Islamic Spirituality as a Moderator in the Organizational Justice- Job Satisfaction Nexus: Evidence from Pakistani SME

Abstract

This paper investigates the dynamic relationship between organizational justice, job satisfaction, and Islamic spirituality in the context of SMEs within Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. It addresses a very serious gap in the existing literature, which concerns the function of Islamic spirituality as a moderator in the relationship between organizational justice and job satisfaction—a highly relevant question in
those areas of the world where religious persuasions mark both cultural and professional life. This research adopted a quantitative design; 350 employees of different SMEs in the region were surveyed. The research found strong positive relationships between organizational justice and job satisfaction, with Islamic spirituality emerging as a significant moderator variable. The findings from this
study show that there is a higher level of job satisfaction for those employees who perceive higher levels of organizational justice. In addition to this, Islamic spirituality also extends this relationship. Employees that have strong spiritual inclinations are likely to interpret these organizational practices in an Islamic- values lens which results in enhancing perceptions of just treatment and
subsequently boosting levels of job satisfaction. The research has added to the literature of organizational behavior in highlighting cultural and spiritual dimensions and their linkages with workplace dynamics, especially in SMEs which are part of low-income localities like Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. It also suggests that incorporating religious and ethical aspects into the frameworks of organizational justice will keep the moral and spiritual expectations