Book

This book addresses the growing significance of Islamic social finance as an alternative and sustainable financing approach in the world. With a focus on Malaysia, a global leader in Islamic banking and finance, the topics covered fills the gap in the extant research by providing in-depth coverage of the legal framework surrounding Islamic social finance. Written with students, researchers, and policymakers in mind, it explores the unique features and principles of Islamic social finance, which aims to achieve social objectives alongside financial returns. By examining real-life case studies and digital examples, readers will gain valuable insights into the practical application of Islamic social finance principles. Each chapter concludes with self-review questions, allowing students to assess their understanding and consolidate their knowledge. This book serves as a valuable resource for academics, researchers, and practitioners seeking to explore and implement Islamic social finance principles. With its comprehensive coverage and practical insights, it will will play a crucial role in promoting the understanding and adoption of Islamic social finance for sustainable development.

Zakat, being the third pillar of Islam, is an act of worship fulfilled by Muslims. As an obligatory means of alms giving expected of Muslims, it also helps to alleviate poverty in society by assisting such individuals to achieve a state of financial independence. It is maintained by Muslims that the principles of zakat derived from the Sharia is expected to remain unchanged with passing time. However, in order to achieve efficiency in the administration of zakat, innovation and technology can be used even within the parameters of Sharia. For students and researchers studying Islamic economics and zakat, it is hard to obtain the contemporary application of zakat from one single textbook as the books available in the market focus on elaborating the fiqh or jurisprudence of zakat. As such, the objective of this textbook is to provide the opportunity to learn the basics of zakat and its contemporary application by highlighting the innovative practices of zakat with issues and challenges.

The failure of the capitalist system in financing with zero interest created a huge gap between the rich and the poor. According to the World Bank statistics of 2012 on Global Issues, more than 80% of the world's population live in countries where income inequality is very wide. As stated by the World Bank 20% of the poorest of the world's population accounts for less than 2% of the global wealth where 20% of the richest account for almost 77% of the global wealth in 2008. One of the main causes of this wealth inequalities is the lending with interest and which in turn increases the wealth of the minority rich and reduce the wealth of the mass. Such situation encourages the authors to look at the alternative financial system which has been recommended in Islam and which provides many financial products that can help not only in reducing the gap between the rich and the poor but can promote economic growth in a just sustainable manner. The main objectives of this book are to comprehensively discuss the Islamic financial products and the Islamic socio financial products using current practical cases besides highlighting their economic and social impact in various countries.

Providing a comprehensive account of the progress, potential and challenges facing Islamic finance in Eurasia, this prescient book explores Islamic finance's history and development across the Asian and European continents and argues that in order for this market to continue to prosper, innovation and adaptation is a necessity.

This book is designed for beginners who possess no previous knowledge or familiarity with derivatives. Written in an easy-to-read style, it guides readers through the challenging and complex world of forwards, futures, options, and swaps. The emphasis on Asian markets and contracts enables easier understanding. Financial derivative contracts from Malaysia and select contracts from Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong derivative markets are covered. For each derivative contract, their three common applications hedging, arbitrage, and speculating are shown with fully worked out examples. Extensive use of illustrations, graphics, and vignettes provide for easy comprehension of the underlying logic of derivatives.

Income inequality is a serious problem confronting not only the developed world but also developing countries. Recently, financialization has been one of the culprits identified in literature as one of the cause of income inequality. This book offers the only detailed presentation of the how financialization aided the spread of income inequality in Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OIC countries. Finance has taking a center stage in the affairs of most developing economies, surpassing the real sector of the economy. The result is the creation of an indebted society in which people are comfortable with financing their financial needs through credit. This creates a debt laden society that is trapped in the cycle of debt. This book represents a comprehensive and indispensable source for students, practitioners and the general public at large. It presents data which shows the buildup of debt and the rising income inequality in Muslim countries. It includes discussion of the rise in rentier income, financialization of everyday life, decline in physical capital accumulation and deregulation of the financial sector. The book therefore, proffers solutions on how Muslim countries can come out of the present economic problem facing them. The promotion and adoption of Islamic principles, which promotes risk sharing based contracts as against debt based transaction is the way to go. When financial contracts are based on the principles of risk sharing, any gains from economic activities get to be shared equitably. Hence, not only capital owners get to enjoy the benefit from the income derived from investments, but rather, all parties that partake in the contract. Distinguished by its clarity and readability as it is written in a very easy to understand language, it is an important reference work for any concerned individual interested on the recent causes of income inequality in Muslim World.