Exploring the knowledge landscape of Islamic banking and finance: a bibliometric perspective

Purpose Islamic Banking and Finance (IB&F) represents a significant segment of the global financial system, offering an alternative to conventional banking grounded in Sharia principles. This bibliometric analysis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements and trends in IB&F research. Design/methodology/approach Using the PRISMA methodology, this study undertook a thorough review of academic publications to pinpoint key themes, influential scholars and emerging trends within the field. Findings This study reveals that research on Islamic Banking and Finance has grown rapidly between 2000 and 2023, with a strong annual publication growth rate and increasing global collaboration among scholars. The findings indicate that countries such as Malaysia, the USA and the UK dominate research productivity, while institutions like International Islamic University Malaysia play a central role in knowledge production. Citation analysis highlights influential foundational studies shaping the field’s intellectual structure. Thematic analysis shows that existing research largely focuses on banking performance, efficiency, risk and governance, often through comparisons with conventional finance. However, ethical objectives, social impact and Maqasid al-Shariah remain comparatively underexplored, indicating important directions for future research. Additionally, leading publication outlets contributing significantly to this domain include the Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research and the ISRA International Journal of Islamic Finance, which serve as key platforms for disseminating high-quality research in Islamic Banking and finance. Originality/value This research contributes to the academic discourse on IB&F by illuminating its development, suggesting potential future research directions and providing guidance for policy-making in the financial sector related to IB&F advancement.