Shari’ah governance and financial performance: a bibliometric analysis and research agenda

Purpose The purpose of this study is to conduct bibliometric analysis of research on Shari’ah governance and financial performance (SG-FP) published between 2010 and 2024. Design/methodology/approach In all, 257 documents were obtained from the Web of Science and Scopus data sets and analyzed using citation analysis, co-citation analysis, content analysis, keyword analysis and thematic evolution, using R Studio and VOSviewer software. A systematic literature review framework guided the data collection using PRISMA guidelines to ensure rigor. Findings This study identified growth trends, prominent countries, authors, seminal articles, journals, significant themes and emerging themes for future research. The findings of this study highlight SG-FP research’s increasing relevance and collaborative nature, showing a dynamic research environment. However, there remains a noticeable gap in studies exploring qualitative dimensions of SG’s impact on FP. While quantitative studies dominate, understanding SG’s contextual and cultural nuances requires deeper exploration through qualitative methodologies. Research limitations/implications This study calls for qualitative methodologies, such as case studies and interviews, to explore cultural, regional and contextual dimensions of SG frameworks and their influence on FP. Originality/value This study systematically reviews and visualizes the intellectual development of SG-FP research, identifying gaps and providing a structured agenda for future research. This includes recommending qualitative studies to address the nuanced relationship between SG and FP.