Integrating Islamic welfare ethics into professional social work: a conceptual and theoretical framework

Social work as a professional discipline has historically evolved alongside moral and religious traditions that emphasize compassion, justice, and collective responsibility. While the influence of Christian ethics on Western social work has been widely examined, Islamic welfare ethics remain comparatively underexplored within mainstream social work scholarship. This paper presents a conceptual and theoretical analysis of the intersections between professional social work and Islamic welfare ethics, with particular attention to the institutions of zakat (obligatory almsgiving), sadaqah (voluntary charity), and waqf (endowment). Drawing on secondary sources, including Islamic religious texts, classical and contemporary Islamic scholarship, and established social work literature, the study examines points of convergence and divergence between Islamic ethical principles and core social work values such as social justice, human dignity, empowerment, and community well-being. Interpretive accuracy regarding Qur’anic and Hadith-based concepts was strengthened through consultative informal discussions with five Islamic religious scholars possessing expertise in Qur’anic exegesis, Hadith studies, and Islamic jurisprudence. These consultations served to validate interpretations rather than to generate primary empirical data. The analysis is informed by empowerment theory, the strengths perspective, the human rights approach, and the Islamic ethical framework of Maqasid al-Shariah. The paper argues that Islamic welfare ethics offer a culturally grounded and spiritually informed ethical resource that can enrich social work education, policy, and practice, particularly in Muslim-majority and culturally diverse societies. By advancing an ethically pluralistic perspective, the study contributes to ongoing debates on religion and spirituality in global social work.