This study aims to explore the knowledge diffusion channels (KDCs) between bankers and Shari’a scholars in Pakistan’s Islamic banking industry.
This study uses a multiple case study approach, leveraging both the Shari’a and the banking perspectives as analytical units. A total of 25 interviews were analyzed to identify the main KDCs, comprising 11 interviews with Shari’a scholars and 14 with expert bankers.
The findings suggest nine key KDCs through which Islamic banking knowledge is distributed to Shari’a scholars and bankers. These channels include family environment and children’s upbringing, attitude-building, training, books, academia, keeping company with Shari’a scholars, madaaris and experiential learning.
The findings of this study serve as a foundation for regulators and policymakers in the Islamic banking industry to integrate both banking and Shari’a knowledge by capitalizing on the KDCs identified in this research. The nine KDCs extend the operational constructs of the knowledge, attitude and practice theory.
The findings of this study provide a base that policymakers and regulators in the Islamic banking industry can refer to develop human resources with knowledge of Shari’a and banking by using the KDCs identified in this research.
The existing literature primarily focuses on comparisons and controversies between bankers and Shari’a scholars. The KDC framework offers valuable insights into how these seemingly divergent groups disseminate knowledge within their respective domains and navigate their divergences to facilitate the seamless operations of Islamic banks.
