Aligning Shariah Principles with Essential Soft Skills in Patient Care: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, ethical decision-making, and interpersonal interaction are essential components of quality patient care. In Islamic healthcare settings, these competencies should align with Shariah principles to ensure that healthcare delivery is ethically, culturally, and spiritually appropriate. This systematic review aimed to identify the key Shariah principles that align with essential soft skills in patient care within Islamic healthcare contexts.

This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Literature was retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Al-Manhal, and Index Islamicus databases using predefined keywords related to Shariah-compliant healthcare, Islamic ethics, nursing soft skills, and Maqasid Shariah. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final synthesis. The findings identified five dominant Shariah principles namely rahmah (compassion), ‘adl (justice), niyyah (intention), amanah (trust), and karamah (human dignity), which were closely associated with nine essential soft skills in patient care. Rahmah was strongly associated with communication and interpersonal skills, while ‘adl supported ethical decision-making and critical thinking. Niyyah reinforced leadership and social responsibility, whereas amanah promoted teamwork and collaborative problem-solving. Karamah emphasized patient dignity, ethical sensitivity, and accuracy in clinical practice. The integration of Shariah principles with soft skills provides a holistic framework for culturally sensitive and ethically grounded patient care. These findings support the incorporation of Shariah-based soft skill development into nursing education and healthcare practice, particularly in Muslim-majority healthcare settings.