Revisiting Islamic Economics

This book discusses the need for a paradigm shift from Islamic economics universe of discourse to Iqtisād, a socio-economic system that is entirely independent from other economic doctrines and systems of thought. It provides an overview of critiques of the science and dogma of mainstream, orthodox, neoclassical, or simply Economics, with its axioms of rationality, scarcity, and unlimited wants. There is also a critical analysis of Islamic economics, and its failures to set its own policy agenda and development objectives. Our contention in this book is that Iqtisād--the Qur’an’s vision of how the economy is to be arranged—provides such a paradigm with a radically different philosophical foundation from that of Economics to the point that makes grafting one onto the other Impossible. Iqtisād offers a genuine and authentic Islamic paradigm with unique etymological and philosophical foundations. It is a unique system that derives its organizing principles from the principal source of the Quran, rather than Economics. The logical coherence of its immutable system of rules compliance, institutional structures, and risk-sharing relations provides the foundations for economic dynamism, financial stability, and shared prosperity. It ensures that resources are efficiently managed, poverty is eradicated, income and wealth mal-distributions are corrected, and the internal sources of economic injustices gripping human societies are eliminated. The Impossibility Theorem proposed in this book implies that, metaphysically, ontologically, epistemologically, axiologically, and teleologically, the two polar cases of Iqtisād and Economics are so radically different to rule out any grafting of one onto the other in order to present an intermediate paradigm with a synthetic discipline called Islamic economics. Given its multidisciplinary contents, this book will be of interest to a wide audience, including economists, policymakers, philosophers, theologians, and jurists, and can guide also free-thinking readers to a clarity of understanding about the conditions of humanity and the imperative of change with a sincerity of purpose and coherence in knowledge.

Islamic finance’s phenomenal growth owes to the Shariah compliant nature of its financial instruments. Shariah forbids the charging of interest (Riba) and instead promulgates risk-sharing and trade-based modes of financing. The Islamic financial industry has been subject to both critique and admiration. Critics argue that Islamic instruments (bearing debt-based structures) differ from their conventional counterparts only in legal lexicon and not in economic impact. The admirers argue that such instruments, irrespective of wider economic implications, rigorously comply with ‘juristically sound’ Islamic principles. This book aims to reconcile the above dispute. It argues that the financial impact of instruments is a consequence of the way they are priced and structured. The similarity in pricing and structures is an outcome not of the underlying Islamic financial modes but of the competitive environment in which Islamic instruments compete. Even risk-sharing and trade-based Islamic structures, if implemented in such an environment, would have a financial impact similar to that of conventional instruments. This book has a wider appeal for both academic and non-academic audiences. It can complement undergraduate and graduate courses as an additional reading on the intricacies of Islamic financial instruments and markets. For PhD students, it would help identify future research areas. To non-academics, it offers a deeper understanding regarding the working of the Islamic finance industry.

A historical analysis of economic thought in Islamic tradition which interrogates contemporary Islamic economics as a hybrid system.

The Islamic perception of the socio-economic process is dynamic and its insistence on social justice is uncompromising. To produce the best social structure, according to this view, man's economic endeavours should be motivated by a meaningful moral philosophy. In the face of the challenges presented by the modern world, the practice of Islamic economics raises many complex and profound issues. These are addressed in this highly important work, which must be considered essential reading for all those who live in the vision of the 'right'.

Notes on Islamic Economics: Theories and InstitutionsIn this book I present the basic theories and the institutional set up of Islamic economics. It consists of chapters one through eleven. Chapters one and two attempt to answer the questions of 'what is Islamic Economics' and 'why we need to study it', they also discuss issues of definition, scope, sources of knowledge and relevance. The third chapter deals with the basic values and ethical questions of Islamic economics both as a branch of science and as a study of the Islamic economic system. It briefly studies ethical values which affect economic behaviour of men and women like of efficiency, performance, self-reliance, perfection and benevolence. Chapter four discusses the fundamental institutional setup of the Islamic economic system. It argues that the Islamic institutional set up is based on nine pillars which are: 1) Property rights, 2) Exchange and contracts, 3) Economic freedom, 4) Market structure, 5) Wealth and income, 6) State of law, 7) Economic activity of the state, 8) Internal ethical monitor, and 9) Mercy and caring. The next two chapters are devoted to the discussion of the position and place of the state and the private sector in the system and the interrelations between them. The main argument of these chapters is that while the Islamic system adores private ownership and economic freedom, it assigns an important role to the state, in all its branches, and charges it with important functions including the management of public properties and natural resources, which may be huge under certain circumstances. Islamic theories of consumer behavior and producer behavior are discussed in chapters seven and eight. The basic theorem of these two chapters is that human beings are not one dimensional. They rather have a benevolent facet of their behaviors which is present both in the consumers and the firms as well. The analysis in these two chapters tries to take this behavioral element into consideration. Chapter nine revisits the market and deals with the structure of prices at the micro level. It argues that the market reforms introduced by the Prophet, pbuh, himself were very exemplary in setting the desired structure for the market on the basis of fair play of market forces of demand and supply without elements of injustice which may come from monopoly, financial power, unethical practices by some actors or insufficient power of enforcement of exchange contracts. At the same time the Islamic market structure does not assume conditions of perfect competition. The last two chapters are devoted to discussing the effect of market structure on the factors of production and on the allocation process of resources. They also discuss regulations in the market and their extent and effects.In this book as in the other three books of this series, I deal with the fundamental issues of Islamic economics and finance in a realistic yet innovative manner while observing fundamental relations, ties and inspiration from the basic sources of the Islamic religion and its Shari'ah rulings; the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

Under the rule of the current economic order, social injustice is ever-increasing. Issues such as poverty, inhumane working conditions, inadequate wages, social insecurity and an unhealthy labor market continue to persist. Many states are also unable to produce policies capable of resolving these problems. The characteristics of the capitalist system currently render it unable to provide social justice. In fact, on the contrary, the system reinforces these injustices and prevents economic and social welfare from reaching the masses. Many Muslim scholars have analyzed and, indeed, criticized this system for years. This book argues that an alternative and more equitable theoretical and practical economical order can been developed within the framework of Islamic principles. On the other hand, the experiences of societies under the rule of Muslim governments do not always seem to hold great promise for an alternative understanding of social justice. In addition, the behaviors of Muslim individuals within their economic lives are mostly shaped by the necessities of daily economic conditions rather than by the tenets of Islam that stand with social justice. Until 1990s, studies of Islamic economics made connections between finance and the notion of social justice, but work conducted more recently has neglected this issue. It is therefore evident that the topic of social justice needs to be revisited in a more in-depth manner. Filling an important gap in existing literature, the book uniquely connects social justice and Islamic finance and economics on this topic. Theory, practice and key issues are presented simultaneously throughout this book, which is based on the writings of a number of eminent scholars.

This book, the first of two volumes, highlights the concept of financial inclusion from the Islamic perspective. An important element of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), financial inclusion has been given significant prominence in reform and development agendas proposed by the United Nations and G-20. The significance of Islamic financial inclusion goes beyond improved access to finance to encompass enhanced access to savings and risk mitigation products, as well as social inclusion that allows individuals and companies to engage more actively in the real economy. It represents one of the important drivers of economic growth. Gender disparity exists within financial access and its extent varies widely across world economies. South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa have the largest gender gaps, with women in these regions being forty per cent less likely than men to have a formal account at a financial institution. Analysing how Islamic financial inclusion can empower individuals, this volume explores the contribution of Islamic microfinance in achieving SDGs and solving income and wealth inequality. Comprising a combination of empirical evidence, theory and modelling, this edited collection illustrates how to improve access to finance, making it essential reading for those researching both Islamic finance and development finance.