JAKARTA — Ahmad Juwaini, Chairman of the Board of Dompet Dhuafa, was the main speaker in the Leader Insight session at the Sharia Economic Festival (SCOFEST) 2024 at Graha Nandika Sucofindo, South Jakarta, on Sunday (13/10/2024). Organized by the Islamic Economics Study Group of Sharia Economics Activists (KSEI AkSES), thousands of participants consisting of students, students, and individuals interested in Islamic economics attended the SCOFEST 2024 event with the theme “Ultimate Your Halal Journey”.
In addition to Ahmad Juwaini, the event was also attended by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia (Menparekraf RI) Sandiaga Salahudin Uno, Deputy of the Department of Sharia Economics and Finance – Bank Indonesia (DEKS-BI) Irfan Farulian, and Deputy chairman of the UMKM sector of the Sharia Economic Society (MES) DK Jakarta Wahab Afwan.
On this occasion, Ahmad Juwaini delivered an inspiring presentation on how the younger generation can play an active role in the development of the halal industry, especially in Indonesia. He emphasized the importance of awareness and the real contribution of Islamic economic activists to the Islamic economic and financial ecosystem, both at the micro and macro levels.
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Ahmad Juwaini began his explanation by talking about the development of Dompet Dhuafa, which continues to grow and utilize zakat, infaq, sadaqah, and waqf (Ziswaf) funds. He highlighted the significant increase in waqf funds, which now make up a larger portion of the organization’s financial structure.
“This shows that people are increasingly aware of the importance of giving and sharing for the long-term good of the community,” Ahmad said.
In addition, Ahmad Juwaini also revealed that currently, most of Dompet Dhuafa’s donors come from millennials. However, although the number of millennial donors continues to increase, the largest donation contributions still come from generation X and baby boomers. It is a challenge for Dompet Dhuafa to communicate with these two very different groups of donors.
Facing a mostly young audience, Ahmad Juwaini continued by discussing the challenges faced by the halal industry, especially in the food and financial sectors. He reminded participants to be more careful in choosing halal products, especially when shopping for food through online platforms.
According to him, many small restaurants do not include halal certification, so consumers must be extra careful in choosing a place to eat, even though the prices offered are more affordable.
“This phenomenon shows the importance of good governance in the online restaurant ecosystem. We must have a system that ensures that the products we consume are truly halal,” he explained.
Apart from food, another challenge highlighted was the influence of digital technology, such as online lending (pinjol) which is widely used by the younger generation. He emphasized that although many individuals have been exposed to sharia financial literacy, many are still trapped in usury-based online loans. This poses a threat to the younger generation who do not understand the long-term impact of such loans.
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He also mentioned the phenomenon of endorsements on social media, where many influencers promote products that are not halal-certified or even contain ingredients that are prohibited according to the fatwa of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). He invited the younger generation to be wiser in choosing the goods they endorse and ensure that the products are in accordance with sharia principles.
Not only that, Ahmad Juwaini also highlighted social habits that often contain elements of shirk, such as believing in certain rituals or customs that are contrary to Islamic teachings. He emphasized the importance of the younger generation to maintain their faith and choose wisely in all aspects of life, including in socializing, traveling, or doing activities that could deviate from sharia principles.
At the end of his presentation, Ahmad Juwaini reminded that to become a successful and competitive young generation, people must remain consistent in supporting and developing the halal industry, both in the economic and financial sectors.
“We must be a generation that remains advanced, modern, and agile, but still concerned with the principles of Islamic economics. Let us raise awareness about the halal industry and our contribution in developing it for the good of the people,” he concluded.
The SCOFEST 2024 event is expected to be a forum for the younger generation to explore the potential and deeper insights into sharia economics and contribute significantly to developing an economic sector based on halal principles. Ahmad Juwaini emphasized that the younger generation must be sensitive to the development of the halal industry and be able to contribute positively in developing Islamic economics and finance in Indonesia. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text: Riza Muthohar
Editor: Dhika