The Innovation of Worship Products for the Future Generation

The heyday of Islam began as early as the middle of the 7th century 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. Four 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 Zainal Abidin (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.