Knowledge hiding (KH) is widely recognized as a barrier to organizational growth, creativity and innovation. Yet, despite decades of research, one critical lens remains conspicuously absent: religion. This study aims to address this lacuna by examining KH through a novel dual-lens perspective.
Following the systematic literature review protocol of Tranfield et al. (2003), the authors analyzed 87 papers from mainstream management literature and 16 from Islamic scholarship. Through thematic classification and synthesis, the authors uncovered conceptual intersections and derived actionable insights spanning both domains.
The review elucidates how KH is conceptualized in both management scholarship and Islamic scriptures (the Qur’an and Hadith), revealing notable parallels and critical divergences. The authors further identify remedial strategies from the management literature and map these onto Islamic ethical principles, yielding a novel integrative framework. These findings provide a robust foundation for future theoretical advancement and empirical inquiry into KH through a religious lens, thereby deepening the authors’ understanding of its organizational and moral dimensions.
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to integrate religious perspectives into knowledge management research, demonstrating how Islamic principles illuminate the understanding, prevention and mitigation of KH. By forging a bridge between management scholarship and Islamic teachings, it advances theoretical discourse, equips practitioners with actionable strategies and charts new terrain for cross-disciplinary inquiry.
