By Dr. Azian Madun
Global Ikhwan in Malaysia represents a controversial case of how Islamic values can be manipulated for financial gain. Emerging from the banned Al-Arqam movement, the group presents itself as a socially responsible enterprise rooted in Islamic principles. However, beneath this facade lies the troubling reality of exploiting religious identity, particularly through coercive practices such as forced polygamy and labor exploitation.
The Mask of Religion in Business
Since 2012, Global Ikhwan has marketed itself as a champion of Muslim businesses across sectors like education, healthcare, food services, and agriculture. It emphasizes Islamic teachings of self-reliance and community solidarity to attract Muslim consumers and followers. Yet, these values often serve as marketing tools rather than genuine principles. Critics and former members have highlighted that the group’s true focus is profit maximization and power consolidation among its leaders, concealed under the guise of religious piety.
Forced Polygamy: A Tool for Control
A significant issue linked to Global Ikhwan is the coercion of young girls into polygamous marriages, framed as a religious duty. Testimonials reveal how girls as young as 16 were pressured into marrying older men, disregarding their consent and welfare. The group justifies this using religious doctrines, maintaining strict control over its members, particularly women, who become economically and emotionally dependent on the group’s success. This manipulation of religious teachings erodes autonomy and subjects women to exploitation under the guise of Islamic piety.
Commercializing Islamic Values
Global Ikhwan’s business model capitalizes on the trust Muslim consumers place in enterprises that appear to uphold Islamic principles. By branding their products as “Islamic,” the group secures customer loyalty, attracts investors, and gains social legitimacy. However, former members suggest that the primary motive is financial gain, not community welfare. This approach creates a misleading image of piety while the organization focuses on expanding its commercial influence and financial resources.
Exploiting Vulnerable Followers
The group’s exploitation extends to its followers, many of whom are trapped in a cycle of dependency. Members are often convinced to work for little or no pay, framed as acts of faith. Leaving the group or challenging its practices is difficult due to financial, emotional, and spiritual dependency. The coercion is particularly evident in forced polygamy, where young girls are pressured into marriages that benefit the group’s leaders. This cycle ensures the continued exploitation of followers for labor and financial gain.
Public Perception and Government Response
Global Ikhwan’s portrayal as a faith-driven social enterprise has shielded it from scrutiny. Many of its ventures, such as providing accommodation for “orphans,” are perceived as legitimate. However, former members and social media revelations have begun exposing the truth about the group’s exploitation of Islamic values for financial gain.
The Malaysian government, wary of Global Ikhwan’s ties to the banned Al-Arqam movement, has taken steps to monitor its activities. However, the group’s ability to blend religious obligations with business operations complicates regulation. By using Islamic identity as a shield, the group evades much of the scrutiny typically directed at cult-like organizations.
Impact on Islamic Business Ethics
Global Ikhwan’s exploitation of Islamic values for profit has broader implications for the Muslim community and the integrity of Islamic business ethics. This misuse of faith undermines trust in businesses that genuinely follow Islamic principles, eroding public confidence in social enterprises that should uphold transparency, fairness, and community welfare.
To protect the integrity of Islamic business ethics, greater transparency and stronger regulatory oversight are needed. Enterprises claiming to operate on Islamic values must be held accountable, especially when vulnerable individuals are exploited. Global Ikhwan’s exploitation of faith serves as a stark reminder of how religious identity can be manipulated for profit.
The efforts of Malaysian authorities, particularly the police, have been crucial in addressing Global Ikhwan’s questionable practices. Despite the group’s attempts to mask its true intentions, law enforcement, along with the courage of former members and whistle-blowers, has helped expose the exploitation within the organization. By taking decisive action against forced polygamy and labor exploitation, authorities have played a vital role in protecting vulnerable individuals and upholding justice. Their commitment to holding those who misuse religion for profit accountable is commendable and essential for safeguarding community integrity.
Dr. Azian Madun is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Syariah and Management, Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya.