Knowledge of Halalan Toyyiban in Retailing

MIICEMA 2014 10-11 November 2014 Hotel Bangi-Putrajaya, Malaysia 239 dealing with halalan toyyiban, proper distribution per se is not enough. Total segregation must be implemented in order to ensure the purity of a product. In management, as a halalan toyyiban practitioner, we should avoid from dealing with non-halal or haram things. This refers to what the Prophet PBUH had mentioned about alcohol and usury. It was reported by Anas may Allah be pleased with him, that Prophet Muhammad pbuh said: God’s curse falls on ten groups of people who deal with alcohol. The one who distils it, the one for whom it has been distilled, the one who drinks it, the one who transports it, the one to who it has been brought, the one whom serves it, the one who sells it, the one who utilizes money from it, the one who buys it and the one who buys it for someone else ”. 23 N arrated by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud: Rasullulah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam, cursed the one who accepted usury, the one who paid it, the witness to it, and the one who recorded it 24 . ALLAH SWT will curse those who are involved in any of those actions mentioned in the Hadith above as they are totally against the teachings of Islam. In Islamic retailing, selling haram items e.g. alcohol or any swine products are totally prohibited. Total segregation of those haram items must be executed. It is better if we can have a separate business entity in this matter. To illustrate, non-Islamic retailing management business sells non-halal products, while Islamic retailing management business sells only halal products that had been approved by the authorities of a government agencies, namely JAKIM. This type of division will ensure our business to be free from the wrath of ALLAH SWT and more importantly, it is Shariah compliant. H 2 - Total segregation of a non-halal product will determine to halal retailing management. iii. Acknowledgement and Enforcement by the Government Agencies Islamic Management for Muslims is not new in Malaysia. Wan Liz Ozman 1996 had discussed the subject matter in details regarding the adoption of Islamic culture as an agenda in developing a country. The agenda had been introduced by Malaysian government since 1985. This agenda also is a clear indicator that the Malaysian government intends to promote this Islamic way of life to the Malaysian community especially towards Muslim. The Malaysian government has executed a lot of programs for this subject matter such as development of self-esteem, human capital, concept family in Islam and Islamic motivation Bakir, 2008. The government also had many books published about the Islamic way of life that highlights values, norm, professional etiquettes and servicing. But all these agendas seem to be left out. Only a few target groups are aware of it while others still live in ambiguity and ignorance. This is because in the past two decades, the concept has not been taught in any tertiary institution in this country. The concept 23 Ibn Majah, Muhammad Bin Yazid 1997. Sunan Ibn Majah. Riyadh: Maktabah al- Ma’arif. Ms 568. 24 Abi Dawud, Sulaiman As’ath 2004. Sunan Abi Dawud. Maktabah al-Ma’arif. Ms 601. MIICEMA 2014 10-11 November 2014 Hotel Bangi-Putrajaya, Malaysia 240 had just been highlighted recently after the acceptance of Malaysia as a Halal Hub by other Muslim countries in the world. The Malaysian government has to play significant roles in making this Halalan Toyyiban concept a success. This concept should be recognized and it should be treated equally like other rules and governance in Malaysia. The government also should encourage higher institutions to take responsibility by introducing the halal concept as a subject in their institution. Perhaps by doing this, the knowledge of Halalan Toyyiban will be spread to the whole nation and in the long run, it will be accepted by the society. Akademik Peruncitan and Institut Latihan Peruncitan are two such institutions formed by the Malaysian government which deals directly with the retailing management. They should come up with strong and comprehensive programme in making this concept a reality. The government’s rules and regulations also play a critical part in making the Halalan Toyyiban concept in retailing to be fully enforced. In the past three decades, nobody is aware about the concept of Islamic banking, but now it is widely accepted. Even the government itself had imposed a specific law to specialize in this matter: Islamic Banking Act 1983. It is hoped that by having a strong desire and being fully aware of the understanding plus the responsibilities to implement Sha’riah law Islamic code and conduct, perhaps we can see another Islamic-based Act to be imposed in Malaysian law of constitution, i.e. Islamic Retailing Act. H 3 - Acknowledgement and enforcement by the government will lead to the success of halal retailing management.

5. Conclusion

To conclude, we should follow the example set by the Saba’ kingdom in order to make the concept of Halalan Toyyiban a reality. Baldatun Toyyibatun Wa Rabbu Ghafu is achievable by implementing Islamic Sha’riah law as the way of life holistic including all the rules, code and conduct. The primary objective of Shari’ah is the realization of benefit to the people, concerning their affairs both in this world and the hereafter. Shari’ah aims at safeguarding people’s interest and preventing them from harm and evil 25 . To achieve these implementations, the ruler should follow the principle of MAQASID AL- SHARI’AH, the basic need of dharuriah in taking care of religion, life, mind, descendant, and wealth. One of the fundamental values under Maqasid al- Shari’ah is ‘Protection of Property’ Hifz al- Mal . Acquiring property is one of the necessities of mankind. Islam has ordered that no one should transgress and acquire the property of others without legitimate reasons and proper contract. Allah SWT says: 25 Kamali, Mohammad Hashim 2009. Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence. Kuala Lumpur: Ilmiah Publisher. Ms 395. MIICEMA 2014 10-11 November 2014 Hotel Bangi-Putrajaya, Malaysia 241 “And eat up not one anothers property unjustly in any illegal way e.g. stealing, robbing, deceiving, etc., nor give bribery to the rulers judges before presenting your cases that you may knowingly eat up a part of the property of others sinfully ” 26 . In addition, the Holy Quran has also warned of severe punishment during the Judgment Day against those who acquire the properties of others unlawfully. Among these ways are by taking usury riba, cheating in transaction, breaking the trust in matters related to the property, stealing the property of others and other similar means prohibited by Allah SWT. As Muslims, it is our obligation to safeguard our religion so that the Islamic honour is not marred. Previously, this paper had mentioned the ten groups of people who are cursed by ALLAH SWT due to their actions. This shows the importance of keeping our consumer products safe, not only during the point of preparation of the food but also from the point of consumption throughout the supply chain network of material until the product reaches the final consumer. By mixing between halal and non-halal haram, the non-halal will definitely prevail. Thus, it is a must for those who are involved, be it the producer, industry player and government, to ensure that there is no connection at all between halal and non-halal activities in any possible way. Since this paper is conceptual, further research is needed and must be done in order to discover more issues related to Halalan Toyyiban concept in retailing management. “ALLAH has promised to those of you who believe and do good that He will most certainly make them rulers in the Earth as He made rulers those before them, and that He will most certainly establish form them their religion which He has chosen them, and that He will most certainly, after their fear, give them security in exchange; they shall serve Me, not associating aught with Me; and whoever is ungrateful after this, these it is who are the transgressors”. An-Noor: 55 In this verse it is clear that ALLAH SWT had promised to make those who obey Him to become a successful Khalifah in this world due to his efforts in implementing the law of ALLAH SWT. Only those who have faith in ALLAH will plan for his success in the world as well as the hereafter. References Al-Quran Nur Karim Abi al- Fida’ 2000. Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim. Kaherah: Muassasah al-Qurtubah. Vol. 2. Abi Ja’far Muhammad 2001. Tafsir al-Tabari. Kaherah: Dar Hajr. Vol. 19. Abi Husain 2001. Sahih Muslim Bi Sharh al-Nawawi. Kaherah: Dar al-Hadith. Vol. 4 Adnan Alias, M.Dahlan, 2002, “Keusahawanan Islam”, Prentice Hall. Ateeq-ur- Rehman Muhammad Shahbaz Shabbir 2010, “The relationship between religiosity and new product adoption”. Retrieved from http:www.emeraldinsight.com1759-0833.htm Harlina Suzana, Emi Noralina, 2011, “Halal Supply Chain in the Food Industry: A Conceptual Paper”, IEEE Symposium on Business, Engineering and Industrial Applications ISBEIA. 26 Al-Baqarah: 188