Reducing Apathy in the Face of Corrupt Behaviour: Whistleblowing as an Act of ‘Amr bi-l-ma’ruf wa-nahy ‘an al-munkar
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/jeeir.v3i3.6413Keywords:
Whistleblowing, whistleblower, enjoining good and forbidding wrong, Islamic perspectives, internal controlAbstract
Islam promotes the principle of “amr bi-l-ma’ruf wa-nahy ‘an al-munkar”—enjoining good and forbidding wrong—as a foundational guideline for human social, political, and economic interactions, and as a core driver in maximizing human welfare. However, in today’s business environment, individuals often act within a rational framework focused on maximizing welfare, but frequently limit this to their own self-interest. To address this tendency, many institutions have introduced whistle-blowing provisions as a mechanism to deter misconduct or corruption and to support formal investigations within corporate or public organizations. Whistle-blowing holds significant value within the framework of “amr bi-l-ma’ruf wa-nahy ‘an al-munkar” as part of institutional governance, complementing educational and spiritual efforts. In many Muslim countries, issues in private and public institutions could have been prevented if individuals had acted on their suspicions and alerted the relevant authorities. While numerous studies emphasize the role of cultural and ethical backgrounds in influencing whistle-blowing motivations and systems, very few explore whistle-blowing within the Islamic doctrine of “amr bi-l-ma’ruf wa-nahy ‘an al-munkar” and its impact on the design and function of whistle-blowing mechanisms.This paper seeks to address this gap by drawing on elements of the Islamic hisbah system, as outlined by Imam al-Ghazali (d. 505H), to inform the development of whistle-blowing frameworks. A key implication for modern-day managers is the need to invest in approaches that tap into religious values and God-consciousness, emphasizing individual responsibility in promoting good and preventing wrongdoing.
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Copyright (c) 2015 Khairunnisa Abd. Samad , Haniza Khalid , Saim Kayadibi
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