authentic Islamic approach to ethics. It also highlights the substantial need to examine the work ethic and other work‐related attitudes, such as individualism in non‐Western settings.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the body of knowledge in several ways. First, it is one of a very limited number of papers that does not use a research instrument created specifically to measure work orientations in a Western setting. Second, it provides a better understanding of cultural variations among nations, by examining the ethical beliefs of the fastest growing religion in the world.
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Keywords
Riham Rizk, Robert Dixon and Anne Woodhead
The purpose of this study is to survey the corporate social and environmental reporting (CSR) practices of Egyptian corporate entities. It aims at contributing to the body of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to survey the corporate social and environmental reporting (CSR) practices of Egyptian corporate entities. It aims at contributing to the body of knowledge on the CSR disclosure phenomenon in developing/transitional economies.
Design/methodology/approach
A 34‐item disclosure index covering environmental, energy, human resources, customer and community involvement issues was used to rank corporations.
Findings
A review of a random sample of 60 annual reports for the 2002 financial year revealed significant differences in reporting practices among the members of the nine industry segments surveyed. Findings of this research also lend support to the significance of ownership structure on the reporting decision.
Research limitations/implications
The study is based on the annual report disclosures of corporations in the industrial sector. Hence, the conclusions arrived at should not be generalised to the non‐industrial sector. A longitudinal study based on a reasonably large sample, which includes the non‐industrial sector, is needed to highlight trends in CSR reporting practices in Egypt. In‐depth case study‐type research would also facilitate understanding of not only what, but also why and how companies are making social and environmental disclosures in Egypt.
Originality/value
Reviews of disclosure practices in different parts of the world are always welcome and are arguably somewhat limited in developing countries.