The Concept of Itqan and Culture in Muslim Professional Life

ABSTRACT

Professional Ethics which concern one's conduct of behavior and practice when carrying out
professional work needs Itqan. The word itqan is an Arabic word which has a close meaning
to the English word pelfection. Islam as a perfect and comprehensive religion set the bases for
quality work. The order, discipline, accuracy, beautiful work, well thought out tasks and
justice are all part of quality Islamic work and performance. Quran as the final divine
revelation from Allah provides a code of conduct for every believer and is the commandment
and warrant for him to be committed in hislher work and be sincere about it. Adhering to
the Quranic teachings on itqan equips the Muslim professional an effective approach to
problem-solving preceded by steady and thorough examination before undertaking an activity
and enables the Muslim to tackle problems in an orderly and disciplined manner. This prompts
us to the institutionalization of Codes of Conduct and Codes of Practice which are common in
many professional bodies for their members to observe. This paper attempts to investigate the
importance of this concept and its role in the Muslim life.

Key terms: itqan; professional ethics; codes of conduct.