World Journal of Islamic History and Civilization, 2 (3): 146-157, 2012 ISSN 2225-0883 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 Corresponding Author: Mohd Khairul Nizam Zainan Nazri, Faculty of Quranic and Sunnah Studies, Universiti Sains Islam, Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Tel: +06 7986724, Fax: 067986702. 146 Religious Ethics on Industrialization: A Discourse from Islamic Perspective Mohd Khairul Nizam Zainan Nazri, Mahmud Ahmad, Nurul Jannah Zainan Nazri, 1 2 3 Mardiana Bt Mat Ishak, Mohd Akmal Sidik and Khadijah Mohd Khambali @ Hambali 4 5 2 Faculty of Quranic and Sunnah Studies, 1 Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia Department of Akidah and Islamic Thought, Academy of Islamic Studies, 2 University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Department of Al-Quran and Sunnah, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Heritage, 3 International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, 52000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Centre of Language and Pre-University Academic Development (CELPAD), 4 International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, 52000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Department of Islamic History and Civilization, 5 Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Abstract: This study looks at the religious teaching, which apparently give a full meaning and ethics on industrialization. Islam encourages industrialization and sets its pristine teachings as enshrined in the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet PBUH as the guiding principles and values for Muslims to create a kind of industrialization that shall bring about not only economic prosperity and sustainable development to the nation, but also one that is in harmony with the environment. The main objectives of this research are to investigate Quranic point of view about the industrialization and relate it to both Western and Islamic perspectives. Its main emphasis is to identify the driving philosophy behind the process of industrialization implemented in Malaysia with the universal values and teachings of Islam. This research is conducted through primarily of historical approach and relies on library research in order to achieve its objectives. A textual and critical analysis of Quranic verses will be utilized to demonstrate the application of Quran pertaining industrialization. Apart from that, this study will attempt to present the concept of industrialization from the Quranic point of view with special reference to selected Quranic verses. The ideas presented could be further developed and appreciated by the society in promoting sustainability environment in this industrialization era. Key words: Religious ethics Industrialization Islamic perspective Environment Sustainability INTRODUCTION industrialization and modernization have been There has generally been a strong belief that development but also by abject poverty, greater industrialization is necessary in order to eliminate poverty, unemployment, wider inequalities and horrifying numbers unemployment, inequality in the distribution of income on crimes, drug addiction, moral collapse, fatherless and wealth and above all, to bring an accelerated households and so on [1]. economic development. This belief which has been deep The common belief is that industrialization should rooted for decades in Muslims’ hearts is based on an denote the improvement of general living conditions but assumption that the third world countries must follow the in reality it gives another portrait; the condition of the footsteps of the West if they aim at tremendous growth of people in the bottom remain the same, the gap between economic development. However, the findings of various “haves” and “haves-not” is wider and even the general studies on industrializing countries have revealed that standard of living has deteriorated. Therefore, the accompanied not just by attributes of economic