PREFACE
Welcome to the Business Jihad Blog!
This Blog intends to articulate the objectives and aims of Business Jihad and outline strategies, options and methods for action. The writer is of the conviction that Business Jihad has to be championed as one form of social action, not only to empower the Muslim ummah, but also towards a much needed reform and solution to the overwhelming challenges faced especially by the Muslim ummah.
In the Malaysian context, a successful Business Jihad aimed at prospering Malaysian Malays and Muslims in particular will provide the impetus necessary to sustain high growth of the national economy into the future.
The writer takes the view that sooner the Malay-Muslim majority are brought into the mainstream of Malaysia’s business-driven economic system, the sooner will they actively contribute their rightful share in wealth creation and value enhancement. It is only when the currently “passive” majority of Malaysians are actively embedded into the wealth creating and value generating activities that national economic cake can be sustainably increased in size, for the long term benefit of all.
Business Jihad is definitely capable of injecting economic dynamism and empowerment that is lacking among Malays and Muslim majority, for them to drive the wealth creation and value generation effort. It is a departure from past approaches in that it mobilizes Islam’s most powerful ideas and institutions, namely Jihad and Waqaf. Indeed, the writer is also of the conviction that a Corporate Waqaf institutional approach is the critical success factor towards Jihad Business success.
The other fundamental point to be made is that, though business-focused, Business Jihad, when successfully embedded into the social system, has the capacity to drive the economic and social reform required to take Malaysia to a new, higher level in economic and social development. It also has the capacity to bridge divides and correct imbalances that is a common outcome of a capitalist economic system.
This Business Jihad Blog has been recently structured into several sections or components. Other than the main body of the Blog that carries key postings, two special columns have been introduced to also carry a more focused agenda on a regular basis, to facilitate visitors to meaningfully navigate through the mass diversity of issues discussed.
The newly introduced changes include a regular Business Jihad Journey column and the Business Jihad FORUM.
The Business Jihad Journey column intends to focus on sharing with visitors JCorp’s first hand experiences on its unprecedented Business Jihad journey. Such a journey extends beyond just the physical visits made to destinations or places with contemporary relevance to or historical events significantly linked with the Jihad.
More important are the steps made and milestones recorded in the path of progressing ideas and concepts. This is indeed a journey of the mind and the heart, if you will, as we explore initiatives, break new paths and seek all the options involving alternative strategies, methods and tactics in the process of charting the best business practice route going forward.
The Business Jihad FORUM column in particular provides space for visitor participation and interaction. Visitors can also access issues of more specific interest through an expanded Menu panel provided at the top of the page that has been recently broadened to include Video, photo Gallery as well as a Diary of Business Jihad-related milestones of past and future events.
Jihad Business and Corporate Waqaf are concepts that are expected to raise controversy and debate. Hence, I welcome comments, critique, dialogue and discussion through this Blog.
Muhammad Ali Hashim
20th June 2009
