In previous articles in this column (The Star, 6th and 20th September), I had urged Muslims to harness the power of a Business Jihad to uplift themselves out of the indignity of mass poverty and prolonged marginalization. There is no better way to achieve this other than through perseverance and hard work involving the…
“Seek knowledge even in China.” Rihlah, or travel, is an important element in the intellectual tradition of Islam. Through it one sees the vastness of the world created by God and gains much knowledge. As Islam’s luminary Imam al-Shafi‘i says in his Diwan: “The intelligent cultured man would not, in a place, settle; So, leave home and…
Extremism refers to an attitude of exceeding the limits of golden mean. As to how to determine the right and golden mean in any situation, the answer is that the mean must be ascertained through religion and sound reason. Without the aid of religion and reason as two inseparable civilising forces, one tends to be…
Alvin Toffler an American sociologist and futurist in one of his book Future Shock talks about the overwhelming wave of information which he labelled it as an “information overload.” Toffler argues that society is undergoing an enormous structural change which will overwhelm people and will cause “shattering stress and disorientation.” The truth of what Toffler…
In a recent article in this column, “A jihad to prosper all Malaysians”, I had urged young Muslims to strive for an alternative, peaceful “Business Jihad” to replace the senseless and destructive militant jihad propagated by the Islamic State (IS). Business Jihad is directed at prospering Malaysia for the benefit of future generations irrespective of…
The word ‘constitution’ comes from Latin which means ‘to install’ or ‘to set up’. It is used in modern sense to justify the independence and the sovereignty of the State. Thus, nearly all countries in the world are formed and established by the Constitution. In the modern sense also the Constitution forms the fundamental principle…
AMERICA’S second President John Adams succinctly defined the principle of the Rule of Law in the Massachusetts Constitution by seeking to establish “a government of laws and not of men”. This perfect phrase is the fundamental concept in all constitutional governments. All governments must act according to the law and law, being the main subject…
Constitutionalism or constitutional government is the most well known system of state administration in the world today. Constitutionalism can be briefly described as adherence to the system of constitutional government. It is an ideology founded upon, especially, in a written constitution. Most countries in the world has a written (codified) constitution. Only Britain, New Zealand…
A Muslim is not discouraged from acquiring wealth but instead, he must know not only how to earn, and but also how to spend in accordance with the Islamic principles. Obviously, wealth should not be abused or misused, as God had laid down very detail injunctions on how wealth is to be acquired and also…
The Islamic finance industry in Malaysia has been thriving unabatedly over the past 30 years. Today, Malaysia has successfully develop a conducive and comprehensive environment for Islamic finance, amid continuous product innovation, a large present of both local and foreign financial institutions, a wide variety of innovative Shariah-compliant instruments, an advanced financial infrastructure and a…
