Animism

Belief System: Animism is the oldest known type of belief system in the world. It
is still practiced in many traditional societies. Animism was shown off by the practices of the Indians
in North America who would praise the spirit of the buffalo that they killed for giving its life to them
so that they might survive. Animists also believed that ancestors watch over the living from the spirit
world. This belief resulted in ancestor worship as a means of communicating with and showing
respect to ancestors.
In animist societies, rituals are considered important to win the favor of the spirits that ward off
other evil spirits and provide food, shelter, and fertility. Shamans, also sometimes called medicine
men or women, serve as mediums between the physical world and the world of spirits.
Animism is thought to be the belief system that allowed every world religion to take those basic
ideas into other directions and ways. Examples of Animism can be seen in forms of Shinto, Hinduism,
Buddhism, etc.

Business Practices: Animism is not a separate faith standing on its own, it is not a
capitalized “Tradition” as defined within the Pagan and witchcraft communities, and it is not a clearly
defined spiritual path. Instead, animism is the seed of all religion and infiltrates all religions even in
present day. Animism doesn’t exist outside of individual practice and the collective beliefs and
practices of an indigenous community. Trying to define it and grasp it in a physical form (like the big
name religions or smaller pagan traditions), is like trying to catch moonlight with your bare hands. I
will try the best I can to attempt it, but it will only ever be my own definition, experience, and
research. Animism will always shape-shift person to person, tribe to tribe, region to region.
Animism is a philosophy backed up by practice, it is a way of life and a way of thought. Animism
is your personal relationship with nature and with the inhuman spirits who inhabit and compose
nature. It is a relationship of respect and value for all things and all beings, visible and invisible. All life
is sacred and sentient, even those outside of your current definition of life and even those regarded
as malevolent. Within a balanced ecosystem, all life serves a purpose– even those who may seem like
the villain at first glance. Animism is the hands-on spirit work of building an awareness of and
relationship with the spirits of plants, trees, fungi, animals, insects, waters, forests, mountains, plains,
deserts, elemental forces, and the spirits of the dead buried under your feet. When you live within
nature you realize you are a part of it, not separate from it. It becomes important to know as much
about your surroundings as possible because your survival depends on your knowledge of and
respectful treatment of the land, plants, and animals around you.

Shinto
Belief System: THE ORIGINAL RELIGION OF JAPAN IS SHINTO, WORSHIPING THE
FORCES OF NATURE. MEANING THE WAY OF GOD, SHINTO HAS ANIMISTIC AND SHAMANISTIC
BELIEFS THAT ARE BASED ON RESPECT FOR KAMI.

Literally, kami means "that which is above men" or "superior to the human condition," and
this term is often translated as "god" or "spirit." Its origins are lost in the mists of time. According to
myths, the goddess Izanami and Izanagi are the heavenly god couple who gave birth to the
archipelago. Amaterasu, the sun goddess, is the direct ancestor of the emperor himself. Beyond the
myths, Shinto tends to make harmonious relations between human beings, nature, and kami.
 Business Practices: Shintoism is the folk religion of Japan and has the longest history
in the country. Shintoism is rooted in tradition, and as there is no single authoritative religious
document, the practices often change from place to place. However, a number of common principles
unite all Shinto sects. One of the chief principles of Shintoism is the idea of purity. In the workplace, a
Shinto priest is often called in to purify and bless the new space before work begins. Gift-giving is an
important part of Japanese culture both in and out of the workplace and is a good way to ensure
business deals remain friendly. However, according to Shinto tradition, the number four is unlucky
and symbolizes death. Gifts featuring this number are inappropriate.

As the basic attitude toward life, Shintō emphasizes makoto no kokoro (“heart of truth”), or
magokoro (“true heart”), which is usually translated as “sincerity, pure heart, uprightness.” This
attitude follows from the revelation of the truthfulness of kami in humans. It is, generally, the sincere
attitude of people in doing their best in the work they have chosen or in their relationships with
others, and the ultimate source of such a life attitude lies in one’s awareness of the divine.

Although Shintō ethics do not ignore individual moral virtues such as loyalty, filial piety,
love, faithfulness, and so forth, it is generally considered more important to seek magokoro, which
constitutes the dynamic life-attitude that brings forth these virtues. In ancient scriptures magokoro
was interpreted as “bright and pure mind” or “bright, pure, upright, and sincere mind.” Purification,
both physical and spiritual, is stressed even in contemporary Shintō to produce such a state of mind.
The achievement of this state of mind is necessary in order to make communion between kami and
humans possible and to enable individuals to accept the blessings of kami

Hinduism
Belief System: Hindus believe in the importance of the observation of appropriate
behavior, including numerous rituals, and the ultimate goal of moksha, the release or liberation from
the endless cycle of birth.
Moksha is the ultimate spiritual goal of Hinduism. The goal is to reach a point where you detach
yourself from the feelings and perceptions that tie you to the world, leading to the realization of the
ultimate unity of things—the soul (atman) connected with the universal (Brahman). To get to this
point, one can pursue various paths: the way of knowledge, the way of appropriate actions or works,
or the way of devotion to God.

Business Practices: Hinduism is one of the dominant religions of India. It has evolved
over a period of 3000 years and in the process absorbed a multitude of beliefs and valuesover the
ages through global trade with people from other nations.
Nevertheless, the basic tenets of the Hindu religion remain firmly ensconced in the psyche and
value set of its followers. These include: Samsara which suggests a continuous cycle of life–death–
rebirth where one's current life reflects one's actions in the previous life, and where one's actions in
the current life would reflect one's status in the next life. Other tenets include Dharma, that is, one's
duty; Karma (manifest destiny), and ultimately, Nirvana, when one's merger with GOD and in thus
freed form worldly cycle of life + death and rebirth.
At an intellectual level, Hindu religion provides both a basis for moral values and a prescriptive
mode that influences one's conduct and actions. This flexibility in interpretation allows Hindus to
adapt to different religions and mores. This approach has led India's leading companies to imitate the
conduct of their foreign MNCs and adopt their exploitative practices for their own benefit while
bemoaning the poverty and misery of the masses as their manifest destiny (Karma).

Judaism
 Belief System: Jewish people believe in the Torah, which was the whole of the laws
given to the Israelities at Sinai. They believe they must follow God's laws which govern daily life.
Later legal books, written by rabbis, determine the law as it applies to life in each new place and
time.
The Ten Commandments, as written in the Torah, are:
1. Worship no other God but me.
2. Do not make images to worship.
3. Do not misuse the name of God. Observe the Sabbath Day (Saturday).
4. Keep it Holy.
5. Honor and respect your father and mother.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not accuse anyone falsely. Do not tell lies about other people.
Business Practices: Commerce is to be conducted with honesty and full disclosure of
relevant information. Transactions at unreasonably high or low prices, unless they meet a particularly
stringent standard of disclosure, can be cancelled by the party that has incurred damages. Accurate
weights and measures are another example of a ban on deceptive practices. In disputes between
employers and employees, adherence to local custom is enforceable unless other arrangements were
clearly stipulated in advance, and arbitrators must balance the rights of workers against the interests
of management. A variety of more general ethical principles are brought to bear in business practices
as well: one should remain above suspicion and even go beyond the letter of the law. Doing so serves
to “sanctify God’s name” in the world by making Jews paragons of ethical behavior.

Jewish business ethics is a form of applied Jewish ethics that examines ethical issues that arise in
a business environment. It is noted ] that in the Torah, there are over 100 Mitzvot concerning the
kashrut (fitness) of one's money, many more, in fact, than concerning the kashrut of food. The subject
thus receives an extensive treatment in Rabbinic literature, both from an ethical (Mussar) and a legal
(Halakha) point of view

Buddhism
Belief System: Buddhism, religion and philosophy that developed from the teachings of
the Buddha (Sanskrit: “Awakened One”), a teacher who lived in northern India between the mid-6th
and mid-4th centuries BCE (before the Common Era). Spreading from India to Central and
Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan, Buddhism has played a central role in the spiritual, cultural,
and social life of Asia, and during the 20th century it spread to the West.

Buddhism centers on correct understanding of human nature and ultimate reality. The Buddha
was, after all, called the "Enlightened One." He taught that the way to eliminate suffering began with
understanding the true nature of the world.
However, the Buddha considered knowledge important only insofar as it remains practical. He
rejected speculation about such matters as God, the nature of the universe, and the afterlife, urging
his followers to focus instead on the Four Noble Truths by which they can free themselves from
suffering.

Business Practices: Buddhism is often associated with meditation. But it also

provides multiple insights into ways of thinking that can be applied to any field. Let’s look at some
Buddhist principles that can help us run any project or business.
Define the Goal
Buddhism strongly emphasizes having a clear understanding of the goal and direction before
becoming involved with Buddhist practice. The goal is to completely rid ourselves of disturbing
emotions and to realize the full potential of our minds and hearts. This final state is called
“enlightenment.”
Similarly, when we start any project or business, it is crucial to define the goal. Is it profit? Is it
creating a certain value for customers or solving some difficult problem they’re having? The more
precisely the goal is defined, the easier it is to figure out the road that can lead to it, and the higher
the probability of reaching that goal.

Follow the Principle of Cause and Effect

Once the goal is defined, we need to figure out the causes that would lead to this goal. For
enlightenment, the causes would be stopping our destructive behavior and training the good qualities
of our minds, familiarizing ourselves with constructive, realistic ways of perceiving the world and
dealing with it.
In the case of a business project, we need to use logic to figure out the causes that would lead us
to our final goal. The process is like reverse engineering. We start to trace back the logical sequence
of actions that would lead to a defined goal. This process helps to define the needed steps to achieve
the goal and forms a good basis for a road map for the project.
Compassion: Solve a Customer Problem
Compassion is one of the most important Buddhist principles. According to Buddha’s teachings:
Compassion is the wish for others to be rid of their sufferings.
What does it have to do with a business? Business provides a solution to a customer problem. If a
solution provided by a business is better than other existing solutions, it wins the competition race.
So, understanding a problem our potential customers might be facing and having an empathetic
attitude toward it are crucial. We need to identify and always keep in mind some real problem that
our target audience is having in their lives and, based on that understanding, try to solve this problem
in the best possible way. Compassion is the foundation for a customer-first or a user-centered
approach to a business.
Impermanence: Adapt to a Changing World
Buddhist analysis brings us another valuable insight into reality: everything changes constantly –
we ourselves, the environment, and all the people around us. It’s very easy to get caught with an idea
that seems to be obvious and solid; but, in a rapidly changing reality, it often becomes a cause for
narrow-minded thinking, stubbornness and inflexibility.
Let’s take Netflix as an example. They realized that the Internet changed media consumption
patterns. Old school thinking had only one solution for consuming video content: rent a DVD. But
Netflix became aware that there is an easier way to do that – video streaming. The entire media
consumption industry didn’t realize the impermanence of the market and user habits. But Netflix
realized it first, and changed the whole industry forever.
Ethics: Respect Yourself, Your Team and the Consumer
Buddhist ethics is based on the principle of non-violence. We realize that everyone wants to be
happy and doesn’t want to suffer. If we base our actions on this understanding and try to avoid
harming others, we gain their respect and trust.
If we respect our colleagues, it brings trust and understanding in the team. We try to avoid
saying something nasty behind people’s backs or to their face, and try to be transparent. Further, the
more we respect our customer, the more trust and loyalty we get back. Great companies like Zappos
based their business model on respect of a customer needs and equanimity and transparency among
the workers.

Confucianism
Belief System: 8 Confucian Beliefs
Confucianism is a philosophical system that was developed from Chinese politician, theorist and
teacher Confucius, or Kong Qiu. His teachings would influence and spread through East Asia and to
the West. Followers of his teachings in Europe coined the word Confucianism in the mid 1800s. His
political thoughts and virtues were based on ethics not coercion. “Better a diamond with a flaw than a
pebble without

Moral Codes
Confucianism teaches peaces and to avoid conflict. This is done by having a high moral code.

Li Jen and Chun-Tzu

The principles of Li Jen and Chun-Tzu are part of Confucius teachings it can be interpreted as
reverence, and a standard of moral, social, and religious behavior.

Two Doctrines
Confucianism has two doctrines. One (zhong) is based in character that links the heart and
middle in order to find humanity within. The second is shu, which means cherish the heart.

Ethics
Another ethical teaching is living with honesty and being a trustworthy person. Additionally, you
must be respectful and mindful of elders (Filial Piety).

Natural Order
There is natural order in Confucianism and it though five important relationships. They are ruler
to ruled, father to son, elder brother to youth, friend to friend and husband to wife.

Spirituality
The human condition, community, self, and morals are part of spirituality.

Li and Yi
Li is part of values that includes etiquette and Yi is righteousness.

Examine
"When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves."
- Confucius

Business Practices: The way they perceive a ‘crisis’

Crisis in the Chinese language (pictured) literally translates to a combination of Danger and
Opportunity. Every ‘crisis’ poses a potential opportunity to the Chinese, only if that ‘danger’ is managed
properly. This mentality has made Chinese thinking positive and flexible, providing an appetite for change
and opportunity.

The Chinese similarly believe that when everything is going well, one must plan for the worst case
scenario. This is not to say that you should be prepared to fail, far from it. What the Chinese believe is that
when you find success, you have much more to lose, and that in order to prevent future failure, one must
effectively evaluate worst case scenario planning to ensure a business is adequately prepared for any
“crisis”.
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
Confucius
2. The importance of “Guanxi”
“Guanxi” literally means “relationships”, and interpersonal relationships in Chinese business is
extremely valuable, as Guanxi has been stated to be their ‘second currency’.
The Chinese business mentality is very much one of “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” In
essence, this translates to exchanging favours, which are expected to be done regularly and voluntarily.
What underpins this ideology is the concept of respect within a business context. Respect between all with
whom you conduct business with should be something we imitate from the Chinese business culture, as
Confucius said;
Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts? Confucius
3. Strategy and Preparation
 The significance of strategy in Chinese business cannot be fully understood without knowledge of the
pride the Chinese have in their military history. To summarise, strategy to the Chinese is like chaos is to
children, it’s in their nature. While the concept and usefulness of strategy has not been lost on Western
businesses, the question remains as to how much attention we truly give it.
Is ‘strategy’ just a buzz word, a New Year ideology soon lost in the madness of trying to run your
business, or is every business move you make coming straight from your business strategy? It’s something
worth considering.
If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100
years, teach the people. Confucius
If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading. Lao Tz

Taoism
Belief System: Taoism exerted a great influence during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE)
and the emperor Xuanzong (reigned 712-756 CE) decreed it a state religion, mandating that people
keep Taoist writings in their home. It fell out of favor as the Tang Dynasty declined and was replaced
by Confucianism and Buddhism but the religion is still practiced throughout China and other countries
today.

loosely based on the writings of a mythical figure named Laozi who lived some 2,500 years ago —
calls for an adherence to "the way", which practitioners have long interpreted as a return to the
natural world. The core of the basic belief and doctrine of Taoism is that "Tao" is the origin and law of
all things in the universe. Taoists believes that people can become deities or live forever through
practicing certain rituals and austerities.
The focus of Taoism is the individual in nature rather than the individual in society. It holds that
the goal of life for each individual is to find one's own personal adjustment to the rhythm of the
natural (and supernatural) world and to follow the Way (dao) of the universe. In many ways the
opposite of rigid Confucian moralism, Taoism served many of its adherents as a complement to their
ordered daily lives. A scholar on duty as an official would usually follow Confucian teachings but at
leisure or in retirement might seek harmony with nature as a Taoist recluse.
Taoists stress the importance of harmonizing with nature by balancing yin and yang, and
developing chi through meditation and disengagement. The human body is regarded as a source of
chi-derived energy, which some people have the power to concentrate and congeal into an essence.
Chi (also spelled ch'i or qi) is variously known as the "breath of heaven," “mystical breath," the
"breath of nature" and the "quality of spirit"
In classic Taoist cosmology, matter and energy are thought to be governed by five basic
movements. The strength and influence of these movements wax and wane over the course of a year;
with wood peaking during spring, fire during summer, metal in autumn and water in winter. The
remaining movement, earth, asserts its presence most powerfully during the periods before the start
of each season.

Business Practices: 1. More balance – better focus

Physical as well as mental self-cultivation potentially yields more effectiveness. We are more
balanced, less anxious, angry or concerned, which makes it easier to stay focused and productive.
Realising that circumstances are only temporary gives us a different outlook and perception. Instead
of being too concerned about present circumstances and getting lost in too many details, we can
better concentrate on essential things, the bigger picture.
2. More awareness – better self-organisation
 Understanding the ‘logic’ of reversion and circularity makes us more aware of the consequences
and interrelatedness of our actions and fosters a more serious attitude. This increased awareness
promotes a better self-organisation and makes us realise the importance and relevance of even small
tasks, since everything is interrelated.
3. More kindness – better cooperation
A cooperative and supportive attitude, like being kind and more caring towards our colleagues
helps to promote their success too, creates a better working atmosphere and hence increases overall
well-being.
4. More modesty – less egoism
Certain modesty prevents us from putting ourselves first or boasting too much with our
achievements. It further prevents us from egoistically pursuing our own interests and yields less
unethical behaviour, since we are no longer too concerned about potential financial and material
gains.
In brief, individual self-cultivation leads to a more positive, healthier corporate culture and
hence a better working environment for all within a company through an attitude of mutual support
and kindness. A better working environment in turn leads to a higher level of productiveness and
effectiveness through increased identification with our job role as well as loyalty towards our
employer.
Besides promoting individual and organisational flourishing, Daoist virtues can be also used to
develop more holistic and sustainable business models and a progressive and more inspiring way of
leadership.

Christianity
Belief System: Christians believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit's indwelling.
The Christian can live a holy life.
The beliefs of Christianity state the resurrection of the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting
life and the other to everlasting damnation. Then Jesus will establish His eternal kingdom.

Christianity is a monotheistic religion founded by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus, a Jew,
was born in about 7 B.C. and assumed his public life, probably after his 30th year, in Galilee. The New
Testament Gospels describe Jesus as a teacher and miracle worker. He proclaimed the kingdom of
God, a future reality that is at the same time already present. Jesus set the requirements for
participation in the kingdom of God as a change of heart and repentance for sins, love of God and
neighbor, and concern for justice. Circa A.D. 30 he was executed on a cross in Jerusalem, a brutal form
of punishment for those considered a political threat to the Roman Empire.

Business Practice: CHRISTIAN ENTREPRENEURS REFLECT CHRIST IN BUSINESS

When you became Christian, your were reconciled to God. In this reconciliation, you return to
the original position of man with God, or in other words, you become a direct reflection of Christ.
When we say we’re Christian, we take on the responsibility of being His representatives here on
earth. That means that we need to treat people the way Christ treats us, with love, mercy and grace.
As a Christian entrepreneur you are called to do this also in your business. None of us are perfect, and
this can be difficult to do, but we should all strive to be the best reflection of Him that we can be.
How do we do that on a day to day? It is really a moment by moment thing. You have to choose your
responses wisely, especially when someone does you wrong. That doesn’t mean that you allow
people to take advantage of you, but that does mean that you operate your business with integrity,
and when needed, a little bit of grace for others. At the end of each day, you should ask yourself, does
your business reflect Christ? Does it bring glory to God?

CHRISTIAN ENTREPRENEURS ARE ACCOUNTABLE

Being accountable means that you answer to someone and you take ownership for the things
you’ve done wrong. Christian entrepreneurs should be accountable to her employees and staff,
customers, any investors, and any other stakeholders, including the community where she lives and
works. Whenever you make a decision that affects one of these groups it is important that you make
yourself accountable for those decisions. Being accountable does not mean that you won’t make
mistakes, and it also doesn’t mean that you will have to make decisions that only make the people
around you happy. It does mean that you act with everyone’s best interest in mind and provide an
explanation when it seems that you aren’t doing so. The same way that you are accountable to
people to in your personal life, you need to be accountable to others in your business.
One of the best ways to continue to hold yourself accountable, not just for the things you do on
a day-to-day, but also in accomplishing your goals and growing your business is by finding (or hiring) a
business mentor or coach, or joining a mastermind. Even a peer mentor may provide you with the
accountability you need to build and grow your business, and to achieve your goals. Setting goals is
the easy part, but disciplining yourself to actually achieve is when you need to be held accountable.
An accountability partner can help you focus some of your time and energy on your goals and help
you actually achieve them, and also, challenge you when you don’t. Every Christian entrepreneur
should have an accountability partner, mentor or peer mentor, or some other source of real
accountability who will also discuss their spirituality and faith. The Bible tells us to submit ourselves
one to another. Being accountable is about fulfilling this commandment.
CHRISTIAN ENTREPRENEURS ARE HONEST ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT
Nowadays, everyone is looking for the next big thing. Every new product on the market has to be
bigger and better than the last, and every service provider needs to give even more. All of the
consumer demands can become a little overwhelming for any entrepreneur. In an attempt to attract
new clients and customers, it can be a little tempting to fudge a little bit on your product or service
description. Trying to make your product or service seem better than the next guys might seem like a
good idea, but be careful not to blur the lines between honesty and dishonesty. Always offer what
you will give and give what you offered. If your product is not bigger and better don’t say it is. Using
ungodly tactics to attract customers is not necessary because you have God on your side. There are
other ways to market and promote your business than to deceive your customers.
Christian entrepreneurs have the assurance that God will provide for all that is needed. You
don’t need to be dishonest or even embellish a little to get your portion. Your portion is yours. There
is more than enough in the world. Being dishonest about your product or service is a sign that you are
afraid that you won’t have enough or that you have a scarcity mindset. If this is you, pray that God
will help you overcome your fear of lack and show you His abundance.
CHRISTIAN ENTREPRENEURS PAY THEIR BILLS
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it”
Christian entrepreneurs have the responsibility of upholding their own names, plus the name of
God. That means that you should not take on financial responsibilities that you cannot afford. Leaving
a trail of debt where ever you go is not a good esxample of Christ. The Bible teaches us whatever we
sow we will reap. If you continue to not pay for the things you receive, how can you expect to receive
proper payment for the services you provide? You are basically poking holes in your own pockets.
Remember when the Pharisee came to Peter and asked if Jesus paid His taxes? What did Jesus say?
He told Peter where to get the money to be able to pay them Even Jesus paid what He owed. As
followers of Christ we need to make sure that we are doing our best to pay our bills. It doesn’t look
good as a Christian or as a Christian entrepreneur to not be able to operate because of lack of
payment.
CHRISTIAN ENTREPRENEURS TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY
Jesus said there are only two commandments: To love God our Father with all our heart, and to
love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Treating people fairly is the number one principle of
Christianity. Our faith was founded on it. You cannot be an effective Christian witness if you treat
people differently based on arbitrary decisions, preferences, or beliefs.
That means you can’t have favorite employees who get preferential treatment because you like
them. You can’t treat one customer super nice and totally ignore another. You can’t have a favorite
coworker who you buy gifts and treat really nice but gossip about others. Whatever you do you have
to do it fairly, with regard for the feelings of others. Treating people fairly is really about following the
Golden Rule.
If you build your business on the foundation of these five basic business practices, you will
create a business that is set up for success because it is honorable before God. Now, I know no one is
perfect, and neither is any business, but more often than not your business should be striving to meet
these standards. As Christians our goal is to bring glory to our Heavenly Father. Christian
entrepreneurs have the opportunity to do so in through our businesses an in our workplaces.

Islam
Belief System: In Islam, Muslim doctrine is often summarized in "Six Articles of Faith."
These are the fundamental beliefs which every Muslim must ascribe to:
1. One God (Allah)
The central belief in Islam, and arguably the most important theme of Islam, is that there is one God.
The Muslim name for God is "Allah," which is Arabic for "the (al) God (Ilah)."
2. The angels of God
Angels in Islam are spiritual creatures that serve the purposes of Allah. They are messengers who
relay communication to people and carry out other responsibilities. Angels, such as Gabriel (thought
to be the same Gabriel as the one read about in the Christian New Testament), is mentioned in the
Quran. Angels are often found in Islam art, revealing their importance to the Islamic worldview.
3. The books of God, especially the Qur'an
The Quran is the most important writing in the religion of Islam and is the highest authority in both
religious and legal matters. The word "Quran" means "recitation" in Arabic. Muslims believe the
Quran to be an errorless record of the angel Gabriel's revelations to Muhammad, from 610 until his
death in 632 AD. It is also believed to be a perfect copy of a Quran that has existed eternally in
paradise.
4. The prophets of God, especially Muhammad
Muhammad is the most important historical and theological figure in Islam. His name, which means
"highly praised," reflects this. Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 AD. His father died before he
was born and his mother died when he was six-years-old. Muhammad was then raised primarily by
his uncle, for whom he worked as a shepherd.
5. The Day of Judgment (or the afterlife)
The afterlife is very important to the Islamic worldview. Muslims believe in the continued existence of
the soul and a transformed physical existence after death. Islam teaches that there will be a day of
judgment when all humans will be divided between the eternal destinations of Paradise and Hell.
6. The supremacy of God's will (or predestination)
Islam teaches that God not only foreknows, but also foreordains all that comes to pass in the world
and in the lives of individuals.

Business Practices: Initially, different cultures and regions had different ethics of
business. With increasing globalisation, the various sets of business ethics are continuously acquiring
common values and forms. Islam has given guiding principles for all human activities and also
prescribes and explains the ethics of business.
However, the Quran is not the only divine text that lays down such instructions and Muslim
thinkers were not the first to conceive this idea. The Bible, for instance, also has many notions that
can be and have been applied to commercial activities.
Hammurabi, in his famous code, addressed various commercial issues. Plato discussed justice in
The Republic, and Aristotle explicitly discussed economic relations, trade and commerce in his Politics.
Many Muslims are unaware that Aristotle too condemned usury. Also, he gave the classic definition of
justice as giving each his due, treating equals equally and trading equals for equals.
These issues were also analysed by Christian scholars. For instance, Thomas Aquinas discussed
business in the context of justice and honesty, and condemned usury. Luther, Calvin and John Wesley,
among other personalities of the Reformation, discussed trade and commerce, and led the
development of the Protestant work ethic. However, in the modern West, economic activity has been
divorced from religion just as politics has been separated from the church.
Still, if we compare Islamic business ethics with present-day western business ethics, we find
numerous similarities. For instance, workplace harassment, discrimination in hiring and promotion,
employment benefits, layoffs, conflict of interest, quality control, misuse of business assets,
environmental pollution, etc., are matters on which Islamic and western approaches are more or less.