Islamic finance is rooted in Shariah or Islamic law, which promotes the well-being of humanity and discourages harmful practices. This Element highlights the nexus between Islamic finance and sustainable development, emphasizing the ethical and socially responsible nature of Islamic finance. It discusses how Islamic financial institutions contribute to sustainable development through the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals , Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria, and Socially Responsible Investment practices. Case studies from different parts of the world demonstrate practical applications of Islamic finance principles in supporting SDG. It suggests reforms that can unlock the full potential of Islamic finance, including the institutionalization of Islamic social finance, convergence with commercial finance, leveraging technology, integrating Shariah-based financial products, considering social return as a benchmark for approving products, introducing blended finance, and collaborating with humanitarian agencies. The potential of Islamic finance for sustainable development provides valuable insights for academicians, practitioners, and policymakers.

Sukuk restructuring primarily aims at offering a debtor more latitude, in form and time, to settle his obligations. To meet Shari'ah requirements of transferring assets to Sukuk holders in asset-based Sukuk, the originator usually transfers the beneficial ownership to the issuer special purpose vehicles (SPV). However, in asset-backed Sukuk, the originator sells the underlying asset to an SPV and Sukuk holders do not have recourse to the originator in the event of defaults. Among some key unresolved Shari'ah issues in this regard is whether a change of contract necessitates entering a new contract. Other related issues that conflict with the tenets of Shari'ah are: (1) Sukuk structuring on tangible assets and debts; (2) receiving the full title by the Sukuk holders to the underlying assets in the event of default in case of securities that are publicized as asset backed; (3) Sukuk's similarity with interest bearing conventional bonds: (a) capital guarantee by the originator or third party, (b) the originators, promise to repurchase Sukuk at face value upon their redemption, and (c) providing internal and external credit enhancement. The Shari'ah-compliance of the above-mentioned clauses and structures of Sukuk remain debated among the Shari'ah scholars. Based on some specific cases, this study examines the Shari'ah viewpoint on sukuk restructuring and potential solutions to these unresolved Shari'ah issues in light of the past and recent declaration of some Sukuk defaults as non-Shari'ah complaints. Undoubtedly, resolution of these and other unresolved issues pertaining to Sukuk defaults can help strengthen the confidence of investors in Islamic capital market structures.