1. 7 Tips for Muslim Businesses
How to Increase Profits and Help The Muslim Economy Grow
“I live in a suburban where there are 3 "Halal" meat stores within a 5 mile area, and another which is
about 30 minutes away. I am an "American" Muslimah. In the three stores owned by Pakistani/Indian
businessmen, the treatment I receive is terrible. In addition, the stores are filthy and no health code is
followed. Blood from the meat is spread from meat counter to checkout counter, hands to money and
pens, etc. In the store that is further away, the owner has argued and almost had fist fights with
customers, and will not disclose his meat source. I have gone to great lengths to continue to buy Halal
meat, but I feel that doing business with these people is not something I can continue to do." (Comment
in the Halal and Healthy forum of the Sound Vision website, July 22, 1999)
Muslim consumers are often criticized for not doing enough to support Muslim businesses, whether it's
paying the extra dollar (or two or three or four) to buy products, or to drive the extra mile (or two or
three or four) to get to the store.
But what is rarely discussed in the North American context is what obligation Muslim businesses,
especially Halal grocery stores, have to the Muslim community.
The above-mentioned complaint is not a reflection of all Halal grocery stores. However, the problems
outlined in it cannot be ignored.
If Muslim businesses want the support of Muslim consumers, they will have to do more to
accommodate them, provide better service and prices.
New York-based Muslim social scientist Ilyas Bayunus conducted a study in which he found that Chicago
has a Muslim population of about 300,000. The state of Illinois has a population of 400,000.
This indicates the tremendous buying power of Muslims in this city and this state.
In Chicago alone, there are a minimum of 60 retail Halal meat shops that are owned and operated by
Muslims.
Currently, the Halal meat business makes close to $5 million a year. But the potential profit could be as
high as $60 to $80 million. The market hasn't developed for a number of reasons, some of them can be
attributed to Muslim consumers, others to Muslim businesses.
Below are some tips on how you can improve service and profits of your Halal business. This can be
applied to all business, not just the meat business:
1. MAKE PROFIT THE SECONDARY AIM

2. The first goal of a Muslim business should not be cashing in on a Muslim market. It should be pleasing
Allah and establishing Halal as a way of life.
Seeking profit is not a bad aim, but it should be secondary.
By making Allah the goal, and implementing Islamic rules of honesty, truthfulness, and good behavior
with customers, Insha Allah, any Muslim business is bound to boom.
2. BE TRUTHFUL AND HONEST
The Prophet has said the the honest and truthful businessman will be in Jannah amongst the Prophets
the Truthful and the martyrs. Honesty and truthfulness are essential in this business. And when it comes
to Muslim businesses, it means building a relationship of trust with customers, which cannot be done
with lies and deceit.
3. BE OPEN TO SCRUTINY AND CRITICISM
While this may be a bitter pill to swallow, being ready to have your product or business scrutinized for
cleanliness or the “Halalness” of products indicates a willingness to work with the consumer. This serves
to build trust.
For those business people who may feel hesitant or downright angry with a Muslim consumer for even
asking about the acceptability of a given product in their store, remember that this is the right of the
consumer.
Remember, ultimately, we are all responsible to Allah. If a business is cheating Muslims, Allah will
eventually expose those involved.
As well, a Halal business is not just one person's profit-making machine. It is also an institution of the
Muslim community. Therefore, it must be ensured that it meets not just state and federal standards, but
most importantly, the Quran and Sunnah's standards.
4.BE CLEAN!
This is especially important for Halal grocery stores where the presence of animal blood is expected. Not
being careful of this means not only lost customers, but also possible sicknesses from the germs in the
blood.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Cleanliness invites towards faith (Iman) and faith
leads its possessor to paradise." (Tabarani)

3. This cleanliness, by the way, does not just apply to those areas of a store a customer will see. It includes
equipment and storage areas as well.
5. AIM FOR A HIGHER GOAL
Don't just aim for one successful Halal grocery shop in your chosen neighborhood. Think big. Improve
the inventory of your store, the types of items in it, and strive to find ways to improve service and profit
margins.
As well, look into the possibility of pooling resources within the Muslim community or with other
shareholders to expand the business. Doing this will also reduce overhead costs and in the long run, the
price of products for your consumers.
6. WORK WITH OTHERS IN YOUR MARKET
Yes. This can be very difficult. Finger pointing, accusations and nasty rivalry often characterize Muslim
businesses aiming to market the same products. But this is not the way a Muslim economy should work.
Brotherhood in the Ummah cannot be forgotten. Consider forming an association of Muslim meat
retailers or distributors that can sit down together share experience, and learn to cooperate. This
cooperation could, in the long run, benefit the Muslim consumer, and in turn the Muslim businesses
themselves.
One example of where cooperation can take place in the Halal meat industry is by having all grocers or
butchers slaughtering the animals in one place, Instead of doing it the way it's been done since the
beginning: every individual or couple of retailers slaughtering their own animals.
By slaughtering in one place, costs are reduced, and in turn, the Muslim consumer pays less for the same
product.
7. DO NOT SELL THE HARAM
While there are more “Muslim” businesses sprouting up, not everything they sell is Islamic.
It is not difficult to find Muslim owned businesses selling pork, alcohol, pornographic magazines, and
renting these kinds of movies on the one hand, while selling Halal meat on the other.
Of a less offensive nature, perhaps, are those businesses which sell Halal products but rent or sell
cultural (especially Indo-Pakistani) movies. While these movies may seem harmless in comparison to
those of the pornographic variety, what must be remembered is that when Muslim parents and elders
indulge in watching such cultural films, their children can very easily find an excuse to watch their own

4. “cultural” films (i.e. American-Hollywood).
This requires efforts on the part of Muslim business owners to wipe out the Haram and ensure the Halal
in their businesses.
A telling anecdote about Haram business practices was provided by Imam Siraj Wahhaj of Brooklyn, New
York during a Khutbah.
He recounted the case of a Muslim who owned a shop that sold newspapers and magazines-including
pornographic magazines. The Imam tried to convince the Muslim brother to stop selling these
publications. At one point he agreed, and removed them from his shelves.
But after a while, Imam Wahhaj noticed they were back on the shelves. When he asked the brother
about their reappearance, he said he was losing money.
Shortly after that, the entire store was destroyed in a fire.