The current dynamics of world economy show remarkable changes in the socio-economics of credit provision and entrepreneurship. If the emergence of the sharing economy is fostering innovative models of collaborative agency, networking and venture business, economic actors are also looking for a more sustainable development, able to foster profitability as well as community welfare. This book investigates Islamic social finance as a paramount example of this economy under change, where the balance between economic efficiency and social impact is contributing to the transformation of the market from an exchange- to a community-oriented institution. The collected essays analyse the social dimension of entrepreneurship from an Islamic perspective, highlighting the extent to which the rationales of "sharing," distribution and cooperation, affect the conceptualization of the market in Islam as a place of "shared prosperity." Moving from the conceptual "roots" of this paradigm to its operative "branches," the contributing authors also connect the most recent trends in the financial market to Shari‘ah-based strategies for community welfare, hence exploring the applications of Islamic social finance from the sharing economy, FinTech and crowdfunding to microcredit, waqf, zakat, sukuk and green investments. An illuminating reference for researchers, practitioners and policy-makers dealing with the challenges of a global market where not only is diversity being perceived as a value to be fostered, but also as an important opportunity for a more inclusive economy for everybody.

The SDGs, developed by the UN in 2012, focuses on 17 goals for the betterment of humanity and humanitarian causes. Among the core objectives of Shari'ah in Islamic finance is to offer a helping hand, emphasizing the efforts and scope of the SDGs. This book explores how Islamic ethical wealth is structured to contribute to the SDGs and an overall socio-economic impact within the principles of Maqasid al-Shari’ah. Focusing areas such as Islamic micro-finance, wealth inclusion, corporate and agro-Zakat, Awqaf, SRI Sukuk, and green Sukuk, this book will feature contributions from the leading researchers in sustainability and Islamic finance and will be of interest to scholars, researchers, industrialists, NGOs, UNDP and students studying both areas.

Binary Economics presents a new paradigm which founds a practical new economics and a unifying new politics that enable people to understand and realize their essential rights and responsibilities in a market economy. This paradigm recognizes that capital has a potent productive and distributive relationship to growth, and by democratically extending the efficient means to acquire capital to all people using the earnings of capital on market principles, binary economics offers many important benefits beyond those provided by conventional economics. The authors present this concept as new hope for solving seemingly intractable problems of economic efficiency, distribution, and justice not solved by conventional economic theories and practices, while enabling people to understand and realize their essential rights and responsibilities in a market economy. The binary paradigm allows cooperation with governments to make modest reforms to existing capital markets so that all people can acquire capital using the earnings of capital and offering the market foundation for many important benefits, including substantial, sustainable growth; more equal opportunity and social justice; increased earning power for the poor, working and middle class people; a greener environment; individual autonomy; strong families and communities; strengthened democracy; and voluntary control of population levels.

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of Waqf management and its impact on socio-economic development, specifically financial inclusion and sustainable development as well as of the legal issues in Waqf management in IsDB member countries and jurisdictions. It explores various aspects of Waqf management in IsDB member countries/jurisdictions as well as in non-Muslim majority countries such as Waqf regulation, its modernization, and relationship to Maqasid Al-Shari’ah; performance of Waqf activities; time and activity-wise distribution of Waqf resource management; the antecedents and consequences of Waqf assets (both physical and cash); the strategies and models to promote Waqf related activities for greater socio-economic development; good governance practices through the formulation of informed policies for Waqf projects, among others. Comprising different issues and perspectives adopted by various researchers, the work is specifically designed to meet the needs of academics and industry practitioners in the field of Islamic finance.

Although Islamic finance is one of the fastest growing segments of emerging global financial markets, its concepts are not fully exploited especially in the areas of economic development, inclusion, access to finance, and public policy. This volume is to improve understanding of the perspective of Islamic finance on economic development, social and economic justice, human welfare, and economic growth.

Most books on Islamic finance and development issues are written from an academic perspective. Although academic reflection is key for future direction, dissatisfaction with previous development efforts, as evidenced by their lack of sustainability, suggests the need for a different type of review. Development work is complex and requires a detailed and transparent approach in order to ensure a cogent resolution for potential long-term issues. Each intervention area requires specific elaboration for meaningful impact. The perfect solution for one sector might be detrimental for another. Islamic finance, with its strict Riba restrictions, rules, and other checks and balances, is a good fit for infrastructure development in pursuit of sustainable development. When it comes to sustainable development, this book argues, Islamic finance has the tools to intervene for maximum impact. However, the issue of sustainability is not only related to Islamic finance; more policy discourse is needed. This requires guidance from the principles of Islamic economics, as well. This book discusses infrastructure development vis-à-vis sustainable development, drawn from decades of real-life development banking experience, and proposes impactful intervention methods based on wisdom from Islamic economics and finance.

The paper analyzes the bearing of Islamic teachings on the conduct of fiscal policy. It is shown that Islamic teachings do not prescribe any rigid system of public finance. The major emphasis is on the state’s responsibility to assure at least a basic minimum standard of living for all citizens. The paper deals with issues related to evolution of fiscal policies best suited to achieve this and other Islamic socio-economic objectives in the specific framework of Islamic teachings. The implications of such a system for growth, monetary stability, resource allocation, and pattern of income distribution are also examined.

Muslims for hundreds of years have been involved in philanthropic activities targeting poor and needy people through varied types of ‘third sector’ organizations (TSOs). Nonetheless, many people in Muslim majority countries (MMCs), not having freedom from hunger, face human security crises. Not much is known about the TSOs or their human security provisions in MMCs. To fill this knowledge gap, this Volume documents and analyses philanthropy and all types of third sector organizations including the awqaf (Muslim endowments) vis-à-vis human security in MMCs. The study is comprehensive in treating the subject matter (analyzing the legal environment, characteristics, extent and functioning of all forms of the third sector and their human security performances) and in geographic coverage (incorporating all forty-seven Muslim majority countries in Africa and Asia). It is also innovative expounding TSO density analysis, state support score (SSS) and a third-sector capability measure (TCM) to study their interrelationships. It is an essential unique reference book for students and scholars of the third sector and human security, international organizations, development agencies, donor governments, security experts and in particular anybody with interests in Islam and MMCs.