Mapping global research trends in Islamic finance: a bibliometric study based on Scopus

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate current research trends in Islamic finance by using bibliometric analysis. Specifically, this study examines all articles related to Islamic finance indexed in the Scopus database. This study analyses various categories, including the most prolific authors, journals, countries and keywords from previously published research. Design/methodology/approach Data were retrieved from the Scopus database up to 2024, resulting in 2,289 articles. This paper analyses the data using RStudio and VOSviewer to create network maps and perform clustering techniques. The analysis includes co-authorship patterns of countries and authors, authors’ citation networks and keyword analysis to identify trending research topics in Islamic finance. Findings Publications on Islamic finance started to garner more attention after 2013. Interest in Islamic finance publications began to increase around 2013. Citations, however, exhibit considerable fluctuation: they started low in 1990 but surged dramatically, peaking around 2012 with nearly 2,000 citations, even though the number of publications remained steady. Malaysia leads as the most productive country in this field, while M. Kabir Hassan from the University of New Orleans, the USA, is the most prolific author. The Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research is the leading journal for Islamic finance research, and “Islamic Finance” is the most frequently mentioned topic. Research limitations/implications The researchers obtained their data for the study from the Scopus database; using alternative databases could lead to entirely distinct research trends in this bibliometric analysis of Islamic finance. Practical implications This research helps identify leading authors, prominent journals and important keywords in Islamic finance. This paper also serves as a valuable reference and source of guidance for future scholars in this field. Furthermore, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of current research trends and areas for future exploration. Originality/value This extensive work examines earlier studies in the topic of Islamic finance that have been published, providing a thorough bibliometric analysis and highlighting significant research trends. The results of this study hold significance for practitioners and researchers who wish to delve deeper or further their work in this field.