Contemporary capitalism is marked by fierce and often ruthless competition. For small businesses, survival has become increasingly difficult. While the unspoken message to many small enterprises seems to be “earn just enough to survive,” large corporations and holding companies continue to expand and accumulate wealth at an accelerating pace. In contrast, many small businesses are gradually being pushed toward extinction.
Low-income families are finding it harder each day to sustain their livelihoods. In many cases, there are no remaining expenses left to reduce. They struggle to maintain even minimum living standards. Even middle-income families are experiencing downward mobility and growing financial insecurity. Meanwhile, oligarchic elites continue to accumulate wealth excessively and indulge in wasteful consumption. More troubling is the fact that even individuals who identify as morally or religiously conscious sometimes begin to normalize questionable or unethical methods of earning income.
Even in economically strong regions such as Europe, recent events—including the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing geopolitical conflicts—have led to unprecedented inflation. Price increases once thought impossible have become commonplace.
In such a world, critical questions arise: What can Islam offer in response to this reality? What practical steps can be taken to advance social justice? What can a human-centered Islamic perspective say to a materialistic and purely profit-driven worldview? These questions open a window into an important discussion that deserves careful attention.The triple bottom-line: planet, people, profits.” That is, the leading edge of social enterprise isn’t centered only in human concerns, but addresses directly the sustainability of the planet.
A notable example in this context is the work of Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus. Yunus introduced a model that has significantly influenced global approaches to poverty reduction. By providing small loans—microcredit—to impoverished individuals, particularly women, he enabled them to establish their own businesses and improve their living conditions. Through the establishment of the Grameen Bank and the development of the microcredit system, Yunus contributed meaningfully to the fight against poverty and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
Yunus also introduced the concept of social business, which refers to enterprises established specifically to solve social problems, with profits reinvested into the enterprise or society rather than distributed to investors. He articulated seven fundamental principles for social businesses:
- The primary objective of the business is to solve a social problem.
- The enterprise must be financially sustainable.
- Investors receive only the amount of their initial investment.
- Profits are reinvested into the business and the community.
- The enterprise operates with environmental responsibility.
- Employees are provided with fair wages and appropriate working conditions.
- Work is conducted with purpose and satisfaction.
Another significant manifestation of public concern over inequality emerged in 2011 with the Occupy Wall Street movement in the United States. Reflecting the spirit of civil disobedience first articulated by Henry David Thoreau in opposition to slavery, the movement began in Zuccotti Park near Wall Street.
Taking place in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, the movement popularized the slogan “We are the 99%.” This phrase highlighted the widening gap between the wealthiest 1% and the remaining 99% of society who faced increasing economic hardship. Rising unemployment, widespread home foreclosures, and government bailouts of financial institutions became focal points of public criticism and frustration.
Academic scholarship has also deepened our understanding of social justice and social entrepreneurship. In the book A Just World: Multi-disciplinary Perspectives on Social Justice, edited by Heon Kim, the chapter written by TL Hill and Jon Pahl offers particularly insightful analysis.
According to their work, one of the most pressing concerns for individuals worldwide is securing meaningful employment and contributing to family well-being. For economists, a “good job” typically refers to stable and well-compensated employment. For advocates of social justice, however, a good job is one that also benefits society and the environment.
Religious traditions, when properly understood, have the capacity to strengthen ethical values and social cohesion. Yet, when misinterpreted, they may also contribute to division and conflict. When aligned with social responsibility, religious principles can serve as powerful motivators for solidarity, compassion, and collective action.This accords with theologies that address not only the God-human relationship, but also the God-nature-human relationship, or “the Book of Nature”.
The same body of research emphasizes that social entrepreneurship should not focus solely on financial profit but must aim to create lasting social value. The activities of the Hizmet movement are presented as an example of initiatives that support entrepreneurship and social development. Through this movement, numerous schools, hospitals, charitable organizations, and social institutions have been established.
More than 2,000 schools operating in over 100 countries have contributed to bringing individuals from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds together, fostering dialogue and social harmony.
One of the defining features of social entrepreneurship is the inclusion of community members in decision-making processes. Collective participation—often described as giving stakeholders a “voice”—forms the foundation of strong and legitimate organizations.
In conclusion, the growing levels of social inequality require active and sustained engagement. Coming together around shared values without discrimination based on identity may represent one of the most effective ways to counter rising authoritarianism and social fragmentation in today’s world.
Social entrepreneurship alone cannot transform the world, yet it remains a powerful and practical instrument for advancing social justice. Successful social enterprises typically:
- Involve diverse segments of society in decision-making processes,
- Generate both economic and social value,
- Promote interfaith dialogue and collaborative partnerships.
The primary obstacles to such progress include narrow and exclusionary perspectives that hinder cooperation, as well as systems that fail to recognize and amplify the voices of all members of society.
Ultimately, what our time demands is a model of enterprise that places human dignity at its center and prioritizes justice alongside economic growth. True development cannot be measured solely by wealth accumulation; it must also be defined by fairness in distribution and by the shared advancement of communities.
April 2026
