Embedding Sharia Leadership Values into Organizational Motivation: Integrating Islamic Ethics and Modern Motivation Theories

Abstract

In the contemporary landscape of organizational behavior, the convergence of religious ethical values with modern motivation theories has gained scholarly attention. Islamic organizations, in particular, face the dual challenge of maintaining spiritual integrity while aligning with competitive management practices. This study explores the theoretical synthesis between sharia leadership values and contemporary motivation models, providing an integrative framework that aligns spiritual ethics with organizational performance. The objective of this paper is to bridge the conceptual gap between Sharia-based leadership principles and modern theories of motivation, including Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Herzberg’s two-factor theory, and self-determination theory. Using a qualitative textual approach, the study analyzes foundational Islamic texts, classical Arabic leadership discourses, and modern organizational literature to uncover overlapping values and points of integration. Findings suggest that Sharia leadership encapsulates intrinsic motivational factors rooted in amanah (trust), ikhlas (sincerity), mas’uliyyah (responsibility), and shura (consultation), which correspond significantly with the internal drivers emphasized in modern psychological theories. Moreover, these principles provide a normative framework to counterbalance the instrumental rationality of conventional motivation strategies. The significance of this research lies in its theoretical contribution to Islamic economics and leadership studies, especially for organizations seeking to embed ethical leadership within performance-driven structures. This integrated model can serve as a foundational guideline for both scholars and practitioners aiming to implement spiritually grounded and effective motivation systems.