Furthering the thought on Islamic work ethic: how does it differ?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight the underlying values of Islamic work ethic (IWE) that distinguish it from other ethical perspectives such as Protestant work ethic (PWE), Hindu work ethic (HWE) and/or Buddhist work ethic (BWE). Design/methodology/approach The present study utilized the critical review approach to answer the research questions. In this regard, guidance was sought from the Holy Quran and Sunnah to understand the Islamic ordainments pertaining to IWE. Moreover, articles related to different ethical systems are exhaustively reviewed. Findings Based on the literature review pertaining to the different ethical systems, this study highlights five specific distinguishing values and behavior: emphasis on halal and haram, emphasis on the purity of intention, seeking of employment, the nature of employer–employee relationship and dealing with sexual harassment. Practical implications Multinational and local organizations are strongly recommended to comprehend and grasp different ethical background of their employees to meet and satisfy their physical and spiritual needs. As a result, it may enhance and boost the effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of the organizations. Originality/value This study has its merits in term of identifying the distinguishing aspects of IWE from other ethical systems. There is a paucity of research that examines these differentiating values. Therefore, the research question “what are the underlying factors that differentiate IWE from PWE, HWE and/or BWE?” is still unanswered. The present research is an attempt to answer this question. The findings of this study will enable the researchers to come out with a comprehensive and complete definition of IWE construct. Moreover, it will be useful to refine the existing IWE scale by emphasizing the distinguishing aspects of the construct.