Articles on Islamic Finance
Using a contract-theoretic model, Khan compares two financial arrangements: the Fixed Return Scheme (FRS), which mirrors conventional debt, and the Variable Return Scheme (VRS), which represents profit-and-loss sharing (PLS) contracts such as Mudarabah or Musharakah. His analysis assumes a single lender allocating a fixed pool of funds across many independent projects, with symmetric information and costless observability.
In Islamic jurisprudence, money (mal) serves primarily as a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account. Classical jurists such as al-Ghazālī and Ibn Taymīyah stressed that money must not be used for speculative ends or to generate guaranteed returns (riba), nor should it expose transacting parties to undue uncertainty (gharar) or resemble gambling (maysir). Extending these timeless principles into the digital age, a Shariah-compliant CBDC must preserve the objectives of Islamic law (Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah) by fostering economic justice, preventing harm, and promoting communal welfare.
Clarity on issue of Riba is so important in Shari’ah that while recognizing change in value due to change in quality, it does not force us to exchange different qualities in equal quantity and yet in case of Amwale Ribuwiah, it does not allow these to be directly exchanged with any excess of weight (quantity) on either side. As generally understood by our scholars, this restriction was essential to stop practice of Riba by hiding behind difference in quality.
The transition toward sustainability and ethical banking is both timely and necessary. However, its success depends on more than rhetoric or superficial commitments. Without substantive institutional and regulatory reform, the expectations imposed on banks may exceed their structural capacities—threatening financial stability and the long-term viability of ethical finance.
The banks’ ESG commitment can be in the form of adopting ESG framework in their banking operation and business strategy, incorporating ESG in credit assessment, and integrating ESG commitment in their banking products. In the case of Islamic banks, incorporating the environmental pillar can be adopted in the form of promoting green financing and integrating environmental risks in the banking operation. At the policy level, the financial authority is required to have an ESG framework to be implemented in the banking industry.
The awareness sessions conducted by banks focus on the prohibition of Riba, justified by Qur’anic verses and Ahadith, and explain how Islamic banks avoid it in their operations. This fosters a sense of religious superiority among those who begin to assume that the inherent beauty of the faith renders Islamic banking nearly flawless. Consequently, there is a growing belief that the employees of Islamic banks are more truthful, empathetic, and attentive to inquiries than those of mainstream banks. However, upon becoming customers of Islamic banks, they often observe that interactions with Islamic banking personnel at the front end are nearly identical to those with employees of conventional banks.
The first role of money is to be a store of value- something that is expected to retain its value in a reasonably predictable way over time. Gold or silver that was mined hundreds of years ago would still be valuable today” (source) – So think of it as something that doesn’t really get affected by inflation, and hence won’t lose its value. Money’s second role is to be a unit of account. The thing that goods and services are priced in terms of. For example, the price of items you see on menus and tags. Pound is currency of the United Kingdom, but it could be a type of good instead. It could also be barter: ‘give me 5 goats if you want my new horse.
Riba is one of the most widely discussed issues around Islamic finance. It has many dimensions, but we will confine ourselves to specific issues of Riba al Fadl and Riba in loans. To achieve the objective, we must define Riba in contemporary terminology. Let us explain it for loan of an amount of money. We need to know whether Riba is nominal excess (nominal interest) or real excess (real interest) or something else.
اس مختصر مضمون میں محترم جاوید صاحب کےمعاشی افکار پر کچھ اشکالات پیش کیے جاتے ہیں، خاص طور پر وہ اشکالات جو بینکنگ سے تعلق رکھتے ہیں۔ اپنے ان افکار کا خیال انہوں نے اپنی کتاب میزان کے قانون معیشت اور چند مضامین میں بھی کیا ہے جو ان کی کتاب مقامات میں چھپے ہیں۔ اس کے علاوہ الیکٹرانک اور سوشل میڈیا میں اورعوامی اجتماعات سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے بھی ان افکار کا اظہار کیا ہے۔ چونکہ یہ پیچیدہ اور اطلاقی مسائل ہیں، اس لیے ممکن ہے اس میں اختلاف رائے اور اختلاف فہم پایا جائے۔ ایسا بھی ضروری نہیں کہ ایک دفعہ کے غور و فکر اور مشاہدہ و مطالعہ سے مسائل کی جڑ اور حل تک کامیابی سے پہنچا جاسکے۔ یہ بھی ضروری نہیں کہ ایک شخص ہی اس ساری تحقیق کو انجام دے یا اس کا ذمہ اٹھائے۔ چنانچہ تبادلہ خیال اور ایک دوسرے کے افکار کا جائزہ لینے میں قباحت نہیں بلکہ اس سے غلطی سے بچنے اور مسائل کے حل تک پہنچنے کا زیادہ امکان ہے۔ اس امید پر یہ چند اشکالات بصد احترام مزید غوروفکر کے لیے پیش کیے جاتے ہیں۔
This study highlights the potential of block chain technology to modernize traditional Islamic Zakat practices within India’s expanding digital ecosystem. By integrating block chain, Zakat management can become more transparent, secure, and efficient, addressing prevalent issues such as fraud and mismanagement. A block chain-based model involving Muzakki (donors), Zakat institutions, and Mustahiqeens (beneficiaries) can streamline transactions while ensuring compliance with Islamic principles through smart contracts.
