Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has appealed to businesses to demonstrate compassion towards the public during the upcoming month of Ramadan.

At Ahaa, the Ministerial Forum, tonight – part of a series jointly organised by the President's Office and Public Service Media (PSM) – the Minister responded to concerns about rising prices during Ramadan. He emphasised that mercy and compassion are among the most fundamental characteristics upon which Islam is built.

Drawing evidence from the Holy Quran, Minister Dr Shaheem explained that Allah describes the Prophet's message as one of mercy, noting that compassion, generosity and kindness should form the foundation of Muslim culture and ethics. These principles, he stressed, naturally extend to business practices.

Minister Dr Shaheem highlighted that compassion and trustworthiness in business are qualities particularly beloved by Allah, while deception and trickery in business represent one of only two instances in the Holy Quran where such practices face the strongest divine condemnation.

He stressed that while price reductions are important, they should be implemented without causing harm to businesses, as Islam prohibits both inflicting and receiving harm. The Minister assured that his Ministry would promote these principles through Friday sermons and religious lectures.