Understanding the Ways of Sharia, Research Paper Example

Implicating the Aspect of Theology in the Workplace: Understanding the Ways of Sharia

Introduction

There are instances when the talk between business and religious culture are separately considered to be two particularly different matters which can never be put together. Nevertheless, in Malaysia, the case is very different. In a nation where Islamic religion is fully recognized, everything is imposed under the laws of the said belief. In Sloane-White’s article, the Islamic religion and its culture based on the principles of Sharia is strongly dignified to create a new law on business and a new culture that corporate conditions are being fashioned alongside with. In a way, this article presents how the said aspect of the Islamic religion created a new form of business culture in the country and reconfigured the process by which the modern industries of Malaysia emerges to compete with other international organizations.

Understanding Sharia and Its Principles

The Islamic religion carries its culture, traditions and morals quite seriously. One of the most important foundations of such religious condition is the existence of the Sharia. Sharia is considered in the Islamic religion as the foundation of morals and is thus accepted as the immutable presentation of God’s will for humans to follow. This then makes it a source of applicable moral principles that Islam believers ought to follow around the globe. In Malaysia, Sharia has become the central source of moral definition for many even in the field of business.

The conditions of culture that Sharia imposes as a source of personal rule come from the Calvinist business principles. It has been presented that the implication by which the business rule of Malaysia do not depend on Eurocentric principles make the Sharia a better foundation for the said people to follow. Having their own understanding of “salvation” which the Sharia presents as a specific reward from following Allah’s commandments, there are also different ways by which the said principles are applied in the field of business.

In line with the consideration that businessmen develop in relation to the role that they take in the organization, there exists the ibadat and the muamalat. These two sectors of responsibility notes the condition of service that is required from Islamic believers based on their religious and their social standing. Obligations or responsibilities are noted in Sharia as ‘fard’.  Fard in this case is divided into several sectors that details how an Islam should act in relation to the process by which he becomes a part of a unit in the society. The said divisions include the fard al-ayn and the fard-al-kifayah. These are the individual duties separated from the social duties of a person.

In relation to these divisions of obligation, the fard-al-ayn involves the need of a person to transform into a productive personnel especially when they are working for a particular cause [may it be for a profiting company or for a charitable institution]. Notably, the willingness of a person to become productive results to the actual instance by which he becomes useful not only to himself but for the people in his society as well. Using his personal assets and resources, a person draws the worth that he has for other as he contends to deal with his personal success as well. In the field of successfully surviving corporate living, a person is expected to make a leader out of himself. This does not mean that a person is entitled to ruling over others or assuming personal authority over his colleagues. This specifically indicates the need of one to put his best foot forward especially in relation to how he performs the duties that were given to him.

On the other hand, the fard-al-kifayah’s utilization in business directs business operators to seeing to it that they are not only constructing a source of success for their own institution but also for the people working for them and for the society that they are supposed to serve. This means that seeing to it that their responsibilities are carefully defined and are specifically followed is a specific concern for businessmen no matter what position they may hold. this course directs the manner by which the business gives back to the community that they serve and exist alongside with. The condition by which they decide on how the system of business operation should be handled depends on how they see their responsibility being a part of a fulfillment of a greater cause for the society’s survival needs.

Conclusion

The Malaysian business industries remain as a strong proof that theology does work for the better performance even of business-defined organizations. The deliberation of moral values based on religious culture and traditions has created a more workable environment that has specific moral standards that humans all benefit from. In this case, it could then be viewed that the modern applications of Sharia in business defines a condition of holistic working attitude towards excellence and success.

References

Kuran, Timur (2005). “The Logic of Financial Westernization in the Middle East”. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. Vol. 56. p. 600.

Sloane-White, P. (2011). Working in the Islamic Economy: Sharia-ization and the Malaysian Workplace. SOJOURN: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia Vol. 26, No. 2  pp. 304