QAWLAN MA‘RŪFAN AS A MEDIATING VARIABLE IN THE ETHICAL PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION PRACTICES AMONG MSME ACTORS

Muh Rahman; Syaparuddin Razak; Jumriani Jumriani

doi:10.29300/nuansa.v18i2.8793

QAWLAN MA‘RŪFAN AS A MEDIATING VARIABLE IN THE ETHICAL PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION PRACTICES AMONG MSME ACTORS

Muh Rahman, Syaparuddin Razak, Jumriani Jumriani

Abstract

This study examines the mediating role of qawlan ma’rufan in fostering ethical production and distribution among MSME actors. Ethical behavior is essential for consumer trust and business sustainability. Rooted in Islamic economics, qawlan ma’rufan reflects honest, wise, courteous, and responsible communication. Using a quantitative design, data were collected from 154 Muslim MSMEs via structured questionnaires and analyzed through SEM with SmartPLS. The findings show that qawlan ma’rufan significantly enhances ethical practices and mediates transparent communication, integrity, and social responsibility. The study contributes to Islamic business ethics and offers practical insights for MSMEs and policymakers to embed values of divine blessing, trust, and sustainability.

Keywords

Qawlan ma’rufan, transparent communication, business integrity, social responsibility, production and distribution.

Full Text:

PDF

References

Ahmad, S., Qamar, A. J., Bhatti, M. A. A., & Bashir, U. (2023). Integrating Islamic Ethics with Modern Governance: A Comprehensive Framework for Accountability Across Religious, Social, and Economic Dimensions. Al-Irfan, 8(15), 51–79.

Ananda, Y. P. (2022). Building and communicating brand by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Jees: Journal Of Economic Empowerment Strategy, 5(2), 68–81.

As’ad, S., Mawardi, I., & Anshori, M. (2025). Linking Islamic branding and marketing communication with Islamic financial inclusion: the mediating role of Islamic financial literacy. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, ahead-of-p(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-09-2023-0296

Asif, M., & Akhlaq, M. (2024). Sharia compliance in modern business practices. Tanazur, 5(2), 285–301.

Asutay, M., & Yilmaz, I. (2021). Constituting an Islamic social welfare function: an exploration through Islamic moral economy. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 14(3), 524–540.

Awad, J., & Martín‐Rojas, R. (2024). Enhancing social responsibility and resilience through entrepreneurship and digital environment. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(3), 1688–1704.

Bozhenko, V. V. (2021). Enhancing Business Integrity as a Mechanism for Combating Corruption and Shadow Schemes in the Country.

Brown, A. (2020). Communication and leadership in healthcare quality governance. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 34(2), 144–161. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-07-2019-0194

Buyondo, H. (2024). Islamic finance principles and performance of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Makindye Division Kampala District Central Uganda. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 17(3), 441–460. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-05-2023-0201

Chawla, D., & Joshi, H. (2019). Consumer attitude and intention to adopt mobile wallet in India – An empirical study. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 37(7). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-09-2018-0256

Collier, Z. A., & Sarkis, J. (2021). The zero trust supply chain: Managing supply chain risk in the absence of trust. International Journal of Production Research, 59(11), 3430–3445.

Eisele, O., Brugman, B. C., & Marschlich, S. (2024). The moral foundations of responsible business: Using computational text analysis to explore the salience of morality in CSR communication. Public Relations Review, 50(2), 102453.

Gottems, L. B. D., Carvalho, E. M. P. de, Guilhem, D., & Pires, M. R. G. M. (2018). Good practices in normal childbirth: Reliability analysis of an instrument by cronbach’s alpha. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 26. https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.2234.3000

Guo, X., He, Y., Wang, Y., & Zhou, Z. (2025). Influence of brand community social responsibility on consumer citizenship behaviors: mediating role of collective self esteem. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 34(3), 297–319. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-08-2023-4673

Hair, Jr, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., & Tatham, R. L. (2010). SEM: An introduction. Multivariate data analysis: A global perspective. A Global Perspective, 5(6).

Hair, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Hopkins, L., & Kuppelwieser, V. G. (2014). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM): An emerging tool in business research. In European Business Review (Vol. 26, Issue 2). https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-10-2013-0128

Keppo, J., Kim, M. J., & Zhang, X. (2022). Learning manipulation through information dissemination. Operations Research, 70(6), 3490–3510.

Khaled, M. S., Shaban, I. A., Karam, A., Hussain, M., Zahran, I., & Hussein, M. (2022). An analysis of research trends in the sustainability of production planning. Energies, 15(2), 483.

Kyriazos, T. A. (2018). Applied Psychometrics: Sample Size and Sample Power Considerations in Factor Analysis (EFA, CFA) and SEM in General. Psychology, 09(08), 2207–2230. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2018.98126

Laajalahti, A. (2018). Fostering Creative Interdisciplinarity: Building Bridges between Ethical Leadership and Leaders’ Interpersonal Communication Competence. In Public Relations and the Power of Creativity (Vol. 3, pp. 23–55). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2398-391420180000003002

Lee, Y. (2022). Personality traits and organizational leaders’ communication practices in the United States: perspectives of leaders and followers. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 27(3), 595–615. https://doi.org/10.1108/CCIJ-10-2021-0118

Munajat, N., Aulia, M. G., & Nafiisah, J. (2024). The role of communication ethics in the educational domain of Islamic religious education. IJIRCS: International Journal of Islamic Religion Dan Culture Studies, 2(2), 9–22.

Nidzom, M. F. (2022). Islamic Communication Ethics: A General Principles.

Ojo, L. D., Chan, A. P. C., & Sing, M. S. P. (2025). Drivers of integrity-based approach to ethics management (IBAEM) in the Nigerian construction organizations. International Journal of Construction Management, 1–16.

Priadi, R., & Thariq, M. (2023). Employees Evangelism as a function of effective communication, ethical culture, and leaders motivating Language Via Work Meaningfulness as a Mediator. Transnational Marketing Journal, 11(1), 89–105.

Qizwini, J., & Perkasa, D. H. (2024). Analysis of Marketing Ethics from an Islamic Perspective. Proceeding International Conference on Islamic Economics and Business (ICIEB), 3(1), 46–57.

Raimi, L. (2017). Understanding Theories of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Ibero-American Hospitality Industry. In Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance (Vol. 11, pp. 65–88). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2043-052320170000011004

Rajendran, S. D., Kamarulzaman, N. H., & Abd Rahman, A. (2024). The mediating role of halal supply chain integrity in enhancing performance for halal herbal-based food SMEs. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 15(12), 3621–3648. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-03-2022-0090

Ramadiansyah, S. A., Srikandi, M. B., Prasetyo, B. D., & Khlil, M. A. M. (2024). The role of social media in improving business communication among Muslim entrepreneurs in South Denpasar. Islamic Communication Journal, 9(2), 256–341.

Rashid, A., Rasheed, R., Rahi, S., & Amirah, N. A. (2025). Impact of supplier trust and integrated technology on supply chain resilience for sustainable supply chain in FMCG sector. Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, ahead-of-p(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-04-2024-0134

Rashid, C. A. (2022). The role of internal control in fraud prevention and detection. Journal of Global Economics and Business, 3(8), 43–55.

Razak, S., Nasuka, M., Abdullah, I., & Raking, J. (2024). Factors Influencing The Behavioral Intention To Use Sharia Securities As An Investment Option In Indonesia. International Journal of Business & Society, 25(1).

Ringle, C. M., Wende, S., and Becker, J.-M. 2022. (2022). SmartPLS 4. Oststeinbek: SmartPLS GmbH.

Rudawska, E. (Ed.). (2018). Index. In The Sustainable Marketing Concept in European SMEs (pp. 301–312). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78754-038-520180017

Sarstedt, M., & Cheah, J. H. (2019). Partial least squares structural equation modeling using SmartPLS: a software review. In Journal of Marketing Analytics (Vol. 7, Issue 3). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41270-019-00058-3

Schermelleh-Engel, K., Moosbrugger, H., & Müller, H. (2003). Evaluating the fit of structural equation models: Tests of significance and descriptive goodness-of-fit measures. MPR-Online, 8(2), 23–74.

Shi, W. (2025). Early-stage entrepreneurs’ communicative strategies in managing knowledge ambiguity. Journal of Small Business Management, 63(4), 1594–1622.

Tanjung, M. T. H., & Abdullah, A. (2025). The Concept of Communication in the Quran; Analysis of Theory and Practice. International Journal Of Education, Social Studies, And Management (IJESSM), 5(1), 72–85.

Wei, Y.-C., Lin, C.-H., Cheng, P.-W., & Lee, Y.-H. (2025). The Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance Stability: The Moderating Effects of Board Diversity. In C.-F. Lee & M.-T. Yu (Eds.), Advances in Pacific Basin Business, Economics and Finance (Vol. 13, pp. 319–346). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2514-465020250000013013

Zuhri, A., Ramírez-Coronel, A. A., Al-Hawary, S. I. S., Dwijendra, N. K. A., Muda, I., Pallathadka, H., Amiruddin, M. M., & Sunarsi, D. (2023). Evaluation of the role of Islamic lifestyle in communication skills of Muslim couples. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 79(1).

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.29300/nuansa.v18i2.8793