Trends
Investment opportunities: Health and fruit beverages trend in China and Japan
Rapid urbanisation in China has not only led to improved lifestyles but also sparked a trend of health consciousness; the Chinese are increasingly making food and beverage choices reflecting their concerns over health and nutrition. Whereas, in Japan, large level of product innovation in response to fast evolving trends is the key driver of the Japanese soft drinks market, where the demand for fruit flavoured drinks and product launches that appeal to older population are key to capture a higher percentage of Japan’s market share. These are growing trends in the Asian region reported by Datamonitor; Halal and health beverage manufacturers should not miss out on this opportunity.
Seeing gold & silver: World Islamic Mint - Role, Purpose, Objectives
The long vision of the Gold Dinar is the full implementation of Mu'amalat according to the Amal of Madina al-Munawwara. Fiat currencies are not our way. They are part of banking, they originate from banking and we continue to use them as a result of the elimination of freedom represented by the crowning of capitalism in our constitutions. When you intend to replace a system such as capitalism with something entirely new such as Mu'amalat, you need to understand priorities, but also boundaries. Even though you are starting with something small, you cannot compromise the meaning of what is Halal and what is Haram. Therefore if you do something and you want to differentiate it by calling it Islamic, it must be Islamic, rather than “almost Islamic” or “our intention is Islamic”. This is not acceptable. I decided to start with the Dinar. This is the seed. The first thing is to get gold and mint the coins. There you have the first Mint. We call it Islamic Mint. We had several Mints. Then we decided to create World Islamic Mint (WIM) as a guarantor of the standards.
How Malaysia’s Tabung Haji could provide Haj financing a Shariah-compliant model
The annual pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia - about three million Muslims from all over the world converge on the holy places in Makkah and Madinah and its satellite towns to perform Haj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
US doctor urges more 'Halal care' for Muslims
Aasim Padela is a modern-day Renaissance man. The 30-year-old is not only an emergency doctor at the University of Michigan Medical Centre, but also holds bachelor's degrees in classical Arabic and literature and in biomedical engineering.
Kelantan, Malaysia: Embracing Shariah currency
The historic launch of the Gold Dinar and Silver Dirham, also known as “Shariah Currency”, on 12 August 2010 (2 Ramadhan 1431H) by the Kelantan Sultanate in Malaysia was indeed historic. On that day, the people of Kelantan embraced Sunna Money by free choice. The introduction of bi-metallic currency in this north-eastern Malaysian state was a resounding success as it proved once again that when people are given freedom to choose their money, they choose gold and silver. The dinars and dirhams of Kelantan were sold out quickly: the first batch worth RM2 million was sold out before the end of Ramadhan prompting Kelantan Golden Trade, the state company in charge of minting and distributing the coins, to restrict the selling of silver dirhams to only those who wanted to pay Zakat with it. Payment of Zakat with gold and silver coins, not promissory notes, is the restoration of the third pillar of the Deen and fulfilment of the most important obligation after Solat (prayers).
Retired Justice Stevens defends plans for Islamic centre
Retired Justice John Paul Stevens expressed support last year for a planned Islamic community centre near the site of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York, urging religious and ethnic tolerance.
Live export versus Australian Halal meat
Frozen Halal meat from Australia is sold in supermarkets in the Middle-East alongside meat from animals shipped there live in controversial conditions. Michael Carter reports on the alternatives to live export.
Islam in America panel highlights acceptance
A panel of four Brown and Providence experts on the Muslim community addressed the causes of negativity toward Islam in America, offering different opinions on how to combat increasing intolerance, in a mostly full MacMillan 115 night. The panellists cited media coverage, especially from cable news outlets, as a frequent perpetrator of stereotypes about the Muslim community.
Malaysian food getting popular in Britain
More than 150,000 British food enthusiasts are fast becoming Malaysian “food fanatics” in the Malaysia Kitchen Programme. The programme was launched in 2006 by the Government as a branding mission to expand Malaysian restaurants overseas.
Investment opportunities in Asia: Health and fruit beverages trend in China and Japan
Rapid urbanisation in China has not only led to improved lifestyles but also sparked a trend of health consciousness; the Chinese are increasingly making food and beverage choices reflecting their concerns over health and nutrition. Whereas, in Japan, large level of product innovation in response to fast evolving trends is the key driver of the Japanese soft drinks market, where the demand for fruit flavoured drinks and product launches that appeal to older population are key to capture a higher percentage of Japan’s market share. These are growing trends in the Asian region reported by Datamonitor; Halal and health beverage manufacturers should not miss out on this opportunity.