Upholding Sharia Principles in Secular Markets: Muslim Entrepreneurs’ Experiences in Ethical Negotiation and Adaptation
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Abstract
Islamic entrepreneurship emphasizes ethical values rooted in Sharia principles, yet the subjective experiences of Muslim entrepreneurs in secular markets remain underexplored. This study examines how they uphold Sharia principles while navigating conventional business systems. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), eight Muslim entrepreneurs from diverse industries in Indonesia were interviewed through in-depth semi-structured discussions and thematically analyzed. The findings revealed four core themes: internal ethical conflict, spiritual resilience, adaptive Sharia-based strategies, and social isolation within unsupportive institutions. These results highlight ethical entrepreneurship as a dynamic, faith-driven negotiation beyond formal compliance. This research contributes by advancing culturally grounded business ethics and demonstrating the value of phenomenological methods in capturing lived ethical experiences.
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