Jabal Arafat and Islamic Entrepreneurship in the Middle East (by the Interfaith Youth Team and Zayn Petiwalla)

In the Middle East, many businesses tie their names back to the Islamic theology in some way. Behind crispy breads, trucks of sweet water, and gardening corporations, is often a South Asian or Middle Eastern owner titling their businesses with holy names.

During the pilgrimage of Hajj, one of the 5 Pillars of Islam, reaching a granite hill known as Jabal Arafat is necessary, and one of the most important rituals of the journey.

With business owners choosing to name their companies such names, like “Jabal Arafat Bakery,” depicted in this image from Dubai, one can’t help but wonder about the potential intention.

Indeed, a name can often tell much about a vessel, and at times, will act under such a spirit. It is under this tradition that parents name their babies based on Saints and Prophets, like Moses or Mary, Issa and Muhammad. They hope for their child to embody their names’ characteristics, and perhaps, under that influence, they may be implicitly imposed upon doing so – what a beautiful phenomenon!

Is tasting the chubby naan from Jabal Arafat a ritual where one can be grateful for what they have? Is the destination itself a symbol for remembrance, inciting reverence for God when a believer is to be reminded of His Holy mountain? Or, does the name represent the owners’ means of gaining material wealth to one day make the pilgrimage to Makkah for himself and his family, summitting Arafat?

Indeed, it is up to the viewer to interpret, but it seems the message for this form of Islamic Entrepreneurship is clear: the divine supports those who remember His name and works.