This book explains the fundamental principles and functions of an economic, banking and financial operating under Shariah (Islamic law). Numerous tenets of Islamic - from social justice, equality, preservation of property rights, sanctity of contracts and the prohibition of riba (interest) - are discussed with relation to the economic behavior of individuals, society and state.

Islam offers a sustainable and comprehensive development model for humanity that can be systematically categorised as the means as well as the ideal outcome of achieving Maqasid (objectives) of Shari'ah (Islamic law). As a rule-based religion, Islam's prescription for development goes well beyond market regulations and includes rules necessary to maintain a dignified life; in order that the faithful can maximise their intellectual capacity, preserve and promote their health and education, and have equal opportunity for employment and partnership in the economic and social development of society, and unhampered by practices of fraud, cheating, corruption, or property abuse, among others. In practice, however, there is dichotomy between Islam's prescription and the current state of affairs in Muslim countries. In order to develop a better understanding of the factors contributing to this divergence, this paper provides the design of a benchmark for the monitoring of adherence to and compliance with Maqasid al-Shari'ah. This benchmark is intended to serve as a self-inspection tool for policy makers to monitor economic, social and policy development within the scope of Maqasid, and to serve as a benchmark for the progress and performance of OIC member countries

This book provides an introductory, yet comprehensive, treatment of macroeconomic policies and their implementation in an Islamic-designed economic system

Wealth inequality has been a core field of research in economics in the post-Global Financial Crisis era since it is an important driver of economic/financial crises and inhibits long-term growth. Compelling evidence indicates that wealth inequality has been increasing over and above income inequality but traditional theories of inequality lack in explaining the causes of such an increase in wealth inequality. This study shows that interest-based debt contracts may be the underlying cause of wealth inequality. The study discusses that asset-based redistribution, which targets the re-distribution of wealth through re-designation of financial contracts, has pronounced advantages over and above income-based re-distribution policies. The study also underlines that risksharing mechanisms are the building blocks of asset -based re-distribution policies. Stock-flow consistent modeling approach (SFCA) allows measuring comparative benefits of implementing risk-sharing asset-based redistribution policies compared to the base scenario of debt-based financialized economy. In this regard, a large SFCA macroeconomic model is constructed in order to measure comparative advantages of asset-based redistribution tools above that income-based redistribution tools. The results accentuate that an interest rate and debt-based economy goes to absolute inequality without policy interruption. The subsequent simulation gauge distributional effects of different set of fiscal policies. As per the simulation results, asset-based risk-sharing policies are much effective compared to income-based redistribution policies in taming the wealth inequality. Among others, GDP-linked sukuk and zakah should be taken seriously as important asset-based redistribution policy alternatives.

The principal objective of this work is to foster a better understanding of the essence of Islamic finance. For perhaps the first time - economists, practitioners, regulators, and students have an in-depth guide to the advanced concepts of Islamic finance, which has deep historical roots and a promising role in rethinking economics in the future. This book articulates an authoritative analytical approach to the theory and practice of Islamic finance.

Increasing inequalities is one of the defining social, economic, and political challenges of the post-Global Financial Crisis (GFC) era. Apart from the negative social, public finance, and short-run growth effects of high inequality, the compelling evidence indicates that inequality is an important cause for the financial crises (Kumhof, Ranciere, and Winant 2015; Rajan 2010; de Haan and Sturm 2016; Turner 2016) and low long-term economic growth (World Economic Forum 2017; OECD 2015; IMF 2017). The inequality problem and its visible repercussions on economic growth and financial crises have spurred interest in the economics of inequality.

Islamic finance provides financial products, which comply with Islamic law (Shariah), largerly to Muslim investors and some Islamic products have even attracted conventional investors and borrowers. Despite growing interest in Islamic finance, a full-fledged Islamic financial system has yet to be established and demonstrated as the viable financial system in even a single country ...

Financial instability has been a recurrent phenomenon in contemporary economic history, affecting countries with varying intensity and resulting in massive unemployment and lost economic output. The financial crisis that broke out in August 2007 crippled the financial system of many advanced countries, and claimed as victims long-established banking and investment banking institutions that were deemed “too big too fail.” Capital markets were frozen, leading to stock market crashes worldwide, wiping out trillions of dollars in share values and in retirement investment accounts, and resulting in massive and persistent unemployment.

In this paper, the foundational rules governing human, economic and financial development in Islam, as understood from the Qur’ān and from the life and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), are summarized. These rules pave the path to development as the basis of institutional structure, which in turn, underpin the path of economic and social progress. The essential elements in the life of a Muslim - the unity of creation, freedom and freedom of choice, economic and human development, economic system and financial practice - are developed.