The movement imagines “969” as a symbolic counter to the number
786, a numerological representation of “Bismillah ar-Rahman arRahim”
(“in the name of Allah”) and a shorthand for Islam used among
some Muslims in Asian countries. The number 786 has a practical
purpose, as Muslim restaurants
display a 786 sticker to indicate
to customers that they serve halal
food, although it also functions as
a more general notification that
the business is Muslim-owned. In
response to this, the 969 movement
distributed stickers for their followers to designate businesses as
Buddhist-owned, and encouraged followers to “Buy Buddhist.” Behind
this campaign may lie resentments about the economic success of some
members of the Myanmar Muslim community, who historically comprised
the mercantile class and so enjoyed financial success.