WHAT IS Islamic BANKING?

Concept, Instruments Issues, Theory and Practice AUSAF AHMAD

Azerbaijan State Economics University Baku April 7-11, 2008

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

This presentation includes:

What is Islamic banking? Basic function: Financial Intermediation An Introduction to Islamic financing techniques. Practices of Islamic Banking and Finance Observations on some common misconceptions.

Clarification on Nomenclature
Islamic Banking is known by several names:
Interest free banking (Iran) PLS Banking (Pakistan) Islamic Banking (Gulf) Special Finance Houses (Turkey)

All expressions are used interchangeably. Is it a contradiction in terms?

Clarification on Nomenclature contd.

Some people prefer Islamic Finance House instead of Islamic bank. (Beit ul tamweel) It is argued that banking is purely Western Phenomenon Islamic banking and Islamic finance are also used interchangeably.

Common interface between Islamic and contemporary banks

Same purpose: Financial intermediation Same Objective: Profit Successful Operation of Islamic

banks has shown that financial intermediation is possible even without interest.

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION
Goods Real Flow SURPLUS HOUSEHOLDS
DEFICIT HOUSEHOLDS
[Firms}

Finan cial Flow

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

Financial Flow

FINANCIAL MARKET

THE FIRM

INDIVIDUALS

Indirect financing

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

Indirect financing

DIRECT FINANCING
Financial Flow Businesses Flow of Real goods Households

Indirect Financing
Return on Investment

Return on Investme nt Households

Business
Financial Institutions

Goods

Financial Resources

Financial Resources

goods

Goods

STRUCTURE OF FINANCIAL MARKETS

Supervisory Bodies Direct Finance Indirect Finance

Bonds

Equities

Depository Institutions Commercial Banks Saving & Loan Associations Cooperatives

Contractual Savings Institutions Insurance Companies Pension Funds

Investment Intermediaries Mutual Funds

Primary Markets

Secondary Markets

Investment Banks

Dealers and Brokers

Stock Exchanges

Over-the-Counter Exchange

Finance Companies

Islamic Banks and Other businesses

ALL BUSINESSES Financial Institutions
All Banks
Islami Banks

Theoretical considerations

Social and Moral Norms

Should not indulge in Riba Should not involve Should not indulge in fraudulent behavior Should not coerce Should assure fairness to all parties. No financing of socially undesirable goods such as alcohol, drugs, pornography. Should not resort to morally reprehensible practices such as cheating, bribing, fraudulent practices.

Gharar

The Views on Bank Interest

No distinction is made between usury and interest. No distinction is made between consumption loans and productive loans. No distinction between constant and variable interest rates. No distinction is made between individual and institutional rate of interest.

AVOIDANCE OF GHARAR
Definition of Gharar Uncertainty / Ambiguity Ambiguity of Quantity [Gharar fil Miqdar] Ambiguity of Attributes [Gharar fis sifah] such as
Ambiguity in time or place of delivery Ambiguity in price etc.

DEBT FINANCE Vs. Islamic FINANCE

Islamic finance, in comparison, to debt finance is:
More just [Treats creditor and borrowers equally] More equitable [ Interest rate is exploitative ] More efficient [ allocates resources on the basis of profitability ] More growth oriented. [ Increases productive Capacity of the society ]

Practices of Islamic banking

PRESENT SCENE
Islamic Banks in the Government Sector Pakistan, Sudan, Iran Islamic Banks in the Mixed Sector - Malaysia Islamic Banks in the Private Sector Gulf Non Banking Financial Institutions Al Ameen [ Bangalore, India] Islamic Financing by standard Commercial Banks in the Domestic Sector Saudi British, NCB, Saudi American, Misr Bank Islamic financing by Commercial banks in the foreign sector. Islamic Banks established by multinational Banks Citibank, HSBC Amanah Bank,

TYPES OF ISLAMIC BANKS

Predominantly social banks such as Nasser Social Bank Predominantly international development banks such as Islamic Development Bank Predominantly financial investment bank such as Kuwait Finance House Completely government owned banks such as Nasser Social Bank Banks owned by several Islamic governments such as Islamic Development Bank Multipurpose non government banks such as Dubai Islamic Bank[1]
[1] Al Hawary, Ma Mana Bunk Islami ( Arabic) Cairo: International Association of Islamic Banks, 1982 p. 49

Other Classifications
Islamic Banks in the Government Sector Pakistan, Sudan, Iran Islamic Banks in the Mixed Sector Malaysia Islamic Banks in the Private Sector Gulf Non Banking Financial Institutions Islamic Financing by standard Commercial Banks

Elementary Observations
EMERGENCE O F ISLAMIC BANKS WHAT IS AN ISLAMIC BANK? THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ISLAMIC BANK AND AN ISLAMIC FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. EVOLUTION OF ISLAMIC BANKING.

A TYPICAL BALANCE SHEET

Sources of Funds
Current Account Saving Accounts Investment Acc Special Invest. Acc Murabaha Musharakah Mudarabah Ijarah Qard Hasan

Uses of Funds

Business Practices : Sources of Funds

Current Accounts Saving Accounts
Saving a/c without authorization Saving a/c with authorization to invest

Investment Accounts
General Investment accounts Limited Period Investment accounts Specified Investment accounts

Current Deposits [sources of funds]

Very Similar to standard commercial banks No return paid back to depositors Checking facilities Are Current deposits a loan to the bank from depositors ? Are Current deposits a trust by depositors to banks ? Use of Current deposits by the banks on
their own risk.

Saving Deposits [Sources of Funds]

Saving deposits without authorization to invest Saving deposits with authorization to invest Return to depositors who provide authorization to invest. Saving deposits as a part of trust accounts. Saving deposit as Notice account

Investment Deposits [Sources of Funds]

Islamic Banking counterpart of Fixed Deposits. Withdrawal allowed only in special cases Investment deposits as Mudarabah Accounts. Depositor: Rabbal Mal; Bank: Aamil Share profit on agreed basis, bear full loss. Investment pool Distribution of profits on pro rata basis.

Special Investment Deposits [Sources of Funds]

Concept of Wakalah The bank acts as a wakeel. Implement\s the instruction of the Mawakkil. Special purpose investment, Specify, purpose, sector, industry, or even project. The bank gets a fee for the services rendered. Full profit or loss goes to the depositor. The bank will share in loss only in case of proven neglect.

USES OF FUNDS
MUDARABAH MUSHARAKAH MURABAHAH IJARAH (Leasing) IJARAH WA IQTINA (Lease Purchase) MUSHARAKAH MUTANAQISAH LOAN ON SERVICE CHARGE INTEREST FREE LOANS.

TYPES OF CONTRCTS

Contracts
Muawadat
Musharakat Contracts of Partnerships Tabarruat Contracts of Charity

Contracts against Payment

TYPES OF CONTRCTS
Contracts of Sale / Lease are Muawadat. Gharar is not allowed in such contracts. Mudarabah and Musharakah are contracts of Partnerships. Some amount of gharar may be tolerated in such contracts. Sadaqat and Hadaya are Tabarruat. No objection to Gharar in these type of contracts.

Financing Techniques
These techniques were devised in classical period for the commodity trade Their application to financial sector is an innovation of the modern era. The application of these techniques requires new documentation which was not required in the early period.

the

MURABAHAH [USES OF FUNDS] - I

The word MURABAHA is derived from the word Ribh, meaning profit in Arabic. Sale with a profit. Cost-plus financing. Examples of Murabahah. Two contracts: A contact of intent to conduct a Murabaha Sale and another contact to buy the good ordered in previous contract. Promise is not a legal binding. It introduces an element of risk in the transaction. The element of risk justifies the profit in Murabaha sale : Fiqhi principle : Al Kharaj bi Daman.

MURABAHAH [USES OF FUNDS] - II

Applications of Muraqbaha:
In In In In domestic trade foreign trade financing consumer durables financing real estaes

ABUSES OF MURABAHA MURABAH AND BAY EINA.

MURABAHAH [USES OF FUNDS] - II

Applications of Muraqbaha:
In In In In domestic trade foreign trade financing consumer durables financing real estaes

ABUSES OF MURABAHA MURABAH AND BAY EINA.

MUSHARAKAH [USES OF FUNDS]

Musharakah is from the word Sharikah. More than one partners: Partnership in capital proportion and project supervision. A partner may waive his right of supervision or delegate it to another partner. Arrangements: Sharing of Profit and loss in accordance with capital proportion agreed proportion. Variant: Share of profit in agreed proportion, share of loss in capital proportion. Applications of Musharakah: i. in Import trade Ii. In Agriculture

MUDARABAH [USES OF FUNDS]

Mudarabah existing from pre-Islamic times. Permitted on the Cannon of Necessicity. Profit and loss sharing is a wrong translation. Arrangement: Profit is shared on an agreed basis, loss is borne by the Rabbal Mal. Bank: Rabbal Mal, Entrepreneur : Aamil Double tier Mudarabah. Requirements for a successful Mudarabah

Other Financing Techniques

Loans on Service Charge Qard Hasan [interest free loans] Service Charge is to be equal to actual administrative expenditure Qard Hasan is limited to social purposes only.

IJARAH [USES OF FUNDS]

Ijarah is emerging as a popular technique of financing amongst the Islamic banks Elements of a lease contact: Lessor, Lessee, instrument and period of lease, The asset remains in the ownership of the lessor. Maintenance is the responsibility of the owner. Ijarah muntahi bit tamlik

Other Financing Techniques

Diminishing Musharakah Loan of Service Charges. Only administrative expenses can be charged. Interest free loans are provided as a social service

A TYPICAL BALANCE SHEET

Sources of Funds
Current Account Saving Accounts Investment Acc Special Invest. Acc

Uses of Funds Murabaha Musharakah Mudarabah Ijarah Qard Hasan

MAIN QUESTIONS
How Islamic Banks use these techniques? What is the incidence of their use? Are some techniques more amenable to certain sectors? Which techniques are easier to use? Which techniques have lesser

Salient features of the Survey

Results based on a Sample survey Period: April October 1985 IV and V Meetings of the Directors of Islamic Banks 30 Banks approached, 8 Banks responded 55 questions asked. Information to be supplemented

Responding Islamic Banks

1. Jordan Islamic Bank (1979) 2. Faisal Islamic Bank, Egypt (1977) 3. Islamic Bank for Western Sudan (1981) 4. Tadamon Islamic Bank, Sudan (1981) 5. Qatar Islamic Bank (1983) 6. Islamic Bank International Denmark (1983) 7. Islamic Bank, Bangladesh (1983) 8. Sudanese Islamic Bank, Sudan

Financial Operations of Islamic Banks [Financing Techniques]

Mudarabah Musharakah Bay al ajal Murabaha Ijarah Lease purchase financing Qard Hasan

FINANCING TECHNIQUES [CONTD. ]

These techniques were devised in the classical period for the commodity trade Their application to financial sector is an innovation of the modern era. The application of these techniques requires new documentation which was not

Relative Significance of Islamic Financing Techniques

Dominance of Murabaha in 1984
Jordan Islamic Bank Bangladesh Islamic Bank Sudanese Islamic Bank Tadamon Islamic Bank Qatar Islamic Bank 72% 65% 53% 61% 97%

Significance of Musharakah Hybrid Techniques

Modes

Financing By Modes for 10 Islamic Banks 1994-96

Simple Average 70.19 6.49 7.29 4.84 11.2 Weighted Average 65.66 9.83 8.17 3.73 12.61

Murabaha Musharakah Mudarabah Ijarah Other

Mode

Mode wise Finance of Islamic Bank, Bangladesh

1995 1996 53.54 17.28 14.57 7.18 50.28 18.34 16.66 7.22

Murabah Deffered sale Hire purchase Purchase and Negotiation Musharaka

3.87

3.18

Sector Wise Distribution of Finance 1984 Name Agricult Mfg. SSI Real Trade
Of the Bank Jordan Islamic Bank Qatar Islamic Bank Islamic Bank Banglad esh ure estate 25.67 0.53 39.79 1.00 32.79

9.35

90.34

0.83

26.10

73.01

Sector Trade

Sectoral Financing by Nine Islamic Banks, 1994-96

Simple average 42.4 2.4 11.0 11.2 Weighted Average 34.1 2.7 9.2 19.7

Agriculture Industry Services

Real Estate
Other

12.9
19.1

14.8
19.4

Relative Significance of Islamic Financing Techniques

Dominance of Murabaha in 1984
Jordan Islamic Bank Bangladesh Islamic Bank Sudanese Islamic Bank Tadamon Islamic Bank Qatar Islamic Bank 72% 65% 53% 61% 97%

Significance of Musharakah Hybrid Techniques

Modes

Financing By Modes for 10 Islamic Banks 1994-96

Simple Average 70.19 6.49 7.29 4.84 11.2 Weighted Average 65.66 9.83 8.17 3.73 12.61

Murabaha Musharakah Mudarabah Ijarah Other

Mode

Mode wise Finance of Islamic Bank, Bangladesh

1995 1996 53.54 17.28 14.57 7.18 50.28 18.34 16.66 7.22

Murabah Deffered sale Hire purchase Purchase and Negotiation Musharaka

3.87

3.18

Sector Wise Distribution of Finance 1984 Name Agricult Mfg. SSI Real Trade
Of the Bank Jordan Islamic Bank Qatar Islamic Bank Islamic Bank Banglad esh ure estate 25.67 0.53 39.79 1.00 32.79

9.35

90.34

0.83

26.10

73.01

Sector Trade

Sectoral Financing by Nine Islamic Banks, 1994-96

Simple average 42.4 2.4 11.0 11.2 Weighted Average 34.1 2.7 9.2 19.7

Agriculture Industry Services

Real Estate
Other

12.9
19.1

14.8
19.4

TERM STRUCTURE OF FINANCE

Term structure means temporal distribution of finance Significance of term structure Heavy dominance of short term finance Reasons for this dominance: asymmetry between term structure of deposits and term structure of finance.

Latest Trends in Islamic Financial Markets

Derivatives and secondary market Evolution of Financial Instruments and Financial Papers Securitization Musharakah bonds Ijarah bonds

SOME MISCONCEPTIONS
ISLAMIC BANKING IS RELIGION BASED. ISLAMIC BANKING IS FOR A SPECIFIC COMMUNITY ISLAMIC BANKING REPLACES INTEREST RATE WITH PROFIT AND THAT IS ALL.