Islamic banking has seen rapid growth during the last two decades. This is a result of the liberalization of financial regulation, the globalization of financial markets, technological changes, product innovation, the birth of several new Islamic States, and a growing Islamic presence in the West, among other factors. New innovations have allowed economists and religious scholars to bring new products to almost all areas of banking and insurance, products which would previously have been extremely controversial. This book provides a better understanding of the Muslim community around the world of Islamic economics and its importance, especially in these days of financial crisis. The book will also serve as a reference manual for teaching the theory and practice of Islamic banking and Islamic financial innovations around the world. Islamic finance courses at universities are highly important since Islamic financial innovations remain very limited, and additional efforts have to be made in this area.

This book covers the recent literature concerning Islamic banking and finance (IBF), focuses on the history of IBF since its inception and introduces the latest innovative concepts and practices in the field. The authors cover important topics such as the role of ownership, Shari`ah compliance and governance structures in raising debt capital using IBF practices, including Fatwa issues and the use of benchmarking practices. The book also addresses topics like archival data, the influence of leverage on ownership structure, and sukuk structures, as well as misconceptions, threats, challenges and opportunities in IBF. Finally, the book deals with prominent issues such as business score-carding, Takāful (Islamic Insurance), IBF implications for block-chain-based fintech and finance hub concepts in Islamic microfinance models. This edited volume is an important contribution to the IBF literature as it provides a much-needed in-depth look into industry practices through the perspective of corporate finance and governance. With its interdisciplinary approach covering legal and financial issues along with a wide variety of notable contributors, this book will be a valuable reference guide to both teachers and students of Islamic banking and economics.

The implementation of new technologies is expected to boost the development of Islamic Finance by increasing accessibility to banking and other financial services in Islamic communities and democratizing access to investment opportunities. At the same time, new technologies will increase financing opportunities and facilitate asset management for Sharia-compliant businesses. This collection of essays from selected experts in the field comprise some of the most topical issues on Islamic Fintech, combining a business focus with legal insights. The book takes as a point of departure the role that Islamic Fintech can play in promoting sustainability. The social vision of welfare improvement and justice is already embedded in Sharia’s economic rules, which makes Islamic Finance particularly well suited to bridge the gap between sustainability and funding. Although it is not without challenges for the industry, technology will help unleash its potential. With a holistic approach to Islamic Fintech, the contributing authors address the application of new technologies to Islamic Finance, including robo-advisory, crowdfunding and digital ledger technology (both in the issuance of bitcoin and the registration of securities in tokenized form) and in certain sectors such as takaful (takaful-tech) and health (e-health). Finally, they explore the challenges posed by anti-money laundering (‘AML’) in the specific realm of Islamic Fintech. The book combines theoretical analysis with a practical focus, both through case studies and directly through the experiences of leading entrepreneurs. In addition, it provides insights on legal and regulatory aspects, which are key in a field that is still in its infancy and needs support from lawmakers and regulators. It is, thus, a reference for academics, legal practitioners, policymakers, entrepreneurs and the Islamic Finance community.

Islamic finance has started to grow in international finance across the globe, with some concentration in few countries. Nearly 20 percent annual growth of Islamic finance in recent years seems to point to its resilience and broad appeal, partly owing to principles that govern Islamic financial activities, including equity, participation, and ownership. In theory, Islamic finance is resilient to shocks because of its emphasis on risk sharing, limits on excessive risk taking, and strong link to real activities. Empirical evidence on the stability of Islamic banks, however, is so far mixed. While these banks face similar risks as conventional banks do, they are also exposed to idiosyncratic risks, necessitating a tailoring of current risk management practices. The macroeconomic policy implications of the rapid expansion of Islamic finance are far reaching and need careful considerations.

This paper examines the performance of Islamic banks (IBs) and conventional banks (CBs) during the recent global crisis by looking at the impact of the crisis on profitability, credit and asset growth, and external ratings in a group of countries where the two types of banks have significant market share. Our analysis suggests that IBs have been affected differently than CBs. Factors related to IBs‘ business model helped limit the adverse impact on profitability in 2008, while weaknesses in risk management practices in some IBs led to a larger decline in profitability in 2009 compared to CBs. IBs‘ credit and asset growth performed better than did that of CBs in 2008-09, contributing to financial and economic stability. External rating agencies‘ re-assessment of IBs‘ risk was generally more favorable.

With advancing technologies like distributed ledgers, smart contracts, and digital payment platforms, financial services must be innovative in order to remain relevant in the modern era. The adoption of financial technology affects the whole Islamic financial industry as well as the economic stability of a globalized world. There is a need for research that seeks to understand financial technology and the regulatory technology necessary to ensure financial security and stability. Impact of Financial Technology (FinTech) on Islamic Finance and Financial Stability is an essential publication that examines both the theory and application of newly-available financial services and discusses the impact of FinTech on the Islamic financial service industry. Featuring research on topics such as cryptocurrency, peer-to-peer transferring, and digital wallets, this book is ideally designed for researchers, bank managers, economists, analysts, market professionals, managers, executives, computer scientists, business practitioners, academicians, and students seeking coverage on how the latest in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain technology will redesign Islamic finance.

A comprehensive look at the innovations, applications, and best practices of Islamic finance Islamic-compliant finance is transacted in every major world financial center, and the need for information on the topic in light of its global reach has grown exponentially. As an expert in this field, author Karen Hunt-Ahmed understands the intricacies of this area of the capital markets. Now, along with the help of a number of experienced contributors, she skillfully addresses Islamic finance from the perspective of practitioners, examining issues in wealth management, contract law, private equity, asset management, and much more. Engaging and accessible, Contemporary Islamic Finance skillfully explains the practices and innovations of Islamic finance in everything from banking and real estate to private equity, asset management, and many other areas. It is intended to be the go-to resource for both Muslims as well as non-Muslims with an interest in the subject. Divided into three comprehensive parts, it will put you in a better position to understand, and excel at, this important endeavor. Introduces you to the history, legal structures, and basic financial contracts in the industry Highlights the various issues facing contemporary Islamic finance practitioners, and details their significance in the contemporary financial and cultural environment Includes case studies of United States-based transactions and related challenges and successes Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, this detailed analysis of Contemporary Islamic Finance will help you gain a firm understanding of how effective this proven approach can be.