The Model of Islamic Work Ethic Values in Strengthening Trust Culture in Madrasahs

Madrasahs face challenges in building a sustainable culture of mutual trust amid policy volatility, administrative pressures, and short-term relationships. This study aims to develop a conceptual model of Islamic work ethic values as the foundation for strengthening trust culture in madrasahs, targeting the identification of core values, mapping their implementation, and explaining their role in promoting collaboration and improving institutional quality. Using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach guided by PRISMA, data were collected from 12 accredited journal articles published between 2020 and 2025 through the Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, DOAJ, and Garuda databases, using the keywords “Islamic work ethic,” “trust culture,” and “madrasah.” Thematic coding analysis and narrative synthesis revealed five interrelated pillars: integrity (moral trust), professionalism (competence trust), innovation (progressive trust), responsibility (reliability trust), and exemplary conduct (affective trust). These values enhance individual performance, synergy among madrasah community members, and organizational integrity. The model contributes theoretically by integrating a spiritual-religious perspective into organizational trust theory and practically provides a normative-operational framework for madrasahs to create a high-trust collaborative environment, thereby improving educational quality and public legitimacy.