Mangalore: The D.K. Chapter of the Rifah Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted an impactful event titled “Business Insights – An Evening with Business Expertise” on Thursday at Royal Plaza Suits, Attavar, Mangalore. The gathering, united a wide spectrum of entrepreneurs, business owners, and aspiring professionals to reflect on the values of ethical business, halal livelihood, and the power of community-driven growth, reported the Varta Bharati.
The Guest of Honour, Syed Mumtaz Mansoori, President of Rifah Karnataka and CEO of Rug-Rel Components & Systems Pvt. Ltd., delivered a compelling and thought-provoking address. He encouraged the audience to view business not merely as a means of income, but as a noble pursuit — a form of worship when pursued with honesty and purpose.
Mansoori categorised people into three types: those driven by vision, competition, and laziness — urging attendees to identify their personal purpose and responsibility in society.
“This is not just about networking or commercial success,” he said. “It is about reviving the Islamic spirit of ethical trade and earning a halal livelihood, which is fard (obligatory) for every Muslim.”
Mansoori used B.F. Skinner’s superstitious pigeon theory to draw a striking parallel between conditioned animal behavior and modern-day Muslims misled by societal conditioning. He identified three dangerous mental traps:
1. The belief that Dunya (worldly life) is superior to Deen (faith),
2. Cultural corruption by obscenity and shamelessness (behayaai and besharmi),
3. The detachment from trade and business as a way of life.
“These are psychological chains we must break,” he declared.
He described the Rifah Chamber of Commerce as a visionary platform uniting professionals across industries — from mega-corporate leaders to small-scale entrepreneurs — to foster knowledge sharing, mentorship, and mutual growth.
“Our community includes those with turnovers over ₹5000 crore annually, as well as those who have not touched ₹1 crore in lifetime earnings. We bring them together to grow collectively,” he shared.
Mansoori emphasized the importance of investing in small businesses, drawing inspiration from the Sindhi and Marwadi communities who, despite being numerically small, dominate India’s business sector due to community-driven investment and mentorship.
“Big players must mentor and uplift small businesses in our community,” he urged. “Only through collective progress can we reclaim our legacy in trade and commerce.”
Rifah’s ongoing initiatives include specialized programmes for startups, women entrepreneurs, international trade, and more — aiming to support, educate, and empower entrepreneurs at every level.
The event also featured valuable contributions from professionals like Iqbal (Semonx Solution), Sharafuddin, A Mahmood, and Ishaque Puttur, who enriched the discussion with their expertise. The evening was efficiently compered by Asif Iqbal, Director of Gold Souk, Mangalore.
The event concluded with a renewed call to rebuild the Muslim business identity on the foundation of faith, ethics, and collective growth.
