Islamic Banking And Interest

A critical study of the interpretation of "riba" in Islam, the attempts of Islamic banks to put the interpretation into practice, the problems associated with these attempts and an argument for rethinking the interpretation.

Islamic finance is founded on principles that constitute the guidelines governing any Islamic economic or financial dealings. Innovative financial engineering today constitutes one of the most critical needs of Islamic financial institutions. It represents the forces that will drive Islamic finance toward continuous growth and efficiency. The structuring of new financing and Shariah-complaint instruments plays an important role in the enhancement of Islamic financial markets, and Islamic risk management practices, combining basic Shariah-complaint financial instruments within Shariah structures to precise identified needs. The financial engineering process in Islamic finance is a process that is very sensitive and complex. It requires multidisciplinary considerations, involving deep knowledge of finance, economy, Shariah law and commercial law. Divergence of opinions among different Shariah scholars and boards, as well as the absence or lack of effectiveness of a central regulatory body, is perceived as an obstacle to the growth of investment confidence in Islamic finance. Hence, innovation, along with greater uniformity, is essential to make Islamic finance an international financial system and to attract a greater number of customers. This book addresses the main issues of concern within Islamic banking, namely the development of conceptual framework, the viability of interest-free banking, and the assessment of its performance and future. In a world where conventional interest-based finance is the dominant framework, Islamic banking faces many challenges that must be addressed. This book discusses these issues and challenges and will be of great interest to both researchers and practitioners. It analyses the past experiences of Islamic banks worldwide, and provides an objective assessment of their successes and failures.

The Handbook of Islamic Banking comprises 25 studies by leading international experts on Islamic banking and finance specially commissioned to analyse the various debates and the current state of play in the field. From its origins thirty years ago, Islamic banking has expanded rapidly to become a distinctive and fast growing segment of the international banking and capital markets. Despite this expansion, Islamic banking still remains poorly understood in many parts of the Muslim world and continues to be a mystery in much of the West. This comprehensive Handbook provides a succinct analysis of the workings of Islamic banking and finance, accessible to a wide range of readers. At the same time, it seeks to bring the current research agenda and the main issues on Islamic banking before a wider audience. Islamic banking offers, as an alternative to conventional interest-based financing methods, a wide variety of financial instruments and investment vehicles based on profit-and-loss sharing arrangements. These are all explored in detail along with other subjects such as governance and risk management, securities and investment, structured financing, accounting and regulation, economic development and globalization. M. Kabir Hassan, Mervyn Lewis and the other contributors have created an authoritative and original reference work, which will contribute to a wider understanding of Islamic banking as well as provoking further discussion and research. It will be invaluable to all scholars, researchers and policymakers with an interest in this subject.

Islamic finance has been growing faster than conventional finance for most of the past decade. It has done this on a model of finance that rejects interest and promotes profit sharing. How is this possible? Yet the wealth potential of Islamic finance is far from being its most attractive feature. What is most compelling about Islamic finance are its ethical principles and strong corporate governance based on Shariah law. This SECOND EDITION explains and updates how conventional financial products work — from mortgages and leases to trade finance and insurance — before delving into their Islamic versions and contains three new topics on microfinance, the ethical company and wealth successionAbout the Authors Daud Vicary Abdullah has been in the finance and consulting industry for more than 40 years, and has focused solely on Islamic finance since 2002. At Hong Leong Islamic Bank, he was instrumental in transforming an Islamic banking window into a full-fledged Islamic banking subsidiary. Today, he helms INCEIF (International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance), the global university for Islamic finance set up by Bank Negara (Central Bank of Malaysia) in December 2005. He is also a frequent speaker and commentator on matters relating to Islamic finance. Keon Chee is a senior executive in Singapore where he oversees the wills, trusts and corporate services businesses in his firm. He has many years' experience in investment research, derivatives, financial training and insurance. He obtained an MBA from Columbia University and an LL.B (Hons) from the University of London, and enjoys using his broad background in helping clients with their estate planning needs. He is also co-author of the best-selling Make Your Money Work For You.

The recent turbulence in the global financial markets has drawn attention to an alternative system of financial intermediation: Islamic banking and finance, which has so far remained on the sidelines of the unrest. Islamic Finance in a Nutshell is a quick and easy guide to understanding the fundamentals of Islamic Finance and how the Islamic Financial markets work. Designed as a quick read for practitioners needing to pick up the basics of the industry, it will enable readers to understand the differences Islamic and Western finance. Starting with the rise of Islamic finance, the book highlights the key areas which practitioners need to grasp to understand the marketplace including financial statement analysis, Sharia’a law, making money in the absence of interest and regulation. The book also provides readers with a basic guide to Arab terminology and a guide to the top financial institutions within the Islamic markets. This is an ideal guide for anyone with an interest in how these financial markets work, but who do not want to be bogged down in complex and unnecessary terminology.

With Islamic banking gradually becoming a more influential factor in the West, an analysis of the concept of riba– a definition of which is not given in the Qur’an – is long overdue. This text presents readers with various interpretations of this Islamic economic concept – generally perceived as ‘interest’. Thomas provides a framework for understanding ribaby examining: linguistics classical judicial analysis the historical context modern economics. Including contributions from prominent international scholars, the book fills a gap in the existing literature and will be welcomed by academics and professionals with an interest in Islamic studies, economics and legal history.

A detailed look at the fast-growing field of Islamic finance and banking The guiding principle of Islamic finance has existed throughout Islamic history, yet modern Islamic banking has been around for a relatively short period of time. Author Amr Mohamed El Tiby is an expert in this field, and with this new book, he reveals how you can benefit from the use of Islamic banking strategies in your financial endeavors. Engaging and accessible, Islamic Banking shows the impact this approach has made on conventional banking since the 1950s, and why it's such a big player in the current market. It offers a unique look at various aspects of this field, including the salient features of Islamic banking that distinguishes it from non-Islamic banking, the development of the regulatory bodies and supervisory agencies that support the Islamic banking system, and much more. It also explores the nature of risk in Islamic banking and the issues of capital adequacy, corporate governance, transparency, and risk associated with Islamic banking. Discusses the history and development of Islamic finance Offers straightforward strategies for implementing Islamic finance into your business activities Sheds light on the effect of the global economic crisis on Islamic banks versus conventional banks Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, this detailed analysis of Islamic finance will help you gain a firm understanding of how effective this proven approach can be.

This is a book for students seeking an introduction to Islamic banking. It covers both the theory and the practice of Islamic banking in enough detail to make it easy to read and interesting. Difficult concepts are clearly explained without being overpowered by mathematics, and it is a one-stop shop for information on Islamic banking. With case studies taken from Islamic to mixed systems the development of Islamic banking is thoroughly explored, with history and analysis complementing the more theoretical issues like the prohibition of interest.