A comprehensive look at the innovations, applications, and best practices of Islamic finance Islamic-compliant finance is transacted in every major world financial center, and the need for information on the topic in light of its global reach has grown exponentially. As an expert in this field, author Karen Hunt-Ahmed understands the intricacies of this area of the capital markets. Now, along with the help of a number of experienced contributors, she skillfully addresses Islamic finance from the perspective of practitioners, examining issues in wealth management, contract law, private equity, asset management, and much more. Engaging and accessible, Contemporary Islamic Finance skillfully explains the practices and innovations of Islamic finance in everything from banking and real estate to private equity, asset management, and many other areas. It is intended to be the go-to resource for both Muslims as well as non-Muslims with an interest in the subject. Divided into three comprehensive parts, it will put you in a better position to understand, and excel at, this important endeavor. Introduces you to the history, legal structures, and basic financial contracts in the industry Highlights the various issues facing contemporary Islamic finance practitioners, and details their significance in the contemporary financial and cultural environment Includes case studies of United States-based transactions and related challenges and successes Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, this detailed analysis of Contemporary Islamic Finance will help you gain a firm understanding of how effective this proven approach can be.

Islamic finance is one of the fastest growing segments in the global financial market. However, while the principles and concepts of Islamic finance date since the founding of Islam, it is only recently that widespread application and practice has developed. Further, while predominately Muslim countries obviously fuel the growth of Islamic finance world-wide, both Islamic and conventional financial institutions in countries with smaller Muslim populations, including the UK, the US, and in Europe, are increasingly providing Shariah-compliant financial products and services. The recent global financial crisis especially has encouraged customers and regulators in many countries to consider Islamic finance as an alternative to conventional financial systems. This book compiles recent and cutting edge research in Islamic finance, including Islamic banking, and provides a useful starting point for discussion and policy formulation for academic, industry and government researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and students alike throughout the world. Contributors to the volume include academics with Islamic finance expertise and practitioners and policymakers with a long history of involvement in the sector from across four countries. This mix ensures that the book has comprehensive coverage of many of the issues involved, is highly accessible to the professional and non-professional reader alike, and that it will serve as an authoritative source of information on Islamic finance for years to come.

The development of Islamic banking and finance (IBF) previously centred around three regions of the world: the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. However, in recent years, this has expanded, as interest in IBF has gained momentum in Australia, the USA, and Europe, especially in the UK. Several Western market players have established their own Islamic window or subsidiaries to cater to the need of growing Muslim populations in these regions. This book examines the recent developments in IBF, particularly in the context of Islamic social finance instruments, such as Islamic microfinance, halal education, takaful, mutual funds, and waqf. It covers the religiosity, spirituality, and tawhid index, which promotes social well-being and empowerment. The book is interdisciplinary, and theories, practice, and key issues are presented simultaneously, introducing new ideas and techniques to the IBF community. Moreover, the book examines topics such as innovation in Islamic social finance instruments, advanced techniques of risk mitigation in Islamic capital markets, marketing and the halal industry, and shari’ah-compliant instruments, which are critical to Islamic finance. The book is an essential reference text for academics and research students at the master’s and doctorate levels in IBF.

Can the contemporary Islamic finance movement be shown to meet the requirements of modern commerce? In the wake of the terrorist attacks on America the UN Security Council passed a resolution targeting transnational sources of terrorist funds. The United States and the International Monetary Fund are encouraging the governments of the Middle East to adopt policies of economic liberalism and a new type of capitalism, based on Islamic values and beliefs, is emerging.The aims of the book are:* to explore the political implications of the slow but steady accumulation of Islamic capital* to analyse the connections between Islamic finance and Islamic political movements in Middle Eastern and North African countries* to show that the commonly-perceived connection between Islamic finance and money laundering and terrorism is by no means the complete picture. Readers will learn to appreciate the various political contexts in which Islamic finance operates in the Middle East and North Africa and will acquire some understanding of its political as well as economic constraints. Hopefully possible misunderstandings about Islamic banking and finance will be corrected.The book is divided into two parts - part one is thematic and lays the ground for the country-specific case studies in part two (covering the Sudan, Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt). The contributors include political scientists, economists and historians.Key Features:* A major topical issue* Written by the world's leading experts on Islamic Political Economy* Explores the connections between Islamic finance and Islamic political movements* Includes country-specific case studies

The phenomenal growth of Islamic finance in the last few decades has been accompanied by a host of interesting questions and challenges. One of the critical challenges is how Islamic financial institutions can be motivated to participate in the 'equity-like' profit-and-loss sharing (PLS) contracts. It is observed that Islamic banks are reluctant to participate in the pure PLS scheme which is manifested by the rising concentration of investment on murabaha or mark-up financing. This phenomenon has been the hotbed of academic criticism on the contemporary practice of Islamic banking. This book explains the 'murabaha syndrome' in light of the incentive provided by the current institutional framework and what are the changes required in the governance structure to mend this anomaly.

This book provides an overview of the practice of Islamic finance and the historical roots that define its modes of operation. The focus of the book is analytical and forward-looking. It shows that Islamic finance exists mainly as a form of rent-seeking legal-arbitrage. In every aspect of finance - from personal loans to investment banking, and from market structure to corporate governance - Islamic finance aims to replicate in Islamic forms the substantive functions of contemporary financial instruments, markets, and institutions. By attempting to replicate the substance of contemporary financial practice using pre-modern contract forms, Islamic finance has arguably failed to serve the objectives of Islamic law. This book proposes refocusing Islamic finance on substance rather than form. This approach would entail abandoning the paradigm of 'Islamization' of every financial practice. It would also entail reorienting the brand-name of Islamic finance to emphasize issues of community banking, micro-finance, and socially responsible investment.

The editors argue that an Islamic monetary system, with its specific money concepts, interest free financial institutions and a monetary policy embedded in real growth, provides a solution to challenges currently facing contemporary economies.

A leading Islamic finance banker sheds light on an industry with growing global influence: “A superb introduction to a fascinating subject” (Financial Times) A trillion-dollar financial industry has revolutionized the global economy. Governments and corporations across the Islamic world have turned to finance that complies with Shari‘a law in order to fund economic growth. Even in the West, Islamic finance became an important al­ternative source of funding when the conventional finance industry was reeling from the effects of the financial crisis. From its origins in the seventh century, Islamic finance has sought to develop core ethical principles that are based in the foundations of Islam and Shari‘a. But with an increasing Western interest, is it able to remain true to the principles of its faith? Can it maintain its ideals of social jus­tice? Or is Islamic finance guilty of the very dangers it seeks to avoid. In Heaven's Bankers, Harris Irfan, one of the world's leading Islamic finance bankers, gives unparalleled insight into the heart of this secretive industry. From his personal ex­perience of working with leading bankers, scholars and law­yers, he debunks the myths of Islamic banking, analyzes its greatest deals, and looks to the future of a system that has reprioritized the very nature of money itself.

Ahmad Alkhamees defines Creative Shari‘ah compliance as compliance with the letter but not the objectives of Shari‘ah. In recent years, Islamic finance industry practises have come under scrutiny, with strong critiques levelled against many institutions that claim to provide Shari‘ah-compliant products and services, which in fact undermine the spirit and the objectives of Shari‘ah. This book significantly contributes to the sphere of Islamic finance in three main ways. First, it critically appraises justifications of creative Shari‘ah compliance practises. Second, it examines how Shari‘ah supervisory board (SSB) governance practises, and the inconsistent fatwas issued by SSBs, contribute to the issue of creative Shari‘ah compliance. Most importantly, it suggests regulatory mechanisms which regulators can employ in Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia and in secular countries such as the United Kingdom to deal with the issue of creative Shari‘ah compliance.

"This book discusses the emergence, theories, and practices of Islamic banking around the globe"--