10 Reasons To Support Muslim Owned Businesses
by: Jamilah McMillan
When Nike released their fitness hijab I was hesitant to jump on the bandwagon of support and elation. It definitely was cool to see a multinational corporation produce an item of clothing that catered specifically towards Muslim women, nevertheless I do not feel predisposed towards buying one. Why? Because, I know that before Nike released their fitness hijab, there were Muslim owned businesses already producing and selling them.
As a Muslim woman I feel more inclined towards putting my money into the pockets of fellow Muslims than into the deep pockets of corporations who see the Muslim community as a target audience for their own monetary growth. In this era of rapid consumerism, here are 10 reasons why I think it is important to support brands and businesses that are Muslim owned:
1. You can feel comfortable knowing that your money is going towards supporting the economy within the Muslim community.
2. It is more likely that the products or items you are purchasing are made with you in mind. No more see-through skirts, or accidentally consuming fries cooked in pork oil.
3. By supporting Muslim owned businesses you can encourage future generations of Muslim entrepreneurs to invest in business endeavors geared towards the Muslim community.
4. More money within the Muslim community can create more social and political influence.
5. Muslim owned businesses that are supported by their community may feel inclined towards being socially responsible and giving back to the community in which they serve.
6. With the right intention buying from Muslim owned businesses can be a form of hasanat.
7. A business owned by Muslims emulating the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) can be considered an ethical buying source.
8. Supporting Muslim businesses strengthens the Muslim community and builds a sense of unity.
9. You create jobs for your Muslim brothers and sisters.
10. Muslim owned businesses cannot succeed without help of the Muslim population.