stating, ‘‘We agree that changing the seating arrangement on a Titanic-size
ship in one shot is of course impossible and is in fact unwise and of course
would lead to failure. However, our approach is very simple.. .’’
Our approach is to take a very small area on that large ship, ask those
who are responsible for the space for their permission to rearrange things
around without violating their rules and regulations, and offer the rest of the
passengers an alternative way of doing things. If we are right, we shall be
able to attract more people to notice our new alternative, ask about it, learn
more about it, and eventually subscribe to it. This will eventually lead others
to change to a better future, as was tested in this pilot experiment. This de-
scription is not a pipe dream. It is in fact the lesson of history—of all new
civilizations and nations, as described to us in the Torah, the Gospel, and
the Qur’aan. All God’s prophets started in a small way and grew their base
after proving that the new systems they were bringing to the community
were better systems. This strategy is articulated in the following sentence:
‘‘Start from the possible to achieve the impossible.’’ If we have a good idea
that we believe is in great demand by the people, and if we are sincere in our
efforts to introduce it to the citizens—one individual at a time—we shall cap-
ture the imagination of all people in the community and in the world, and
they will eventually follow and subscribe to the new RF banking system.
But the question is, where to begin? The answer is extremely difficult,
and in fact was a big challenge for all of us. Our efforts to start American
Finance House LARIBA in 1987 and the way we developed it to become a
recognized institution in the United States and the world was highlighted in
the beginning of the book. Yes, capital is an important ingredient of the
process. History has shown repeatedly that money does not make people,
but people can earn that money. Experience has shown that the more im-
portant factors are belief and trust in God, imagination, and determination
to create a clear image of a better but well-defined future. Most important is
to attract people who believe in the new RF banking concepts and services
and to capture the imagination of educated professionals who are willing to
learn RF banking and practice it. Our challenge has been to build the mor-
ally and ethically qualified team players and leaders of the future of real RF
banking. We believe that if we are sincere and wise in our approach, all else
will fall in place by the grace of God.
NOTES
1.Manmeans male and female.- Bob Woodward,Maestro: Greenspan’s Fed and the American Boom, Simon &
Schuster, 2000.
152 THE ART OF ISLAMIC BANKING AND FINANCE