LIVE

Economy | Religion

1 in 3 Southeast Asian Muslims more devout than parents:

Report
Resurgent religious faith and Western-style consumerism transforming consumer
habits of region’s Muslims, survey says.

Growing religious faith and the spread of Western-style consumerism is transforming the consumer habits of
Southeast Asia's Muslims, according to a new report [File: Lim Huey Teng/Reuters]

21 Sep 2022

One in three Muslims in Southeast Asia consider themselves more religious

than their parents were at their age, with their faith informing decisions
around personal spending, fashion, banking, travel and education, a survey
has found.
Just 21 percent of the region’s 250 million Muslims say they are less obser-
vant than their parents were, while 45 percent consider themselves just as de-
vout, according to the New Muslim Consumer report released on Wednesday.

KEEP READING

How significant is the prisoner swap between US and Afghanistan?

UN chief says world ‘in peril and paralysed’ as summit convenes

Tigrayan forces accuse Eritrea of launching offensive

Call to end ‘provocation’ after Hindu-Muslim unrest in Leicester

A strong relationship with God is the most important thing in life for 91 per-
cent of Southeast Asian Muslims, on par with health and just ahead of family,
according to the report by Wunderman Thompson Intelligence and VMLY&R
Malaysia.

Only 34 percent consider wealth very important, with 28 percent rating their
passions and 12 percent citing fame as priorities, according to the report
based on interviews with 1,000 consumers in Indonesia and Malaysia.
[Courtesy of Wunderman Thompson Intelligence and VMLY&R Malaysia]

Growing religious faith and the spread of Western-style consumerism have

resulted in Muslim-influenced consumerism evolving beyond food to include
everything from modest fashion and fintech in accordance with Islamic law,
to Muslim dating apps and Halal travel, according to the report.

“Muslim consumers are increasingly overlaying their religious beliefs on pur-

chase decisions, and how they do so is constantly evolving,” said Chen May
Yee, Asia Pacific director for Wunderman Thompson Intelligence.

“New technologies bring new questions – for example, is the metaverse

halal?”

For Muslim consumers, whether a product is halal, or permissible, is the most

important factor when making a purchase, according to the report, with 91
percent of respondents saying it is very important, ahead of value for money,
quality and environmental considerations.

More than 60 percent of Muslims consider it very important whether a bank-

ing or investment product is in accordance with Islamic law, while 77 percent
consider the availability of halal food a major factor in choosing destinations
for travel, according to the report.

While most households are male-led, female breadwinners make up a signifi-

cant minority, with 42 percent of women saying they provide the most finan-
cial support versus 70 percent of men who describe themselves as main
provider.
[Courtesy of Wunderman Thompson Intelligence and VMLY&R Malaysia]

Southeast Asian Muslims’ faith also influences their enthusiasm for burgeon-
ing technology such as the metaverse, a nascent form of shared virtual reality,
with 85 percent of respondents saying they would like to see virtual spaces
made for Muslims and 78 percent expressing interest in virtual religious ac-
cessories. However, 59 percent said they do not believe the metaverse is com-
patible with Islamic teaching.

“Southeast Asia is more than just a Muslim market – it’s a testing ground for
the newest global trends,” said Safa Arshadullah, a writer and researcher at
Wunderman Thompson Intelligence.

“What happens here inspires Muslims around the world to consistently inter-
twine faith and function in innovative ways.”

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

LISTEN TO THESE PODCASTS

From: The Inside Story Podcast

From: The Inside Story Podcast

Has Myanmar's military intensified the fight

against rebels?
Air strikes by Myanmar's military have killed dozens of people
at a concert held by an ethnic minority group. Rights organ...

From: The Inside Story Podcast

How can Africa shape its role in the global
economy?
African countries say they're marginalised by the bigger players
in the global economy. And that global financial policies...

From: Essential Middle East

Why is Islamophobia on the rise in France?
France is home to one of western Europe's largest Muslim
populations, estimated at 5.7 million. Since the nation held
pres...

RELATED

British Mus­lims re­flect on late Queen Eliz­a­-

beth II, UK’s monar­chy
For some, the roy­al fam­i­ly is an out­dat­ed rel­ic of van­i­ty
and a re­minder of Britain’s hor­rif­ic colo­nial past.
12 Sep 2022
OPINION
Rapists freed: Is this how jus­tice ends for
In­di­an Mus­lims?
It is no co­in­ci­dence that Bilkis Bano’s rapists were re­-
leased on In­dia’s In­de­pen­dence Day.
Apoor­vanand 21 Aug 2022

Decades af­ter 9/11, Mus­lims bat­tle Is­lam­o­-

pho­bia in US
The Sep­tem­ber 11, 2001 at­tacks on the Unit­ed States
ush­ered in a new era of hate crimes and racism.
11 Sep 2022

In­di­an politi­cian boasts about get­ting Mus­-

lims killed – on cam­era
A video of Gyan Dev Ahu­ja, a for­mer leg­is­la­tor from PM
Naren­dra Modi’s BJP, has gone vi­ral in In­dia.
24 Aug 2022

MORE FROM ECONOMY

Want the blue tick on Twitter? Pay up $8

US job openings jump in September

US manufacturing grows at slowest pace

since May 2020

Biden warns of windfall tax on ‘war

profiteering’ oil companies

MOST READ

In Russia, patriotic critics speak out on

Ukraine war failures

Bolsonaro breaks silence, says will follow

Bolsonaro breaks silence, says will follow
Brazil’s constitution

Russia seeks drone attack probe,

guarantees to resume grain deal

Ukraine latest updates: Iran ‘plans to send’

more UAVs to Russia

About

Connect

Our Channels

Our Network
 Follow Al Jazeera English:

© 2022 Al Jazeera Media Network