Islamic Agribusiness

A distinctive addition to sharia-compliant agribusiness is the awareness of divinity in all its activities—recognizing the existence of Allah, understanding that farming is both a trust (amanah) and a blessing, and applying His laws. This internalizes a sense of the divine into activities that were previously merely profane. Ordinary agribusiness treats it as purely worldly business, with nothing sacred and no need for upward reflection—purely profane.

However, this is not merely an "addition." It rectifies. Thus, "Islamic Agribusiness" or "Sharia Agribusiness" corrects the "dark sides" of agribusiness, eliminating land grabbing, marginalization of small farmers, inhumane low wages for farm laborers, and the use of hazardous chemicals. Indeed, the emergence of the "food sovereignty" and "fair trade" movements aims to curb these negative aspects of agribusiness. Similarly, integrating agribusiness with Islam is part of that effort.

Therefore, Islamic Agribusiness operates entirely halal and tayyib (pure, healthy, and sustainable) across its entire supply chain. It realizes economic justice (al-'adl), with all transactions free from riba (usury), gharar (uncertainty), and ihtikar (hoarding and monopolization). Partnerships are conducted in a sharia-compliant manner, such as musharakah (joint venture), mudharabah (profit-sharing), murabahah (cost-plus financing), muzara’ah (crop-sharing in farming), musaqah (sharecropping in plantations), and so forth.

Thus, Islamic Agribusiness is not merely business but worship through the comprehensive management of agricultural natural resources, combining sharia principles and innovation. Agribusiness becomes more than just "business"; it serves as a tool to achieve food security for the ummah, poverty alleviation, resource and environmental preservation, as well as humane and just economic growth.

Islamic Agribusiness is an agricultural business system that integrates sharia principles into its entire value chain—from production, processing, distribution, to marketing; it goes beyond economic profit to prioritize justice, barakah (blessings), and sustainability in accordance with Islamic teachings.

The approaches of "agribusiness" and "food security" are very familiar in the Ministry of Agriculture. However, people rarely ask about the relationship between these two concepts—are they parallel, or is one the method for the other? As I wrote in the book Mau Ini Apa Itu (2013), for me, agribusiness is more of a method or means to achieve food security. "But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world..." (Al-Qasas: 77). Yes, with Islamic Agribusiness, we can attain worldly benefits as well as rewards in the hereafter.

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