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- BASICS AND OVERVIEW
- Luma Zetani
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- An Islamic Economy is an economy that is regulated by a set of rules
based on outlines set by the Islamic “Sharia.”
- Sharia is the set of guidelines mentioned in the Quraan.
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- The use of the word Economy is some what too big for these rules, they
don’t add up to a full economical theory but they organize some aspect
of an economy such as trade manners, partnership methods, and of course
money matters or in other words “Islamic Financing”.
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- Islamic Financing is a concept
that emerged in scientific manners in the second half of the past
century. With the expanding role that the banking system and money
handling, many Muslim communities were faced with a problem over the
concept of INTEREST.
- In this presentation we will look at this problem and the solutions that
have evolved. Of course this is
just an introduction to the topic.
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- By definition, Riba is an Arabic word that literally means “extra”.
- In regards to Islamic Sharia, Riba means the lending of money for a
specific time whereupon the lender receives his money with an EXTRA
amount agreed upon.
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- Sound familiar? It should. It
was what most people in finance
call interest!!
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- This rule of no interest causes some difficulties for believers.
- Western banks, which dominate world banking, are based on interest
paying accounts and interest bearing loans.
- Based on the rule and definition mentioned above, Moslem people must not
use any of the facilities or services that the above banking system
provides.
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- Islamic Banks do not charge or pay interest.
- Islamic Banks are built on relationships
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- A bank that neither charges nor
pays a interest is an intriguing concept. Especially if we consider the existing
(and dominate) global banking system (that is interweaved with all the
daily aspects of our life) is based on interest.
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- Islamic banks rely on other methods to generate income.
- These methods are approved forms of Islamic Financing and are mentioned
in Islamic Sharia
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- Modaraba (Participation Financing)
- Morabaha (Financing Resale of Goods)
- Ijara (Lease financing)
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- In all three methods a customer
receives a commodity/product or rights and benefits. When customers
deposit money with a bank, they receive it back with profit, depending
upon the type of relationship. Because the relationship is based on
‘profits’ it is very common to hear Islamic Banks refer to their
“investment”
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- We are going to cover these
forms in brief, a simple search on the internet would provide anyone
interest with a wealth of information.
- (Note: I will soon be adding more links for you—jim)
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- Modaraba (Participation Financing) falls under
three categories
- Demand Deposits
- Mutual Investment Deposits
- Special Investment Deposits
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- These deposits are not restricted.
- They are payable on demand and do not share in any profits.
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- Mutual Investment Deposits are somewhat like mutual funds except
thatthey do not invest in traded equity.
- An Islamic Bank will combine these deposits with the Bank’s money in
order to participate in mutual investment transactions conducted by the
bank.
- Under these deposits, the percentage of profit is fixed at the end of
the bank’s financial year.
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- An Islamic Bank will invest
these deposits in a specific project or investment upon the request or
the approval of the depositor.
- The depositor in this case will be entitled to receive profit and is
liable for the losses, provided that the bank is not negligent or in
default. At the end of the deposit period, the bank receives its share
of profit against its contribution of experience and management, while
the depositor receives his share of profit as a capital share
contributor.
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- All these deposit transactions
are based an Islamic Sharia concept called ‘Modaraba’ (Participation
Financing), where one party (the depositor) provides the cash and the
other party (the Bank) provides the experience and management.
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- Another form of a relationship
between a customer and an Islamic bank is that of buyer and seller. This
contract is known as ‘Morabaha’ (Financing Resale of Goods).
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- The bank buys goods or products from its owner directly on the request
of the customer and then resells it to the customer, at a selling price
higher than the purchase price. The customer then pays any consideration
to the goods he purchased on an installment basis, as per an agreed
repayment schedule.
- Similar to a “installment sales” in traditional Western finance
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- The third method, or ‘Ijara’
(leasing), requires an Islamic bank to purchase equipment and lease them
to the customer for a specific period of time. At the end, in most
cases, the Bank will transfer the title to the customer either by
executing a sale agreement for a normal value or by way of donations.
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- More specifically, Ijara
(Lease) is an agreement whereby the bank (the Lessor) conveys to the
customer (the Lessee), in return for a specific rent, the right to use a
specific asset for a specific period of time.
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- Under this contract, the bank
(Lessor) purchases the asset and rents it to the customer (Lessee). The
contract specifies the leasing party and the amount and timing of rent
payment and responsibilities of both parties during the period of the
lease. The Lessee provides the bank with an undertaking to settle the
rental amount as per the agreed schedule
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- Of course just because we are dealing with Islamic Finance, it does not
change the regular rules that govern leases. For example under this financing
method there are two types of lease, the Finance Lease and the Operating
Lease
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- A lease is classified as a Finance Lease if it ends with the transfer of
ownership of the property to the Lessee.
- Finance leases have to be capitalized and are also called capital
leases.
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- The Operating Lease does not
provide for the transfer of ownership at the end of the lease term,
which is normally for a short period of time, and rentals are calculated
on the basis of the usage of the assets to provide for wear and tear
plus profit.
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- It is important to note that the bank must be satisfied with the nature
of the usage of the leased assets, as their use must be permitted under
Sharia. For example, an Islamic Bank would not allow an asset to be used
in producing a product such as alcohol drinks.
- This aspect of social responsibility also plays a key role in
investments.
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- Since Islamic Banking can be
rather complex, Sharia principles are governed by Islamic experts or
‘Ulama’. It is always essential to obtain the approval of the Sharia
advisor of the bank on the forms of the financing contracts, in order to
ensure their compliance with the principles of Islamic Sharia.
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- Any of you who read the
Financial Professor newsletter, as you’d better do, you must have
noticed an item regarding Islamic financing, and this item is the
following:
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- “The Central Banks of 8 Islamic
countries have agreed to have a common regulator that will oversee
financial institutions in all of the nations in an effort to improve
accountability and transparency.
This could be huge. While
Islamic financing (which is based on both religious teachings and
business incentives), is still a small segment of the market, it is
growing rapidly and the standardization can only be good for further
growth.”
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- Of course the item is courtesy
of Professor Jim.
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- As Jim said, till now Islamic
banks take only so small portion from the market but regulating this
industry and formalizing it in a central body will allow it to expand
further especially if consider that the Muslim people add up to one
fifth of the world population.
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- Thank you all, and if you have any questions I will be available for a
chat session at the end of class.
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