The debut of Canadian-produced animated film Time Hoppers: The Silk Road in Saudi cities of Riyadh and Jeddah late last year reflected a growing global appetite for Muslim-centered storytelling.

Developed by Milo Productions Inc., an Alberta-based production house and the media company behind MuslimKids.TV, the film celebrates the Golden Age of Islam and spotlights figures such as Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn al-Haytham, Maryam al-Astrolabi, and Mansa Musa.

Curated in collaboration with US distributor Fathom Entertainment, Time Hoppers is part of a broader multimedia franchise that includes a game, a TV series, and a planned sequel.

It was released in over 200 theaters across the MENA region, and is set to hit more than than 500 screens in the US, the UK, and Canada - becoming the first Muslim animated film to receive a nationwide US release.

Salaam Gateway's Heba Hashem spoke with Michael Milo and Flordeliza Dayrit, the husband-and-wife duo and co-founders of Milo Productions, about their experience in bringing this project to life and what comes next.

What do you think has been key to Time Hoppers reaching this level of success?

Milo: On the commercial side, I think we're being considered a bit of a test case. The theatre industry understands that there is a very large, untapped audience of Muslim viewers out there, and they may look to the success of the Korean or Latin American animation industry and consider that Muslims are a quarter of the world’s population. Turkish cinema has done very well internationally. So why don't we see what's available and whether we can open new markets or revenue streams and get this audience into the theatres more.

I think that could be part of the reason. Of course, the quality of the movie is there, and the story is there. All of that is also very strong. 

How has the response been so far? What are people saying?

Dayrit: We were at the American International University. We had lunch with the administration executives after the viewing, and they were thanking me for representing the Muslim culture and history so well in the movie. They said, “This is what we've been waiting for”.

Another interesting moment and what so far was the biggest reward for me was seeing a little boy come up to us; he didn't know who we were, but he was so excited and talked about the movie. 

Michael asked him who his favourite character was in the movie. He showed us a poster he had of Time Hoppers and said, “All of them. I love all of them.” And then he started naming each character. For me, the reward of all of this is when you see children as young as four and five, able to relate to the superheroes of the movie. 

That’s exciting, and it must feel incredibly rewarding. So, what’s next on your agenda?

Dayrit: We really wanted to showcase the contributions of Muslims and Arab scholars throughout time; that’s something we want to continue doing.

In North America, the representation of Muslim and Arab children is very low. A study from few years ago revealed that just 1% of Muslim Arabs and Southeast Asians were represented in children's media, and for Arabs it was only one character, and that too a supporting one. 

In Alberta where we are based, the pioneers of that Canadian province are actually Muslim Arabs. They were entrepreneurs and were competing with Hudson's Bay Company as traders at that time. For them not to be represented in local media is unusual. In Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, the number of Muslims is quite large. And it’s a similar situation across Canada, the United States, and Australia.

What we're doing with Time Hoppers is a franchise. We have the game, the movie, and we're going to be releasing a TV series, which is almost complete. We also have a plan for a sequel. We would definitely like to see investors and people in the field join us on this journey – we welcome the opportunity to produce it with us.

What challenges did you encounter while producing Time Hoppers, especially considering that you were aiming for an international audience?

Milo: One of the challenges is that you're doing children's content. For example, in Turkey and Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, the industry is very well developed. But in the MENA region, kids’ content isn't as well developed, so it takes a lot of convincing for distributors to bet on the content and know it will resonate with audiences. 

Another challenge is that much of the children's industry is built around big-name brands, such as Barbie and Disney. These brands have the pockets to develop a massive franchise, whereas an independent like a David and Goliath type of story may be high risk, but also high reward if it does take off.

So, from our perspective, you're battling against that perception in the market that this isn't necessarily going to [take off], and that it's a lot more difficult to earn money off of an independent product or a newly released product. It's harder convincing people to get behind it. But then there are those people who believe that this is higher risk, but also higher reward.

When it comes to the subject matter, one approach in the animation industry is to make it as generic as possible because that's going to be able to sell a lot wider.

For us, we look at the successes of the Korean animation industry, they're unapologetic about their culture, and the Turkish successes as well. They don't try to make their culture generic; they represent who they are. We wanted to do that in the kids’ space.

Kids are open minded. They don't mind seeing things that are different and learning from them, and they like to see a reflection of themselves in the content they are watching. 

There’s clearly an appetite for something different. And the fact that you're creating a franchise around Time Hoppers is impressive. Is the game available already?

Dayrit: Yes, it's available via iOS, Android and Steam. We want children to get to know more about the characters, the superheroes, and to be one of them, but also get to learn about Muslim and Arab scholars and scientists.

The sky's the limit really when you consider what you can build with an Islamic values-driven media franchise, right?

Milo: Yes. There are over two billion Muslims around the world, yet it's an untapped market. If we want to capitalize on that potential, it does require investment to make an impact. That’s one of our aspirations.

A legal shift regarding the slaughter of animals on religious grounds is underway across Europe, one that could reshape the future of halal meat production. 

While EU law still contains a derogation for ritual slaughter, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in 2020 that member states may require reversible pre-stunning in the name of animal welfare. Then, in February 2024, the European Court of Human Rights upheld the Belgian regional bans and accepted animal welfare as part of “public morality” that can justify limits on religious manifestation. 

While those rulings did not impose a continent-wide ban, taken together, they have lowered the legal risk for countries that want one, shifting the debate from pure law to politics.

What the rulings actually changed

Belgium became the key test case. The regions of Flanders and Wallonia introduced rules requiring animals to be stunned before slaughter while allowing reversible stunning that does not kill the animal outright. Jewish and Muslim groups argued that the law interfered with their religious practices.

The European Court of Human Rights disagreed. Judges concluded that the Belgian authorities were entitled to prioritise animal welfare within the framework of European human rights law. Governments, the court said, have a margin of appreciation when balancing competing interests such as religious freedom and ethical concerns about animal suffering.

The decision established a powerful precedent, one that allowed European states not to ban ritual slaughter outright, but to require pre-stunning and present it as a welfare measure that still leaves room for religious accommodation.

That legal formula now sits in the background of national debates across the continent.

Will other European countries follow suit?

That has opened the door to other governments attempting similar measures, although the ground reality of it happening so far has been mixed.

The Netherlands illustrates how the debate could evolve. Ritual slaughter remains legal without stunning, yet a legislative proposal backed by the Party for the Animals seeks to require reversible stunning. The Dutch Council of State has already suggested that animal welfare may now carry greater weight when governments balance it against religious freedom.

Developments elsewhere suggest a slower pace. Brussels rejected a comparable ban. Britain debated the subject in parliament in 2025 and confirmed that religious exemptions would remain in place. Germany continues to grant exemptions under its Animal Welfare Act where slaughter without stunning is necessary for religious communities.

Europe, therefore, appears headed toward a patchwork rather than a unified policy. Countries with strong animal welfare movements and lower political costs may consider tighter rules, while others are likely to proceed with caution.

That uncertainty is reflected in how experts interpret the current legal moment. Awal Fuseini, senior halal manager at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, points out that the rulings have created space for action without setting a single direction of travel.

“EU Regulation 1099 allows member states to permit slaughter without stunning for religious reasons, and there is no EU-wide ban. Some stunning methods, such as head-only electrical stunning, are already accepted within parts of the Muslim community. The concern is that once countries realise they have the legal space to restrict non-stun slaughter, it could lead to a wider domino effect across Europe.”

Britain’s contrasting approach

The British debate perhaps highlights a different policy route in which governments may tighten oversight or improve transparency without moving directly to a ban. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (the RSPCA), 88% of halal slaughter in the UK is stunned. Furthermore, according to an analysis by the Halal Food Information Centre, non-stun slaughter (halal and kosher) accounts for 2.9% of animals in the UK, well below the 7% Muslim and Jewish population. This makes an important case of whether imposing the ban is about animal welfare or more about optics.

It wasn't a surprise when, in June 2025, British members of parliament revisited the question of non-stun slaughter, deciding against removing religious exemptions. Ministers emphasised existing slaughterhouse regulation, trained operators, and veterinary supervision. Several MPs expressed interest in clearer labelling rather than prohibition.

The argument for tighter bans

The European Court of Human Rights emphasised that democratic societies attach increasing importance to animal welfare. European institutions have also begun reviewing broader animal welfare legislation, indicating that the regulatory framework is still evolving.

Advocates of reform also argue that religious freedom has limits. Liberal democracies place boundaries around religious practices when public interests are involved. In their view, slaughter practices fall within that category.

The argument against bans

Opponents of bans accept the need to protect animal welfare. Their concern lies with proportionality and consistency.

Critics argue that ritual slaughter has become a highly visible target while other welfare issues attract less scrutiny. Industrial slaughter errors and transport stress raise serious welfare questions, yet they rarely dominate political debate in the same way.

European Commission coordinator Katharina von Schnurbein warned several years ago that ritual slaughter debates can push Jewish and Muslim communities into defensive positions. 

Industry voices raise practical concerns as well. Rizvan Khalid, managing director of Euro Quality Lambs Ltd, describes the current approach as “a sledgehammer-to-crack-a-nut approach rather than a more nuanced approach to assess welfare against religious rights.”

He argues that stunning is not a panacea, adding that “mis-stuns, which are very painful, routinely occur.” Blanket bans may also drive demand toward imported meat produced outside the EU, potentially under weaker welfare conditions.

Khalid also points to a gap in policy thinking. Electric head-only stunning is accepted by some halal authorities, while gas or captive-bolt stunning remains controversial. Greater investment in identifying compatible methods could improve welfare without excluding religious practices.

A debate far from settled

Context matters, and the conflict, while often framed as a technical dispute about slaughter methods, points to a deeper question of how far European communities are willing to accommodate religious difference when it conflicts with secular ethical norms. 

A gradual shift toward stricter regulation appears likely in some countries. Others may favour incremental reforms such as improved labelling, tighter oversight, or research into reversible stunning.

More than slaughterhouse policy, the outcome will influence how European states reconcile animal welfare with religious freedom in increasingly diverse societies.

The UAE Central Bank’s initiative to build a sovereign cloud platform for the country’s financial institutions goes beyond data residency, according to experts. 

The AI-powered sovereign financial cloud service infrastructure, which will function on an isolated yet centralized architecture, is designed to ensure the continuous availability of critical financial services for the local financial sector. 

“Sovereign financial clouds are designed to protect the financial system itself, not just the data inside it,” Matt Kaluzny, a cloud & data architect tells Salaam Gateway.

“The objective of sovereign financial clouds is to combine the scale and maturity of global cloud platforms with national control over sensitive financial infrastructure.”

Operated by Core42, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi technology group G42, the platform will ensure data sovereignty and integrity, isolating it from global outages, cyber threats and geopolitical disruptions.  Embedded real-time analytics and AI monitoring will add an additional layer, driving intelligent automation, deeper operational insights and better decision making. 

A sovereign cloud is a cloud computing service curated to store and process data in compliance with local laws and security standards.

“Sovereign cloud is a cloud ecosystem that ensures complete control over data, infrastructure, and operations, free from external jurisdictional influence, and aligned with local regulatory, technical, and operational requirements,” Manish Ranjan, research director for software & cloud at International Data Corporation tells Salaam Gateway. 

Western hyperscalers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Oracle and Microsoft have substantial presence on ground, operating assets across the UAE. AWS launched its Middle East (UAE) region in 2022, which includes three availability zones housing one or more data centres; Oracle and Microsoft both run multiple cloud regions, including data centres in the country. 

The key difference between the two configurations lies in its jurisdictional control and focus. For instance, AWS cloud is sovereign-by-design, offering controls that permit customers to meet their sovereignty requirements, but a sovereign cloud is a purpose-built, isolated environment, operating under state’s oversight and control. 

“Global providers such as AWS already support UAE rules on data location, privacy, and assurance and are widely used by banks. By embedding security guardrails, automated policy checks, and reporting, [the sovereign financial cloud] minimises compliance overhead and accelerates deployment. Banks still retain architectural and operational control of their applications and data, but they benefit from a more standardized, regulator aligned environment,” says Ranjan. 

Centralizing governance, localizing control
Lijo Joseph, IT project manager at Pru Life UK says that what makes this significant is the idea of introducing regulatory oversight directly into financial infrastructure. 

“Today, many financial institutions operate with different cloud environments, different security controls, different compliance interpretations. Instead of every bank solving compliance independently, governance becomes part of the platform itself,” explains Joseph. 

Core42’s broader sovereign cloud strategy is publicly centred around a multi-year partnership with Microsoft, but whether the sovereign financial cloud will leverage the hyperscale capabilities of the alliance remains unclear. 

“Core42 has a long-standing partnership with Microsoft and already operates large-scale AI and cloud platforms using Azure technology. It is therefore likely that elements of this partnership will support parts of the sovereign financial cloud infrastructure. However, in sovereign cloud models, the key question is not only which hyperscaler technology is used, but who governs the environment and controls the critical security layers,” adds Kaluzny. 

“While the cloud may leverage global hyperscaler technologies, operational control remains local. This means that critical elements such as security tooling, access policies, and encryption key management are administered within the UAE under national regulatory oversight. The sovereign operator controls how the infrastructure is configured, monitored, and governed, while hyperscaler platforms provide the underlying technology stack.” 

What is clear in no uncertain terms is that it will rev up innovation and ingenious solutions through the platform.

The sovereign financial cloud platform will potentially drive innovation more than a general purpose cloud, says Ranjan, with a sector specific sovereign platform creating a shared digital foundation across banks, allowing them to experiment, co-develop, and scale solutions. 

“However, it is critical to ensure this platform supports modern cloud native tooling and open standards,” he adds, “so it doesn’t slow down the pace of innovation that the financial sector now expects.”

As Ramadan 2026 draws to a close, the Middle East is confronting a stark reality. While the region’s ongoing conflicts are estimated to cost a staggering $1 billion a day, humanitarian organizations are grappling with shrinking budgets and record-breaking displacement. 

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 19 million people are currently internally displaced across the Middle East. 

Amid these overlapping and incessant crises, Zakat has transformed from a religious obligation into a sophisticated, multi-million-dollar engine of survival.

“Zakat provides a structured system of support that can quickly reach those most affected,” Annabel Turner, communications officer at IOM tells Salaam Gateway.

“Across the region, these funds are helping sustain refugees, widows, and families struggling to survive.”

Faith-based giving meets humanitarian response

This Ramadan, humanitarian organizations are expanding efforts to channel Zakat into emergency relief programs across multiple conflict zones.

IOM recently launched the second edition of its annual Share the Blessings campaign through its Islamic Philanthropy Fund (IPF).

The initiative builds on last year’s pilot project focused on Sudan, expanding its reach this year across multiple humanitarian emergencies, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Gaza Strip, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

“This year’s campaign combines faith-aligned giving, broader reach, and a transparent digital platform to make Zakat a tool for immediate relief and longer-term resilience,” says Turner. 

Since launching in 2025, the IPF has secured more than $20 million in pledges and commitments, which will enable it to support over 30,000 people affected by humanitarian crises, according to Turner.

For Islamic Relief Canada, a major focus of this year’s Zakat program is emergency support for Gaza, where funds will help provide food assistance, clean water, medical services, and cash support to families affected by the ongoing crisis.

“The program aims to support over 600,000 people, including children, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities,” Houda Kerkadi, media and press relations specialist at Islamic Relief Canada tells Salaam Gateway.

In 2025, Islamic Relief Canada raised 33.87 million Canadian dollars in Zakat funds, an increase from 31.25 million Canadian dollars in 2024 and 22.06 million Canadian dollars in 2023, reflecting continued growth in Zakat giving. Combined with other charitable contributions such as Sadaqah, the funds enabled the NGO to support more than 4.4 million people worldwide in 2025.

At the same time, local organizations are scaling up their own Zakat initiatives. Amman-based NGO Tkiyet Um Ali directed its 2026 Ramadan Zakat funds to vulnerable families in both Jordan and Gaza, where it delivered food parcels and rehabilitated shelter facilities for 6,000 displaced people.

Elsewhere, Egypt’s Tahya Misr Fund recently partnered with the House of Zakat to send 780 tonnes of food and essential supplies to the Gaza Strip, providing crucial support to displaced families during the holy month.

Rebuilding healthcare infrastructure

While many organizations focus on immediate relief, the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) is using Zakat to solve a different crisis: the collapse of healthcare. After more than a decade of conflict, Syria’s healthcare system remains severely damaged, with many hospitals destroyed or left without the resources needed to function.

Dr. Abdulfatah Elshaar, SAMS Foundation chairman, says the financial burden of healthcare often pushes already vulnerable families into complete financial collapse.

"Access to free healthcare removes one of the largest financial burdens vulnerable families face," Dr. Elshaar tells Salaam Gateway. "It means parents do not have to choose between paying for treatment and providing food or shelter for their children."

To sustain these lifelines, SAMS is investing heavily in rebuilding healthcare infrastructure, including $12 million for the Idlib Specialty Hospital and $6 million for the Idlib Maternity & Children’s Hospital.

“This Ramadan, our focus is sustaining life-saving medical services while continuing to contribute to rebuilding healthcare systems for communities that have endured years of conflict and displacement,” says Dr. Elshaar. 

Today, SAMS supports more than 65 healthcare facilities across Syria, offering services ranging from maternity care and cancer treatment to mental health support. In 2025 alone, the organization delivered more than three million medical services to over one million patients.

The impact of these services is reflected in individual stories like that of Fatima, a displaced mother from rural Aleppo who recently delivered her baby safely at a SAMS-supported maternity hospital after months without access to medical care.

"Stories like Fatima’s reflect the vital role these facilities play in protecting the lives of mothers and children," says Dr. Elshaar. 

The widening gap between need and funding

Despite the growing scale of Zakat-funded initiatives, the humanitarian needs across the region continue to outpace available resources. 

Across the region, wars, economic collapse, and climate shocks are pushing new populations into poverty each year. In places like Gaza and Sudan, repeated displacement has stripped many families of their homes and livelihoods.

“The biggest challenge is the scale of need,” Karim Amer, UNRWA's director of partnerships tells Salaam Gateway. “The gap between what Zakat can do and the level of funding needed to meet the growing humanitarian needs remains enormous.”

Long-term recovery poses another hurdle.

“Critical gaps remain in underfunded and protracted crises, as well as longer-term recovery and livelihoods support,” says Turner.

While Zakat is highly effective in delivering immediate relief, rebuilding entire communities requires sustained investment over many years.

Organizations like SAMS are increasingly pairing emergency support with longer-term development initiatives. Through its Syria Health 2030 campaign, the group is investing in major projects designed to restore the country’s healthcare capacity. 

Similarly, Islamic Relief Canada is expanding programs that combine emergency aid with longer-term recovery.  

“While much Zakat funding understandably supports immediate humanitarian needs, expanding its use in areas such as livelihoods, education, and economic empowerment can help create more sustainable pathways out of poverty,” explains Kerkadi. 

“Strengthening the connection between short-term assistance and longer-term resilience could help maximize the overall impact of Zakat.”

Zakat contributions are doing far more than fulfilling a religious obligation across conflict zones - this steady stream of funding is keep hospitals accessible, preventing families from being evicted, and delivering a fragile sense of stability to a people who perhaps have very little left to lose.

From animation studios in Islamabad to YouTube channel operators in Dhaka and Maharashtra, South Asia is emerging as one of the most dynamic frontiers for Islamic children’s animation. 

Long overshadowed by Western and East Asian content giants, the region is now cultivating its own ecosystem - one rooted in Islamic storytelling, cultural authenticity, and rapidly evolving digital tools. 

Pakistan offers innovation amid economic instability

Pakistan has long been a wellspring of animation talent, producing some of the region’s most influential Islamic and socially conscious children’s content.

The country’s modern animation trajectory is often traced back to Burka Avenger, the internationally acclaimed animated TV series that blended superhero storytelling with themes of girls’ education and social justice.

“Over the past few years, many strong animation studios have emerged in Pakistan, largely driven by the success of Burka Avenger,” Abbas Saleem, a UAE-based transmedia specialist, and producer of Burka Avenger, tells Salaam Gateway. 

“The show helped spark a new generation of animators and paved the way for numerous animation projects that followed,” adds Saleem, who operates across games, animation, and UX comics.

Pakistan has also played a pioneering role in animation technology – becoming the first nation to produce an animated film built using Unreal Engine, the 3D creation platform developed by US-based Epic Games.

“This milestone was achieved by 3rd World Studios in Islamabad, which went on to create two films built using this tool,” says Saleem. 

“At the time, using Unreal Engine - one of the most widely used engines in game development -for animation was revolutionary. Today, studios around the world are adopting it for animation and visual effects, making it a pioneering achievement for Pakistan.”

More recently, the country has witnessed experimentation at the intersection of faith and artificial intelligence. In September 2025, Pakistan’s Jinn TV – a new-media channel rolled out last July - launched Zayd & Fatima, the country’s first AI-powered Islamic cartoon series. Designed for early childhood audiences, the show introduces children to everyday prayers, patience, gratitude, and kindness through playful storytelling.

Jinn TV, which attracted more than two million views on YouTube by December, reportedly plans to expand to India, Bangladesh, and other regional markets.

Alongside studios and platforms, independent creators are reshaping the landscape - often bypassing traditional broadcasters altogether. YouTube has become a critical launchpad for Islamic themed children’s animation, allowing creators to reach global audiences with modest resources.

Pakistan-based 3D artist Dr. Hina Mahmood launched the Jannah Kids YouTube channel last August, using relatable, family-based storytelling to introduce Islamic values.

“I want children to learn good manners, the lives of the Prophets, stories of the companions, teachings from the Qur’an and Hadith - and understand Islamic knowledge in a simple, enjoyable form,” Mahmood tells Salaam Gateway. 

Her long-term vision includes interactive tools, augmented reality-supported lessons, and partnerships with Islamic scholars.

Her work prioritizes realism and emotional familiarity. “I try to keep the cartoon world very close to real life,” she says, “where children can see their own homes, families, and daily routines reflected in the characters.”

Beyond moral storytelling, Jannah Kids integrates early childhood education within meaningful narratives. “The experience becomes like an online school for kids. This blended approach makes our content accessible and relatable even for non-Muslim families,” adds Mahmood. 

How Bangladesh can leverage demand to achieve scale

Bangladesh has also become a fertile ground for Islamic children’s animation, particularly on YouTube. Channels such as AMP Young Stars, Islamic Cartoon Bangla, and Prio Cartoon Tube are gaining traction by delivering Islamic storytelling in Bengali.

“I’ve loved cartoons since childhood, which led me to take a course in animation and eventually start creating cartoon videos for YouTube,” Mahbubur Rahman, founder of Prio Cartoon Tube tells Salaam Gateway.

“As I explored the platform, I noticed that while there was an abundance of children’s cartoons, very few focused on educational storytelling,” he adds. 

“That gap inspired me to create educational animated content. Because Islam is a complete way of life, I chose Islamic values as the foundation for these stories.”

Launched in 2016, Prio Cartoon Tube currently has close to one million subscribers. Its videos, so far 121 in number, have attracted more than 296 million views, despite being produced exclusively in Bengali - a fact Rahman sees as both a limitation and an opportunity.

“At present, we produce Islamic cartoon videos only in Bengali but expanding into other languages would allow us to reach a much wider audience, making Islamic knowledge more accessible and helping educate more people through engaging, values-based storytelling.”

“The number of Islamic cartoon channels in South Asia remains very small, despite the region’s strong potential,” he says. “Our most-watched video has surpassed three million views, and it is produced entirely in Bengali.”

India’s Islamic animation push

Meanwhile, India - home to some 172 million Muslims and the world’s third-largest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan - is also emerging as a gold mine for Islamic-centred animation aimed at young audiences.

“There is definitely a growing demand for Islamic cartoons in India,” Qari Ziya Ur Rahman Farooqui, founder and director of Kids Message, India’s first 3D Islamic cartoon channel, tells Salaam Gateway.

“This interest is driven by several factors: rising parental awareness about children’s digital content consumption, concerns about inappropriate or faith-compromising themes in mainstream cartoons, and a stronger desire to preserve Islamic identity from an early age.”

Launched in 2020, Kids Message was founded with a clear mission: to nurture the faith of the next generation through modern digital storytelling. Since its debut, the channel has amassed more than 206,000 subscribers.

Its 761 videos have collectively drawn nearly 39 million views - a sign of robust appetite for values-driven children’s programming in a crowded online market.

“The inspiration for the channel came from observing how deeply children are attached to mobile phones,” says Farooqui. 

“Keeping them completely away from screens has become extremely difficult... Instead of discouraging screen time, we decided to provide a meaningful alternative - Islamic 3D cartoons that are engaging, entertaining, and rooted in authentic values.”

To maximise reach, Kids Message maintains an active presence across multiple social media platforms, positioning itself squarely within digital ecosystems where children and families already spend considerable time.

A market coming into focus

With nearly 650 million Muslims spread across South Asia - more than any other region in the world - the geography represents a vast and largely untapped audience for Islamic animated content.

Yet despite its traction, scaling up remains a challenge. Funding constraints continue to limit the scope and ambition of Islamic animation in India.

“What is currently missing in the market is large-scale, professionally produced Islamic 3D animated content from India. This field requires significant funding, time, skilled teams, and technical infrastructure. Because of the high cost and long production cycles, very few organizations are willing to invest in it,” explains Farooqui.

Taken together, developments across South Asia point to a sector on the cusp of maturation. While challenges remain, the building blocks are firmly in place: creative talent, scalable digital platforms, and a massive, underserved audience hungry for meaningful children’s content.

As studios professionalize, creators collaborate across borders, and investors take notice, Islamic children’s animation in the region is shifting from niche to necessity, reshaping how young Muslims view themselves and their faith.

While the Islamic fintech ecosystem in Malaysia thrives on innovation backed by a consumer-centric vision, its landscape overseen by an institutional framework where responsibilities are clearly outlined has emerged as a winning strategy.  

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) oversees Islamic banking and sets standards for Shariah compliance across financial institutions, while the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) regulates capital markets, digital asset exchanges and peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platforms.

The SC’s Shariah Advisory Council provides an additional layer of formal oversight, ensuring that innovation remains tied to recognised jurisprudence.

This structure has given digital platforms a clearer rulebook as opposed to what exists in several other markets. It also reflects a long-standing Malaysian principle: fintech is an extension of the financial system, not a parallel space outside of it.

Programmes such as the SC’s FIKRA ACE Accelerator further integrate Islamic fintech into the capital markets ecosystem, offering structured pathways for start-ups rather than a purely experimental environment.      

At a policy level, cooperation between the SC and the Islamic Development Bank has also positioned Malaysia as a reference point for knowledge exchange among the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) states.

Aizuddinur Zakaria, founder and principal at HAL Fintech Advisor and Adjunct Professor at University College TATI, tells Salaam Gateway that Malaysia has built “one of the most extensive Shariah governing systems in the world,” pointing to the formal Shariah governance framework introduced by BNM in 2010, which embeds structured Shariah risk management, review, research and audit functions within Islamic financial institutions. 

He adds that Malaysia’s role as a financial hub, hosting institutions such as the Islamic Financial Services Board has helped shape regulatory thinking beyond its borders, cascading across Southeast Asia.

A practical example: P2P under Shariah rules
The efficacy of Malaysia’s governance model can be seen in its regulated P2P financing sector. Platforms such as microLEAP operate under SC licensing, with Shariah-compliant notes structured around trade-based contracts rather than interest. Shariah advisers review structures, while credit assessment, risk management and disclosure obligations mirror those of conventional platforms.

The model illustrates how Malaysia has embedded Islamic contracts into digital intermediation without foregoing regulatory expectations. Returns to investors are framed as profits from underlying transactions — such as Murabahah sales — rather than fixed interest, and Shariah compliance is treated as a supervisory matter rather than a mere marketing feature.

Influence beyond Malaysia
The Malaysian regulatory handbook offers vital lessons on how to integrate Shariah boards, financial regulators, and digital market supervision within one system for interoperability and greater synergy. 

Regulatory bodies and policy experts across Muslim-majority markets, particularly Southeast Asia, are taking a leaf out of Malaysia’s regulatory book. Neighbouring Indonesia, for example, has expanded its fintech regulatory sandbox under the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and is seeking closer coordination between financial supervisory and Shariah certification bodies.
                                                  
Othman Al Duwaiki, Shariah adviser and compliance manager at Oman-based EthisX, tells Salaam Gateway that Malaysia’s Shariah governance framework has been “widely referenced and, to a significant extent, adopted or adapted across multiple jurisdictions, influencing Shariah governance practices beyond its borders."       

However, regulatory approaches remain “largely country-specific in practice,” Zakaria says, noting that legal systems, institutional structures and Shariah interpretation still diverge, with the GCC markets often aligning more closely with AAOIFI standards while Southeast Asia following regulator-led dual frameworks.

That is to be expected as influence rarely means copy-and-paste. Indonesia’s legal structure and religious authority framework differ, and thus, the regulatory adaptation reflects local priorities around consumer protection and systemic stability.

Another example in the GCC is that of the UAE, which hosts both tightly controlled onshore regulation and more experimental regimes within financial freezones such as the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Here, digital assets and tokenised securities are recognised under dedicated frameworks.

These environments often move faster on financial technology, but their Shariah governance structures are not organised in the same centralised manner as Malaysia’s.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, meanwhile, pursue their own regulatory paths, reflecting different balances between innovation and prudential caution.      

Technical blueprint
Malaysia’s contribution to Islamic fintech is therefore less about exporting a template and more about demonstrating how digital finance can be integrated into a pre-existing Shariah governance system. The framework illustrates how fintech can operate under formal Shariah supervision without detaching from mainstream regulation.
     
Islamic fintech is still young, and its regulatory direction is far from settled. What Malaysia offers is a case study in sequencing: building institutional oversight first and allowing digital innovation to develop within it.

Whether other jurisdictions move closer to that model will depend on their own financial architecture and policy choices, but the Malaysian blueprint does offer key governance takeaways worthy enough to emulate.