Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : BANK NEGARA, KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 21/01/93
Tajuk/Title : THE OPENING OF ISLAM AND
INDUSTRIALISATION CONFERENCE
Allah be praised for by His Grace we are able to gather
here this morning to officiate the opening of the Conference
on Islam and Industralisation.
2. The topic of this Conference "Islam and
Industrialisation" may seem odd to some Muslims. Is there
an Islamic industry or an industry based on Islam, or can
the industries we know and are familiar with today be
Islamised? Up till now we have not considered the signif-
icance of industry's contribution to Islam or to Muslims or
to Islamic practices. We believe that without industries,
we can still be a Muslims, indeed even good Muslims. In
fact, during the time of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) there
were no such industries as we know today, yet Islam was able
to spread and to prosper. Why then is there a need to link
industry with Islam? Indeed why is industry necessary at
all.
3. We often consider industry merely as a business, a
quest for excessive profits. Consequently, we regard indus-
trialists as people who are greedy, who are interested only
in an affluent lifestyle, and are thus linked to being
irreligious. We also tend to think that any venture to ac-
cumulate wealth will involve cheating and other forms of
abuses. Therefore, we regard all industries as unIslamic or
deviational and obstructive to the performance of our reli-
gious duties or ibadah in Islam.
4. However if we examine industry from the truly Islamic
perspective we will realise that industry is a service.
While this service can bring evil if misapplied, it can also
be beneficial and important to religion and our religious
duties.
5. Before the introduction of printing for instance, the
al-Qur'an was hand-written. Even for this purpose a paper
industry was needed, if leaves were not to be used as writ-
ing materials. When the al-Qura'n had to be hand- written,
the number of copies of the al-Qur'an was limited. The pos-
sibility that copies owned by a particular society would be
destroyed because of war, calamities or fire was great.
Thus it became necessary for some people to memorise the al-
Qura'n. This was in order to prevent the text of the al-
Qura'n from being lost.
6. When printing was first invented many Islamic clerics
issued religious rulings that Islam forbade the printing of
the al-Qura'n. This ruling was also influenced by the
scribes who wrote the al-Qura'n. They felt that printing
the al-Qura'n would threaten this livelihood.
7. Because of this ruling for many centuries Muslims gen-
erally, religious teachers and officials could not own or
read the al-Qura'n. On the other hand, when the ruling was
revoked later, Muslims were able to own and study the al-
Qura'n. As a result Muslims became able to enhance their
Islamic knowledge. Today it is unthinkable for anyone to
issue a 'fatwa' preventing the printing of the al-Qura'n.
But "fatwas" can and are still being made based on narrow
perceptions. And this is true with industry as a whole.
Because of a wrong perception of industry, it does not get
the focus nor the support from the religious perspective.
8. Today it must be acknowledged that the printing indus-
try has benefited Islam. True, the printing industry can be
misused -- as for example in the printing of pornography.
But we cannot blame the printing industry. The blame should
be placed on the printers. If all new inventions in this
industry are made by Muslims who are conscious that industry
is a service to the community, it is possible that they
could find ways to prevent the abuse of the industry. For
example if only Muslims have expertise in the field of de-
sign and production of printing equipment, they could supply
them with conditions imposed or they could refuse to supply
them altogether. Such has been the case when Islamic na-
tions were supplied with arms by other countries. They
could not use them freely.
9. Without industry, many religious rites would be diffi-
cult to perform. The textile industry is important in order
to pray, indeed to cover the 'aurat'. More Muslims are able
to perform their pilgrimage with the invention of aircrafts
and the development of the aero-space industry. The con-
struction industry has enabled us to perform our prayers in
mosques which can accommodate the increasing number of
Muslims. In other words, there is no industry that would
not provide service to Muslims in their daily life and in
performing their religious duties.
10. One responsibility of an Islamic community is to pre-
pare for defence. During the Prophet's time defence equip-
ment meant horses and swords. And during the Prophet's time
there existed industries to produce swords and war horses.
11. Preparation for defence in this era requires a defence
industry consistent with modern technology. It is the duty
of those who adhere to the teachings of the al-Qura'n to in-
vent, produce and supply defence equipment. The defence in-
dustry is very important to Muslims. But because Muslims
paid no attention to industry, a sophisticated Muslim de-
fence industry is not available. What is important to re-
member is that the arms industry cannot exist without
thousands of other industries. All kinds of knowledge and
capabilities are required to invent and produce arms, land,
sea and air transports and spacecrafts. Muslims must there-
fore master all industries and not just the production of
defence equipments.
12. Today we witness with sorrow the killing and torturing
of thousands of Muslims, including the abuse of women in
Bosnia. Nothing can be done by the Muslims because no
Islamic nation has the capability in terms of a sophisti-
cated and strong military force. All this is due to a per-
verted view of modern industry and the assumption that
industry is not related to Islam. Industrialists are not
respected by Islamic society or recognised as contributors
to the well being of Islam.
13. When Turkey was a world power capable of conquering
large parts of Eastern Europe, the country's military
modernisation process was hampered because its religious ex-
perts objected to the soldiers wearing trousers. For dec-
ades this trivial matter was debated by the religious
experts while the attacks on the Turkish empire were inten-
sified. Today the wearing of trousers is no longer a con-
troversial religious issue. Anyone can wear them. We do
not become unIslamic just because we wear western trousers.
But the time spent on debating the problem had hindered the
process of modernising the Turkish army and its defence in-
dustry to the extent that Turkey lost its empire. To some
extent the fate of the people of Bosnia Herzegovina today is
due to the polemic over the trousers which had hampered the
modernization of the Turkish army. In the end, young
Turkish army officers were so frustrated with the attitude
of the religious leaders that they blamed religion. When
they gained power they set up the so-called "Secular Govern-
ment". Many Muslims are critical of these Turkish officers,
"The Young Turks", for supposedly choosing a secular system
of Government. But before we condemn them it should be re-
membered that at that time the Turkish Sultanate Government
was so weak that the Western powers planned to divide Turkey
among themselves. Only the bravery and actions of the Young
Turks saved Turkey. Because of this, Turkey, including its
territory in Europe was saved and remained an Islamic state.
14. What is the relevance of Turkish history to Islam and
industry? Its relevance lies in the fact Muslims are often
distracted by trivialities that they forget their bigger
problems and responsibilities. We often focus on trivial
issues, yet ignore serious matters like the Muslims' capa-
bility in industry. True, industries which are established
purely for wealth with no consideration of service towards
society is not compatible with the Islamic ethics. But
Muslim entrepreneurs can always emphasise the services as-
pect and what industry could do to the society. Profits may
be enjoyed, but profits too must be spent on Research and
Development so that the service rendered could be further
improved and made cheaper. In this way, more profits could
actually be obtained. But this does not mean that industry
should be regarded by the Muslims as a charity. Legitimate
and reasonable profits are permissible in Islam. But the
service aspects must be emphasised. With this, industry
will be more acceptable to the Islamic community. Regard-
less of the Muslims' stance on industry, we should realise
that although industry, which is being controlled by non
Muslims, has no religious objectives, it can indeed destroy
the Muslims. Cases in point are Bosnia and West Asia.
15. Industry will continue to play a role as a provider of
services needed by society. No industry can be successful
if it does not supply something that is needed by society.
A food entrepreneur is no less important than an entrepre-
neur in heavy or sophisticated industry in terms of service
to the community. If we can look at industry from this per-
spective, that is from the perspective of the supplier of
services, then the role of industry to Muslims and Islam
would be better understood and supported. Indeed Muslims
who venture into an industry would be more aware of its
links to religion if they look at industry as a service to
society and religion. In considering industry as a service,
focus should be made not only on wealth and profits, but
also on the quality and value of services provided. If
Muslim entrepreneurs have this character and approach to-
wards industry, inevitably their industries would become
more developed in terms of quality and profits. And why
not? Goods produced by entrepreneurs who wish to give ser-
vice in addition to obtaining profits, will definitely be
more sophisticated, and have better quality and be reason-
ably priced. Customers would prefer to buy sophisticated,
good quality and reasonably priced goods. To regard an in-
dustry as a service is not only consistent with the Islamic
viewpoint towards any venture and wealth, but will actually
contribute towards success.
16. If we accept industry as a service to the ummah and re-
ligion, I am confident there would be an enhancement of
Muslim interest in industry. With this, various types of
industries, researches, acquisition of knowledge and the
creation of a noble attitude could be promoted among the
Islamic countries and among Muslims. God willing, this will
also make Islamic nations and Muslims more progressive and
successful as well as ensure that the Islamic religion and
Muslims are more respected.
17. Seen from this angle, this Conference is crucial and
timely. Muslims should regard industry as a means to
strengthen the Muslim states and the Muslims so that they
are better respected and capable of defending themselves.
Ignorant Muslims cannot contribute towards the greatness of
Islam. On the other hand industrial capability, as well as
the extensive command of all kinds of knowledge necessary
for industrialisation, will make Islam and Muslims more re-
spected.
18. The negative view and attitude of the Muslims towards
industry will not only be unprofitable for them but will in
fact be against Islam and its teachings. The time has come
for Muslims to mould an approach and attitude towards indus-
try that is truly Islamic.
19. I hope this Conference will be able to shape Muslim at-
titude towards industrialisation which is consistent with
Islam. If this attitude can be moulded, then numerous ef-
forts could be made to ensure that Muslims are able to own
and manage industries effectively and will benefit Islam and
all the Muslims.
20. On this note, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious
and Most Merciful I declare this Conference officially open.
Wabillahitaufik walhidayah, wassalamualaikum
warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
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