From Iran, where all banking is Shari'ah compliant, to Malaysia and the gulf, where Islamic financial institutions compete with conventional banks, Rodney Wilson examines how Islamic financial institutions are licensed and governed by common and civil law. Covering Islamic banks, takaful operators, fund management and Shari'ah-compliant securities, it examines how their assets and liabilities differ from their conventional counterparts and what the implications are for risk management.

This paper reviews institutions offering Islamic financial services (IIFS) corporate governance challenges and suggests options to address them. It first points out the importance of corporate governance for IIFS, where it would require a distinct treatment from conventional corporate governance and highlights three cases of distress of IIFS. It then dwells on prevailing corporate governance arrangements addressing IIFS' needs to ensure the consistency of their operations with Islamic finance principles and the protection of the financial interests of a stakeholders' category, namely depositors holding unrestricted investment accounts. It raises the issues of independence, confidentiality, competence, consistency, and disclosure that may bear on pronouncements of consistency with Islamic finance principles. It also discusses the agency problem of depositors holding unrestricted investment accounts. The paper argues for a governance framework that combines internal and external arrangements and relies significantly on transparency and disclosure of market relevant information.

The growing presence of Islamic banking needs to be accompanied by the development of effective regulation and supervision. This paper examines the results of the survey conducted by the International Monetary Fund to document international experiences and country practices related to legal and prudential frameworks governing Islamic banking activities. Although a number of countries have made considerable progress in creating legal, regulatory, and supervisory frameworks that accommodate Islamic banking, there are substantial differences. This paper also identifies a number of challenges faced by regulatory and supervisory agencies regarding Islamic banking.

Monetary Policy, Islamic Finance, and Islamic Corporate Governance: An International overview explores the interrelationships between corporate governance from the perspective of shari’ah, banking industry and monetary policy and is a must-read for students and professionals.

An in-depth and insightful study of Shari'ah governance from a theoretical and practical perspective

Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) are often criticized due to insufficient regulatory provision, thus lowering clients’ confidence in them. Additionally, few countries have well-established legislation relating to the Islamic finance industry, while others are only now developing preliminary regulations to incorporate Islamic finance within their own financial systems. This book offers a comprehensive understanding of Islamic financial regulation, outlining the regulatory landscape in various jurisdictions, examining how it supports the development and foundation of IFIs and addressing the regulation and supervision of IFIs from a global perspective. The book begins by introducing Islamic finance and its current position in the international banking system, then goes on to review the historical developments of the field. It discusses the key financial regulators, their functions, and the regulations that have been implemented to foster the growth of Islamic finance. It includes cases from both Eastern and Western countries. It thoroughly examines how Shariah principles are integrated into the regulatory framework of Islamic finance. Specifically, the book examines the laws and arrangements established in different countries regarding the governance of the Islamic finance industry as well as the legal criteria for setting up and governing IFIs. The focus is on exploring diverging laws and their impact on developing Islamic Finance. This will serve as an academic and practitioner guide to understanding the preliminary regulations required for the establishment, governance, and management of IFIs. Also, it offers practical insights and guidance for professionals working in the Islamic finance industry, including bankers, lawyers, regulators, and policymakers.

From the world's foremost authorities on the subject, the number-one guide to Islamic finance revised and updated for a post-crisis world Because it is entirely equity-based, rather than credit-based, Islamic finance is immune to the speculative bubbles and runaway volatility typical of Western finance. Especially now, in the wake of the global financial crisis, this has made them increasingly attractive to institutional investors, asset managers and hedge funds in search of more stable alternatives to conventional financial products. With interest in Islamic finance swiftly spreading beyond the Muslim world, the need among finance and investment professionals has never been greater for timely and authoritative information about the rules governing Islamic finance. This thoroughly updated and revised second edition of the premier guide to regulatory issues in Islamic finance satisfies that need. Addresses the need for banks to develop common Islamic-based international accounting and auditing standards Clearly explains the key differences between Shari'ah rulings, standardization of acceptable banking practices, and the development of standardized financial products Explores the role of the Shari'ah Boards in establishing common rules regarding the permissibility of financial instruments and markets Offers guidance for regulators seeking to adapt their regulatory frameworks to the needs of the fast-growing Islamic finance sector