Shariah-Based Decision-Making in Business Management: Integrating Shura, Justice, and Maslahah

Abstract

Business decision-making is one of the most fundamental managerial processes because organizational performance, stakeholder relationships, resource allocation, and long-term sustainability are strongly influenced by the quality of managerial decisions. Contemporary business environments, however, are characterized by uncertainty, information asymmetry, technological disruption, intense competition, and increasing ethical expectations, creating challenges that cannot always be addressed through financial and strategic considerations alone. Islamic business management provides a distinctive approach to decision-making by integrating managerial rationality with Shariah-based ethical and spiritual principles. This study examines the concept of Shariah-based decision-making in business management by focusing on the integration of shura, justice, and maslahah. The study aims to analyze how these three principles can shape managerial decision-making and contribute to responsible, ethical, and sustainable business practices. This research employs a qualitative library research method by examining academic books, peer-reviewed journal articles, scholarly publications, and authoritative sources concerning Islamic business management, Islamic economics, Shariah principles, organizational decision-making, business ethics, and managerial practices. The collected materials are analyzed using a descriptive-analytical approach through identification, interpretation, comparison, and conceptual synthesis. The findings indicate that shura can strengthen participatory decision-making by incorporating relevant knowledge and perspectives, justice can establish ethical boundaries for the distribution of rights, responsibilities, benefits, and risks, while maslahah can broaden managerial evaluation by considering the wider consequences of organizational decisions. The integration of these principles creates a decision-making framework that moves beyond short-term financial rationality toward a more balanced consideration of organizational objectives and stakeholder welfare. The study concludes that Shariah-based decision-making can enhance organizational accountability, trust, legitimacy, resilience, and sustainability when Islamic principles are institutionally integrated into managerial processes rather than treated merely as symbolic values.