The relationship between philanthropic attitude and economic jihad in the Muslim community

Mohamad Sabri Haron Mohamad Sabri Haron,Shofian Ahmad Shofian Ahmad,Salmy Edawaty Yaacob Salmy Edawaty Yaacob,Aminudin Basir Aminudin Basir,Radin Anis Adlina Radin Hasbani Radin Anis Adlina Radin Hasbani,Nor Huda Md Anuar Nor Huda Md Anuar,Azizi Umar Azizi Umar,Syaidatun Nazirah Abu Zahrin Syaidatun Nazirah Abu Zahrin

doi:10.33102/jmifr.v18i1.327

Abstract

Philanthropic behavior refers to the act of being generous, kind, and helpful to fellow human beings. Due to the increasingly challenging economic development in today's technological era, people have to find ways to improve the strategy of empowering the economic jihad in society, especially the Muslim society. This study aims to examine the relationship between philanthropic attitude towards economic jihad and the strategy of empowering economic jihad in the context of the development of the Muslim community. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the society’s philanthropic attitude, in particular the Muslim society, and their knowledge in enhancing the economic strategy in Malaysia. The respondents of this study consist of 500 working people (216 males and 284 females) in Klang valley while the research instrument used is a questionnaire that consists of 37 question items. The period of the study was within 6 to 12 months. The results of this study were presented as a descriptive data analysis. The findings as a whole show that respondents' perceptions regarding philanthropic phenomena in Malaysia are at a high level. Philanthropic attitude is closely related to the Islamic economy, and with this attitude, the Muslim community can compete with other races in enhancing the economy and advance along with other Asian countries. At the end of the study, several suggestions have been forwarded to enhance the level of knowledge and understanding amongst students and communities regarding philanthropy. This noble attitude needs to be instilled and nurtured in every human being, and hence, should be fostered from an early age so that the concept can be fully understood by future generations.

Highlights

Economic jihad demands that entrepreneurs and businessmen to be courageous and persistent in order to overcome all obstacles and barriers, including failure and loss in business, with the highest morale possible
The conceptual framework of this study focuses on the role of philanthropy according to Islam in the Muslim community especially in the Klang Valley
This study is to identify the extent to which the Islamic community understands the economic jihad in Malaysia

Summary

Introduction

Economic jihad demands that entrepreneurs and businessmen to be courageous and persistent in order to overcome all obstacles and barriers, including failure and loss in business, with the highest morale possible. Economic jihad requires all business ventures to be treated as ibadah; enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong as well as avoiding greedy practices (Muhammad Ali Hashim, 2016). The definition of Jihad in business should be viewed in the concept of 'Jihad Alakbar' which demand Muslim entrepreneur to contain and control their desire especially the desire in pursuing personal gain and wealth which cause them to be greedy; among the negative influences. In support of the above contestation, the concept of Jihad has been gradually adopted to convey positive virtues such as self-control and participation in charity and philanthropy in the field of business (Kedah et al, 2015)

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