REFLECTION ON ISLAMIC ACCOUNTING RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGIES

The centrality of accounting research has been in a constant shift between normative thinking and exploring empirical practices.  The reason for the shift is complex but one reason may be attributed to the disillusionment with the current normative thinking and the growing interest in exploring accounting realities from multiple branches of socio-economic life. Normative thinking is generally based on previous decade’s philosophical ideas that have not be captured in practice but which advocates on designing accounting systems that are based on specifically advocated moral philosophy.  When scandals emerged as a result of accounting practices and behaviours of those entrusted with the resources, the disillusion with the advocated moral foundation leads to a shift towards exploring the reality of practices and at the same time searching for a new moral philosophy for accounting. This paper narrates how accounting researchers emerge as a ‘tribe’ that pastures within well protected territories using specifically selected political and moral stands and excluding any other alternatives, particularly Islamic normative moral philosophy.  The presentation concludes by emphasizing on the needs to develop a wide range of Islamic theoretical and methodological approaches that are vital for the progress of Islamic institutions as well as the rest of macroeconomic components (markets, people and ecosystems).  Based on personal ijtihad, it argues that Islamic methodology has three main components: foundations for the Islamic methodology, starting principles, and essential conceptual framework for the Islamic methodology.

The centrality of accounting research has been in a constant shift between normative thinking and exploring empirical practices.  The reason for the shift is complex but one reason may be attributed to the disillusionment with the current normative thinking and the growing interest in exploring accounting realities from multiple branches of socio-economic life. Normative thinking is generally based on previous decade’s philosophical ideas that have not be captured in practice but which advocates on designing accounting systems that are based on specifically advocated moral philosophy.  When scandals emerged as a result of accounting practices and behaviours of those entrusted with the resources, the disillusion with the advocated moral foundation leads to a shift towards exploring the reality of practices and at the same time searching for a new moral philosophy for accounting. This paper narrates how accounting researchers emerge as a ‘tribe’ that pastures within well protected territories using specifically selected political and moral stands and excluding any other alternatives, particularly Islamic normative moral philosophy.  The presentation concludes by emphasizing on the needs to develop a wide range of Islamic theoretical and methodological approaches that are vital for the progress of Islamic institutions as well as the rest of macroeconomic components (markets, people and ecosystems).  Based on personal ijtihad, it argues that Islamic methodology has three main components: foundations for the Islamic methodology, starting principles, and essential conceptual framework for the Islamic methodology.