Shaik Zakeer Hussain is the founding editor of Barakah Insider.
AI
AI is everywhere, thanks largely to Big Tech. But when two self-taught Syrian brothers left their corporate tech roles in Germany, they weren’t trying to add yet another model to the pile. They were focused on a more urgent question: Why is there still no ethical alternative to the
Apps
Taahirah, the Muslim women’s health platform, has launched its mobile app, marking an expansion from its initial web debut in January. Founded by Farzana Salik, Taahirah blends faith-driven guidance with sophisticated health tracking, addressing a crucial gap for Muslim women navigating both personal health and religious obligations. With its
Apps
A newly launched app called Swaplyst wants to make it easier for people worldwide to trade skills for experience through volunteering, internships, and peer-to-peer exchanges. Founded by Jordanian social entrepreneur Kamel Al Asmar, Swaplyst is a mobile platform that lets people exchange skills, time, and volunteer work for hands-on experience
Education
Ilmuna, the World Islamic Board of Education, was officially launched on October 9, 2025, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The initiative marks a milestone in the global effort to revitalise Islamic education, aiming to transform educational systems from an Islamic worldview and address the unique challenges facing Muslim learners and educators
Apps
A new Islamic EdTech platform, focused on serving madrasas and maktabs, has been launched, specialising in Qur’an memorisation and student development. Unlike general-purpose school management tools, ilmify.app was developed in consultation with Ulama and Muftis to address the specific needs of Islamic institutions. The platform offers tools for
Islamic Banking
Bangladesh Bank is set to merge five struggling Islamic banks into a single entity by November 2025, in an unprecedented step to stabilise the country’s financial sector. The central bank’s plan covers First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, and EXIM Bank, all
Halal Industry
Dar Al Sharq Group and the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) have signed an agreement to host the first edition of Halal Expo, an international exhibition and conference dedicated to Islamic products, scheduled for September 7–9, 2026, in Doha. The event will bring together manufacturers, businesses, government officials,
Islamic Finance
BlueFive Capital, an Abu Dhabi-based asset manager with over $2.6 billion in assets, has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s multibillion-dollar Al Murjan Group in a cross-shareholding agreement to launch a global platform for Sharia-compliant asset management and Islamic finance. As part of the deal, BlueFive will take a minority
Halal Industry
Kenya has announced the East Africa Halal Expo & Forum 2026, scheduled for May next year in Nairobi, with the aim of connecting local businesses with international partners and opening new avenues for halal trade, certification, and investment. Organised by the State Department for Foreign Affairs, the forum will bring
Apps
Boycat, the app and browser extension that helps users boycott unethical brands and find ethical alternatives, has launched BuycatVPN, a secure, spyware-free virtual private network. The service is aimed at users seeking protection from surveillance capitalism and opaque corporate practices. Founder Adil Abbuthalha announced the launch on social media, noting
Innovation & Technology
Maalexi, a B2B food and agri platform based in the UAE, has bagged a Shariah-Compliant credit facility of up to $20 million from Amwal Capital Partners, an independent alternative investment firm, to ramp up operations and advance food security in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The agreement starts with an
Islamic Finance
Bahrain’s Ajyad Capital is doubling down on the future of Islamic finance. The Shariah-compliant investment firm, licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain since 2003, has announced a new strategic partnership with UK-based Ratings Intelligence, a leading provider of Shariah advisory and compliance solutions. The collaboration will integrate Ratings