Islamic banking continues to be the largest segment of the IFSI, constituting 70.21% of the total global IFSI assets in 2023, while Sukuk outstanding and Islamic funds collectively represented 29.08%, and the Islamic insurance segment represented 0.71%. The regional distribution of global Islamic finance assets reveals a pronounced concentration in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which accounts for 52.50%.
The conference kicked off with address by Deputy Minister of Religion in Malaysia. Dr. Zulkifli highlighted the importance of halal economy and how the current government in Malaysia is committed to provide an enabling environment for halal industry. He highlighted the schemes and initiatives taken to support the halal economy in Johor as well as in Malaysia.
Shah Waliullah in Hujjat Allah Ul Balighah writes that exchange is of different kinds. Goods for goods or goods for services. There are people with surplus funds and some with deficiency of funds. This requires transfer of resources for need fulfillment without counter value as in Zakat and Sadaqat.
Majority of scholars hold a view that a currency‟s permissibility is not invalidated if its value diminishes. This perspective is founded on the premise that conventional forms of currency are also subject to fluctuations in value. Financial securities like Halal stocks also go through swings in prices due to market and economic factors.
The report identifies the six inter-related mega trends to impact OIC nations as: Uneven Macroeconomic Performance, Sharing and Platform Economies, Green Economy, Urbanization, Global Supply Chains and Future of Work. The first two look at shifting economies, which are playing out across OIC societies. The next two cover changing environments brought on by climate change and growing populations. The last two consider adapting ecosystems.
Trade was liked by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, because it was a means of livelihood based on morality and honesty. He صلى الله عليه وسلم himself was famous in trade and Hazrat Uthman Ghani and Hazrat Abd al-Rahman bin Awf among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were known as useful traders. Hazrat Abd al-Rahman bin Awf remained engaged in trade even after his migration to Medina and achieved great commercial success with his God-given abilities. Hazrat Uthman‟s trading business was so large that his income made him a model of great generosity and he spent his wealth for society.
Riba al-Fadl is described as an unlawful excess in the exchange of two counter-values where the excess is measurable through weight or measure. The concept is based on some Ahadith according to which if gold, silver, wheat, barley, dates, and salt are exchanged against themselves, they should be spot and be equal and specified. If these conditions are not found, this transaction will become Riba al-Fadl.
It is also important to build trust with the customers and improve the complaint resolution system. Currently, Bank Mohtasib requires that customer should approach bank and wait for 45 days unless bank provides a letter to decline the complaint. The wait is too long, especially for micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs who do not have enough working capital if their incoming remittance is stuck for some reason.
Many experts still think that digital currency is just a fictitious thing and its title is just for show like ivory and in reality, it is a form of betting and profit- hunting trading like we see on the internet, such as forex trading etc. In fact, there is no genuine seller in trading nor are there any Shariah conditions fulfilled for the justification of sale.
This study provides insights to the stakeholders of a Cash Waqf infrastructure to continue strengthening their role by understanding the embedded physical and spiritual values and benefits of their acts. It is pertinent for regulators to further encourage VBI among Islamic financial institutions, towards attaining the pure philosophical foundations of Islamic banking and finance; i.e., the principles of socio-economic justice and brotherhood.
Islamic Economics Project 