Shari’ah Board, The Task of Fatwa, and Ijtihad in Islamic Economics, and Finance

The rulings of Mua‟malat in today‟s Islamic Economics, and Finance can be adapted through the process of Ijtihad. While the basic principles or doctrines of the Mua‟malat are given in Shari‟ah, the interpretation of these principles to suit circumstances in different times and places constitutes the Fiqh Mua‟malat. New rulings can be reached by understanding the effective cause (Illah) and rationale (hikmah) of the original ruling and the importance of Maslaha (benefit) under the changed circumstances (Usul Fiqh); which is normally evaluated by the Shari‟ah Board members of the concerned entity. Fatwa issuing via Ijtihad is used to derive laws from the basic principles of Shari‟ah to address the needs of people in different places and times. The important aspect of these new rules is that they may at times change depending on the context of application. Islamic Finance contemporary practices of Ijtihad through various bodies like Islamic Fiqh Academy, have resolved the practice of taqlid (limitation). The doctrine of maqasid al-Shari‟ah establishes Maslahah as an essential element of the ends of law, so that it becomes an important goal in framing new rules (Shari‟ah parameters and guidelines) through Ijtihad. Thus, both the principles set by Shari‟ah and use of Ijtihad to frame new rules has Maslahah or benefit of people as the underlying basis and goal. On the other hand; the standardization of Shari‟ah may become against the fundamental premise of Ijtihad which has existed for centuries and especially in today‟s finance. If rules become standards, and imposed by legal authorities, then Ijtihad cannot be applied towards a critical and dynamic industry like Islamic Finance today. This will eventually damage the very reason that we are able to apply Shari‟ah in all times and places, that is, Ijtihad is the main reason why Shari‟ah is dynamic and is able to be applied in different circumstances. In addition; to standardize Shari‟ah rulings may mean the precedence of one Islamic school of thought over the other, which cannot be universally acceptable. There is no doubt that the synchronization of these two views has to be done through mutual understanding and collaboration between Shari‟ah scholars and various Shari‟ah key board members, market leaders, and regulators. To be very clear and accurate, the question of whether Shari‟ah standards can be harmonized is a matter to be dealt with by Shari‟ah scholars and not market professionals or regulators. The simple reason for this is because Shari‟ah scholars are specialized in their field and whether a Fatwa can be standardized or not is a matter of religious reasoning and should be taken from Shari‟ah own instructions and judgments.Fatwa , fatawa , Ijtihad , Shari’ah Board, Islamic Economics Jurisprudence , GCC , Ijma,

The Uses and Misuses of Commodity Murabaha: Islamic Economic Perspective

Some exciting Economical developments have taken place in the area of Islamic finance during the preceding two years. There has been a fast expansion in its market share, diversification of products picked up pace and the rapid globalization of the services ensures their future expansion. Commodity murabahah is one of the most commonly used financing contracts in Islamic banking. But of no less consequence may prove, the lurch one finds commodity murabahah in at the close of 2008 (Hasan 2009) . Commodity Murabaha is clearly the Islamic treasurer’s funding product of choice, as it is flexible enough to facilitate many structures for financing, hedging, and currency exchanging. It is time to apply the shari'ah objective of “sa’dd-aldharai” that closes the potential avenues for outwitting the shari’ah objectives and spirit .Islamic Economics; commodity murabahah; Time share in price; Shari’ah objectives; Bai al Inah, Commodity Murabahah House (Suq Al-Sila), Commodity Murabahah Program (CMP) , deferred contracts, GCC, IIMM , Islamic Banking Scheme (IBS ); “sa’dd-aldharai”

Economic Pricing Mechanisms for Islamic Financial Instruments: Ijarah Model

The Islamic Economic and banking industry have been trying for the last two decades to extend its outreach to expand its operation business and services in a comparable footing to conventional banking. This paper discusses one of the important hurdles in the growth of Islamic banking which is the use of KIBOR as benchmark for pricing the Islamic banking products. Muskun home financing product of BankIslami Pakistan Limited is used in this paper to elaborate the pricing and benchmarking of product, spread between the conventional interest rate and Islamic profit rate as well as the alternative product pricing mechanism to be used by Islamic banks for this product. Details of Muskun home financing product are discussed in this paper in addition to the marketing strategy, market approach, economic product development, and all other relevant processes.Islamic Economics, KIBOR, Benchmarking, Pricing, Riba based system, Confidence

Alternative Pricing Mechanisms for Islamic Financial Instruments: Economic Perspective

The Islamic banking industry has been trying for the last two decades to extend its outreach to expand its operation business and services in a comparable zone to conventional banking. This paper discusses one of the important hurdles in the growth of Islamic banking which is the use of KIBOR as benchmark for pricing the Islamic banking products. Muskun home financing product of BankIslami Pakistan Limited is used in this paper to elaborate the pricing and benchmarking of product, spread between the conventional interest rate and Islamic profit rate as well as the alternative product pricing mechanism to be used by Islamic banks for this product. Details of Muskun home financing product are discussed in this paper in addition to the marketing strategy, market approach, product development, and all other relevant processes.Islamic Economics, KIBOR, Benchmarking, Pricing, Riba based system, Confidence

Modeling and optimization of a solar forward osmosis pilot plant by response surface methodology

Forward osmosis (FO) is a water treatment/separation technology of emerging interest. Due to its complex nature involvingvarious operating parameters, modeling of this separation process is challenging. A solar thermal and photovoltaic-powered FO pilot plant has been optimized by means of a statistical experimental design and response surfacemethodology. Predictive models were developed for simulation and optimization of different responses such as the waterpermeate flux, the reverse solute permeate flux and the FO specific performance index that includes the water and reversesolute permeate fluxes together with the energy consumption. The considered input variables of the FO pilot plant werethe feed flow rate, the permeate flow rate and the temperature. The developed response models have been tested using theanalysis of variance. A Monte Carlo Simulation method has been conducted to determine the optimum operating conditionsof the FO pilot plant. The obtained optimum parameters were confirmed experimentally. Regeneration of the drawsolution can be performed by means of an optimized solar powered reverse osmosis (RO) pilot plant with an optimumFO specific performance index ranging from 25.79 to 0.62 L/g kW h achieved under the FO optimal conditions, 0.83 L/min feed flow rate, 0.31 L/min draw solution flow rate and 32.65 °C temperature. The FO energy consumption is only14.1% the total energy consumption of the FO/RO hybrid system