Rekindling the Glory of Islamic Scholar Inventions through Next Generation Worshipping Product Innovations

The heyday of Islam began as early as the middle of the 7thcentury and once again proved that
Islamic science was the forerunner of all kinds of creations and innovations in science and
technology. However, today, we see Muslims struggling to make a name for themselves in pioneering
science and technology. It should not be so since many of the creations enjoyed today are based on
inventions from Islamic civilizations rather than Western ones. Therefore, to restore the past glory, a
new plan must begin from now. Among others, through the development of worship products for the
use of Muslims worldwide. Studies have shown that efforts to produce tangible products are still low
due to the increased focus on non-tangible products such as banking systems, health, and beauty
products. Therefore, to ensure the idea of developing this worship product is clearly understood,
several examples of existing worship products are presented and discussed regarding their
weaknesses from a design perspective. Five examples of the latest innovative products designed
specifically for the needs of Muslims are described. The rationale for the need for innovations in
worship products is also statistically discussed in light of the rapid growth of Muslims, with over 1.6
billion Muslims. Furthermore, as many as nine groups of worship products have the potential to
develop, such as products for prayer, knowledge gathering, pilgrimage, and umrah. Finally, the design
features that need to be considered for developing next-generation worship products to meet
customer and market needs are also discussed. The results of this research are intended to raise
awareness to the world about the golden age of Islamic science and that this innovation is still
relevant today. Innovation is a catalyst for high-income economic development. In this regard,
developing and producing innovative worship products can generate wealth to improve the quality of
life of Muslims worldwide. Such is the initiative introduced by the professional design team in Faculty
of Innovative Design and Technology (FRIT) at Universiti Sultan ZainalAbidin (UniSZA) Malaysia that
has developed a range of Islamic conceptual products. Based on the results of the observation
technique during the pilot test, conducted in many states across the country, there are several issues
that need to be resolved namely that Muslims in Malaysia desperately need innovative products that
can help them to worship consistently and confidently. This means that there are still no well-built
innovative Islamic-based products available in the local market. As such, the Muslim demographic
group in the country as well as around the world, comprising senior citizens, adults, teens and
children will be able to enjoy the contributions produced by FRIT at UniSZA.