Deciphering ‘Islamic Hospitality’: Developments, Challenges and Opportunities The article was written by Marcus L. Stephenson

Comment on abstract, title and references

The article was written by Stephenson in 2013, with more than 90 links and 15 external pages. The information material is new and important for the integration of both scholarly and hospitality-based media. The writer discusses the principles and practices of Islamic hospitality, detailing the different approaches to Islamic hospitality that are applicable to the western hospitality industry. The enigmatic facets of Islamic hospitality are mostly discussed, in general, the importance of the host-guest partnership and the variations in social perceptions. Expressively, the study of the physical aspects of Islamic hospitality by identifying patterns, developments and problems within the housing sector, F&B development and service segments, festivals and event areas, emphasizes the author through a global perspective on both OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) and non-OIC countries. The key aspect of this paper is the new segment possibilities and identifies the social difficulties associated with the growth of Islamic hospitality within Western civilization, remarkably Islamophobia.

Comments of Introduction/Background

The writer begins his writing by raising the topic of hospitality insensitivity to Muslim delegates after the renowned UK Hospitality & Tourism Management University arranged a pig roasting dinner which disheartens the fundamental friendship value of the host-guest relationship. As far as cultural understanding is concerned, the non-physical and verbal elements of hospitality addressed by the author in terms of cross-cultural interaction, mutual appreciation, enjoyment of the care of travellers promote caring solidarity between Muslims, which tends to encourage underprivileged travellers have to access their right to travel. The sense of harmony was highly regarded in the context of Islamic hospitality by the principle of an affirmative act of respect, politeness, a host-guest harmonious companionship known as 'taarof’ was the noblest act of being a hospitable Muslim every day, irrespective of their national origin.

Stephenson emphasizes friendliness and respect for the Islamic Hospitality that originated in the Hajj ritual, and the prophet Muhammad PBUH had been inclined to provide hospitality service to the guests for three days, yet the ability to provide service beyond the extended day was a charitable act. With regard to the traditional and contemporary forms of Islamic hospitality, which are probably incorrectly described. Islamic teaching itself is a hospitable nature, initiated by Muhammad PBUH since 1441 years ago. The Hajj as travel obligations have been prescribed since the birth of the monotheism religion was known to have been established by the prophet Abraham.

Despite the industry challenges, a private lodging investor of Persian has aggressively strategized Islamic Hospitality by expanding alcohol-free hotels across Middle-East and North Africa. Malaysia, alongside Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Oman and Pakistan, had accumulated a large market for visitors. Global trends show massive innovations in Islamic Hospitality's accommodation facilities, such as the Lohas segment in Indonesia, Halal-friendly accommodation in Singapore, Turkey's proposals for 20 new Islamic hospitality establishments, while Europe, China, Russia and Thailand have laid out key locations for the potential development of Islamic Hospitality's hotels specifically to accommodate travellers’. In terms of halal F&B and culinary activities, the author refers to the demand for halal food production, which is now a regional requirement and a competitive advantage for the hospitality industry. The method of producing food from raw food to dining services should be strictly complying with the religious needs of hotel guests.

By contrast, the author accentuates the challenge for the Shari’a compliance practice among the lodging establishment is the unavailability of legal SOPs for the ‘front of the house’. Hotels in the Middle East typically demand proof of marriage from couples before hotel check-in. Nevertheless, this practice may inexplicit in the majority of so-called Islamic hotel. Additionally, issues concerning the halal constitution (animal feed, slaughtering process, packaging and logistic), the gelatine extract from pig bones or skin, as well as other complications concerning the legitimization of halal products, were a hindrance to the best Islamic Hospitality practice. The issue of food wastage due to luxury Ramadhan Buffet organized by upscale hotel certainly against the principle of Islamic Hospitality. Therefore, the author sets out the need for the global institution to standardize Halal Food Trademark in order to regulate its documentation worldwide in line with the effort established by the Crescentrating.com website.

Conversely, the researcher discussed emerging developments in the Islamic festival and event market, such as Ramadhan Month, Eid Mubarak (Lebaran), Eidul Adha (Sacrifice), the Islamic Knowledge Convention, the Islamic Halal Expo and so on, were still an untapped opportunity for the global hospitality industry. The author further added that Islamic Hospitality for the airline industry, village tourism or rural attraction, together with Islamic cruises, will be an endless opportunity for Islamic hospitality to grow gradually in global tourism. The author highlighting the socio-political threats known as Islamophobia. A significant concern about Islamophobia's hospitality to Muslim travellers following the 11 September 2001 incident has led to a continuing high density of Islamophobia hospitality in western nations, where Muslim travellers are becoming more vulnerable and subject to suspicion, discrimination and public scrutiny. Therefore, the author suggested weather the OIC or none OIC countries should work aggressively in effective ways to streamline the diverse nature of the Muslim community in terms of people's social and behavioural expectations.

Comments on methodology

The author used a qualitative, exploratory and interpretative nature of Islamic Hospitality development, challenges and opportunities and his article will remain the pioneered article to be referred by the future scholars who are profound to undertake this field of study. The author examination on Islamic Hospitality has almost covered the critical topic from an academic wise perspective which can be used in future research.

Comments on Results

Almost every part of the physical components of Islamic hospitality has been thoroughly studied by the writer: Human Resources, Private Spaces, Dining & Banquet Facilities, F&B, Public Facilities, Business Operations, Zakat commitment as well as zero business usury strictly adhere with the Sharia law. The accommodation, which aims to comply with the Islamic Hospitality principle should tackle these fundamental issues wisely. The author highlights that the confusion, communication by the ignorant, misleading marketing & advertising, islamophobia and scepticism were the hindrance to the genuine Islamic hospitality implementation for the tourism industry.

Discussion and Conclusions

In sum, a progressive measure for future feasibility study across all tourism and hospitality segment where Islamic Hospitality can fit worth to be carried out by carefully addressing the ethical challenges concerning product and service delivery issues. Alternative development, models and professional practice beyond the western hospitality viewpoint, which is consistent with Islamic lifestyles rather than tourist-centric conformation value indeed equally crucial to developed Islamic Hospitality as a global value and helps to minimize Islamophobia’s hospitality.

Overall Statement - Summary of the strength and weakness of the article

The notion of Islamic hospitality came to light only after the release of Mrs Ahmed status updated on social media accused of being a terrorist after requesting unopen diet coke from the United Airlines stewardess (https:/www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas /muslim-woman-ahmed-refused-diet-coke-on-united-airline-flight-because-it-could-be-used-as-a-10287449.html) and her story received more than 7000 comments. Therefore, the ability of the author to discuss hospitality in the light of the authentic source of Islamic philosophy is certainly an effective way to minimizing the misunderstanding by the hospitality service provider toward Muslim travellers whenever they travel to western countries.

For the means of improvement, this article may need to pay attention to the following viewpoints: 1. The article has no reasonable explanation and solid argument why a halal issue is essential to all aspect of life in the Muslim community/travellers. The halal is not restricted to F&B consumption only but has been extended to all kinds of compliance, such as the prohibition of usury, bribery income, the exploitation of workers, earnings from illegal business transactions, living together as a couple without matrimonial, performing Homosexual activities and all sorts of popular doings in the western world, while strictly prohibited by Shari'a law should be worth for future research.

1. The article does not provide any notable figures or diagrams as a means to signify the ideas that have been put forward, such as the Islamic tourism hospitality figure, the Muslim travel market pattern or the development of Islamic hospitality accommodation in the countries concerned.

2. The author should make a clear distinction that being hospitable in Islam is a genuine behaviour or gesture towards the traveller, as opposed to Western hospitality, which was merely for business profiting alone. The notion of caring for the guest according to prophetic teaching was far more plausible, regardless of the guest's cultural background. The issue of Muslim traveller detained in airport security for a longer period of time and refusing to enter a particular country or nation was a clear manifestation breaching the traveller right according to the World Tourism Code of Ethics term of reference.

3. The article should critically address the delicate problem of the word "terrorism" that has been mistaken on a large scale by international media and broadcasters as a focal deterrent to fostering Islamic hospitality on a global scale.

4. The writer failed to give credit to the Quran and Muhammad PBUH hadith to be listed in the reference section except for in-text quotation. Last but not least, while Islam is the fastest-growing faith, Islamic hospitality could be the best practice to be integrated into all kinds of tourism and hospitality business, given the fact that Muslim travellers already dominated the global tourism sector. Integrating Islamic Hospitality in a welcoming and friendly manner, regardless of tourism or hospitality business types, scales, products, resources, etc., should indeed be a job for every individual or organization who genuinely concern to Muslim traveller objective and needs.