Islamic ethics and the implications for business

Abstract

As global business operations expand, managers need more knowledge of foreign cultures, in particular, information on the ethics of doing business across borders. The Islamic perspective on business ethics, little known in the west, is shared in hopes of stimulating further thinking and debate on the relationships between ethics and business. Some knowledge of Islamic philosophy is provided in order to help managers do business in Muslim cultures. The case of Egypt illustrates some divergence between Islamic philosophy and practice in economic life. Managerial implications and suggestions for future research are included.