A Comparative Analysis of Mulla Sadra’s and Al-Farabi’s Views on Justice with the Concept of Organizational Justice in Management

Abstract

Justice is a fundamental concept in philosophy, ethics, and management, playing a critical role in regulating human relationships, allocating resources and responsibilities, and creating fair work environments. This study analyzes and compares the perspectives of two prominent Islamic philosophers, Al-Farabi and Mulla Sadra, with the concept of organizational justice in management. Al-Farabi conceptualizes justice as the principle that organizes society and the virtuous city, emphasizing competence, proper placement, and harmony among societal components to achieve collective well-being. In contrast, Mulla Sadra interprets justice at the level of inner equilibrium, ethical perfection, and human development, asserting that a just leader not only follows rules but is morally and existentially balanced. Combining these perspectives provides a multidimensional model of organizational justice, encompassing distributive, procedural, interactional, and informational justice, addressing structural, procedural, and ethical-human dimensions of organizations. The study shows that incorporating Islamic philosophical foundations can extend organizational justice beyond employee perceptions and quantitative measures into an ethical, human-centered, and goal-oriented framework. Findings indicate that a just organization is one in which role allocation, decision-making, interactions, and organizational culture collectively serve human dignity and the common good, with management executed transparently, fairly, and wisely.