Islamic banking should expand its scope beyond commercial banking and actively contribute to all levels of the community by offering products and services, utilizing effective distribution channels, and engaging in sustainable activities. Although Islamic banks are evaluated based on financial performance, there is a notable absence of a mechanism to assess their social impact on society. Presently, social themes related to Islamic banking are scattered across various sustainability agendassuch as SDG, ESG, SRI, and CSR. This paper aims to develop an integrative framework that addresses and reconciles the fragmented aspects of Islamic social banking in line with the principles of Maqasid Shariah. This study employeda qualitative method whichwas conducted in twophases. In the first phase, content analysis wasutilized to construct social themes under SDG, ESG, SRI, CSR, and Maqasid Shariah. In the subsequent phase,semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain input fortheframeworkdevelopment. The integrated framework incorporates five(5)dimensions of Maqasid Shariah with corresponding thirteen (13)themes to measure Islamic banking practices. This framework has the potential to serve as a significant contributor to the development of comprehensive performance indicators for the effective implementation of social banking within the Islamic banking sector. Moreover, it plays a pivotal role in realizing the objectives outlined in Malaysia's Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.

Realizing the weaknesses in the conventional banking system, whose aim is to maximize profit without compromising the moral economy, the notion of social banking emerged. To contribute to the development of people and the planet today and in the future, social banks were introduced in Western countries as value-driven institutions that prioritize social and environmental impacts alongside their financial returns. This significant feature of social banking is originally rooted in the aspiration of Islamic banking establishments to promote a balance between social and economic justice. However, scholars have discussed the possibility of setting up a stand-alone distinctive Islamic social banking, as the current practice of Islamic banking has yet to address moral issues. Thus, this study aims to revisit the notions of social banking, Islamic social banking, and Islamic banking to redesign our understanding of the ultimate role of Islamic banking. This paper also discusses the social sustainability features and practices of Islamic banks and social banks using the Maqasid al-Shariah. Considering the current social sustainability contributions of Islamic banks, the study discovers that Islamic banks are practicing and improving their roles in both social and economic wellbeing, implying that Islamic social banks are unnecessary. The implication of the study is to develop an impact measurement model to gauge the implementation of socio-economic activities by Islamic banks to uphold the role of Islamic banking in promoting a social and fair economy.

The resurgence of Islamic social finance institutions to solve modern-day sustainability inequities and foster a circular economy is becoming increasingly popular in scholarly writing. Islamic social finance and social banking represent a massive potential for bridging the gap in driving sustainability agenda. Thus, this study aims to review the literature on current sustainability practices based on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG), Socially Responsible Investment (SRI), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Value-Based Intermediation (VBI), as well as Islamic social banking. Using secondary analysis, this study addresses the scholars’ and practitioners’ views on both sustainability agenda and Islamic social banking to provide a better understanding of the subject matter and show the link between the two. A significant observation is that Islamic social banking practices connect with the sustainability initiatives interests under the umbrella of Maqasid al-Shariah. Indeed, there is a need for an Islamic bank to structure its business operation by considering the long-term sustainability issues. This could benefit not only the bank itself in terms of profit but also safeguard the planet and society as a whole to achieve Maqasid al-Shariah. This study contributes to the literature on the integration of elements under the sustainability agenda and Maqasid al-Shariah towards a more comprehensive Islamic social banking practice. Suggestions made in this study may provide an avenue for future research in Islamic social banking and pave the way for the development of an integrated framework for Islamic social banking practices.