Welcome to the Islamic Finance Resources blog, a grassroots initiative started by industry professionals and supported by practitioners from around the globe.

We constantly update this site and its overall content, and encourage you to use the various navigation tools available and welcome your feedback and comments.
A few of the resources that you can find in this site:
- Funds@Work: Network Analysis Among Sharia Scholars v 4.0
- ISRA: Islamic Finance Knowledge Repository
- IFSB-IRTI-IDB Islamic Finance and Global Stability Report
- Sukuk Reports: I, II, III, and IV
Much more available under 'Industry Reports' and 'Academic Papers' (right hand side menus)

Islamic Finance in the News

Islamic Markets on Twitter



29.3.10

INCEIF Webcasts

INCEIF has a short but quite diverse library of webcasts relating to various Islamic finance topics:




The Global Financial Meltdown : Islamic Finance Beyond Financing
Prof Datuk Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali, Director, Malaysian Development Institute (MDI), Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department
December 2008

INCEIF Global Forum 2007
Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, Professor, Columbia University
August 2007

Risk Management in Islamic Finance
Professor Rodney Wilson, Durham University
March 2007

Islamic Indexes and The Development of Islamic Capital Markets
Mr. A.Rushdi Siddiqui,
Global Director, Islamic Market Index Group
March 2007

Intellectual Discourse Series
Bank Negara Malaysia
February 2007

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21.3.10

Market Survey: The Islamic Window

The goal of this market survey is to help measure the level of awareness, perception, misconception and overall understanding of consumers towards the Islamic finance industry (and its various products and services). The survey results will enable us to open a window into the mind of current (as well as prospective) consumers.

The rationale behind the survey is further developed by Joy Abdullah in an article that was featured in the March issue of Opalesque Islamic Finance Intelligence: "The Islamic Window: Consumer Perception and Market Research in Islamic Finance" (refer to pages 24-25).

It is not meant to be a scientific survey but it certainly aims to be as representative as possible. In that sense we need the largest possible sample size for it to succeed - and for this we need your help by sharing the survey with your friends, family, colleagues, classmates, etc. You can use the below link to access the survey:

http://www.kwiksurveys.com/online-survey.php?surveyID=KKNOKO_e9d1d68

We will share the findings in a dedicated section of Opalesque Islamic Finance Intelligence (free subscription) where we will identify consumer segments, market trends, as well as any country-specific issues.

Jointly developed and supported by:
Opalesque Islamic Finance Intelligence
Daily Baraka
Islamic Finance Resources Blog
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17.3.10

Opalesque Islamic Finance Intelligence - Seventh Issue

Welcome to the seventh issue of Opalesque Islamic Finance Intelligence (download the pdf version), once again we bring together a wide array of content that is as diverse as the industry itself. Each of our editions has always delivered a wide range of topics (as this allows us to present relevant material for everyone), but it is increasingly clear that inquisitive research, relevant empirical evidence and timely academic studies are in dire need. This is not only true of their origination but also of their dissemination, thus we gravitate around this particular theme for OIFI VII.

To begin with, our editorial section delves into the realm of data and information providers and how this space is evolving. In addition, we introduce a new academic-oriented section which we affectionately term the 'Kulliyyah Korner'. Its aims is to provide a glimpse into the latest topics that are being discussed and analyzed across the industry - whether this is within the context of a faculty (or kulliyyah), think tank, etc. Above all, the Korner aims to highlight the rich material available from academic institutions (usually available through industry periodicals and journals) while presenting them to a wider audience.

Hence the first installment of Kulliyyah profiles the research of Anne-Sophie Gintzburger, who has developed an extensive study on the regional variations of Islamic financial instruments as part of her thesis at the Australian National University. We complement this with our Featured Resource which outlines a variety of past & present case studies at the country-specific level. Furthermore, Lex Islamicus sees Khalil exploring the Universality and Codification of Islamic Contracts, as it pertains to their enforceability of these in a court of law and the relationship with Lex Mercatoria.

Nikan provides further insights into Shariah compliant principal protected notes as part of the Featured Structure section. This allows for an interesting contrast to our Fund Manager Interview which talks to Nick Barisheff, President & CEO of Bullion Management Group (BMG), and their recent entry into the field with their Shariah compliant BMG Bullion Fund. Taking a look forward, our Opinion Column hears from Professor Mahmood Faruqui, who inquires on where can Islamic Finance contribute as part of repair initiatives in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Finally, Joy Abdullah makes inquiries in our Industry Snapshot section regarding the need for consumer data and market statistics - with a particular focus on investor awareness and their perceptions of the Islamic finance industry.

We welcome your comments & suggestions and a reminder that you can check the ever-growing archive of Opalesque Islamic Finance Briefing and Opalesque Islamic Finance Intelligence, all available free (see reference link).

Download the complete issue of Opalesque Islamic Finance Intelligence here.

Alternatively you can read each section separately:

Editor's Note: Learning Rushdi-Speak
Featured Resource: Country-Specific Case Studies
Featured Structure: Shariah Compliant Principal Protected Notes
Fund Manager Interview: Nick Barisheff, President & CEO, Bullion Management Group Inc
Lex Islamicus: Universality and Codification of Islamic Contracts
Kulliyyah Korner: Regional Variations on the Permissibility of Islamic Financial Instruments
Opinion Column: Repair Initiatives Post Banking Crises - Can Islamic Finance contribute?
Industry Snapshot: The Islamic Window: Consumer Perception and Market Research in Islamic Finance

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15.3.10

Islamic Finance - Australia

Islamic Finance - Australia
Austrade
February 2010

The booklet Islamic Finance provides a detailed explanation of the opportunities that booming Shariah-compliant investment and banking offers Australia’s financial services sector.

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13.3.10

Islamic finance: when will an English court consider Shari'a compliance?

Islamic finance: when will an English court consider Shari'a compliance?
Clifford Chance LLP
Qudeer Latif, Debashis Dey, Leonard Cleland, Graham Lovett, James Abbott and Paul McViety
March 2010

"As the global economic slowdown continues and more debt defaults materialise, it is inevitable that the litigation of Islamic financing structures will become increasingly common - notably in the English courts, as English law governs a significant number of cross-border Islamic finance arrangements. Stakeholders in the Islamic finance industry will be focusing closely on the outcome of these disputes, as they look to ensure that their products remain sufficiently robust when faced with a period of continued economic uncertainty.

This briefing considers the recent TID / Blom litigation and how this should be distinguished from the Shamil Bank litigation."

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11.3.10

DFSA - Islamic Finance Handbooks

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has launched a series of electronic Islamic finance tailored handbooks (press release here). The five tailored handbooks relate to five different types of Islamic finance activities. Each handbook contains the parts of the DFSA Rulebooks which apply to that particular area of activity namely:

Islamic Banking;
Islamic Investment Business, other than Operating Funds;
Islamic Insurance;
Islamic Insurance Intermediation and Management; and
Operation of Islamic Funds.
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10.3.10

Inaugural SC – OCIS Forum

Inaugural SC – OCIS Forum
“Contribution of Islamic Finance Post Global Financial Crisis”

Tuesday 16 March 2010
Securities Commission Malaysia

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) have collaborated to create an international platform for a discourse on topical issues and challenges faced in bringing Islamic finance into the mainstream. This Forum aims to facilitate wider learning and encourage appreciation and acceptance of topical Islamic finance issues.

Kindly click here to view the complete agenda.

Panelists
  • Dato’ Mohd Razif Abd Kadir, Deputy Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM)
  • Dr Abbas Mirakhor, Former Executive Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  • Dr Mohamed Ali Elgari, Professor of Islamic Economics, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah
  • Abdulkader Thomas, President & CEO, SHAPE™ Financial Corp, USA and Kuwait
  • Professor Habib Ahmed, Sharjah Chair in Islamic Law and Finance, Durham University, UK
  • Davide Barzilai, Banking Partner, Norton Rose LLP, UK
  • Andri Aidham Ahmad Badri, Partner, Kadir Andri & Partners, Malaysia
  • Rafe Haneef, Fajr Capital, Malaysia

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6.3.10

Process for Standardization of Shariah Practices

Process for Standardization of Shariah Practices
Islamic Banking Department
State Bank of Pakistan, Karachi
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2.3.10

Sukuk Report IV



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Sukuk Report III

Malaysia Debt Securities and Sukuk Market
A Guide for Issuers and Investors
A Joint Publication by Bank Negara Malaysia and Securities Commission Malaysia
2009
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Sukuk Report II

Guide to Issuing Sukuk from the DIFC
Prepared by Clifford Chance, Amanie Consulting, the DFSA and the DIFC Authority, the guide provides a summary of sukuk structures and information on issuing sukuk in DIFC.
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Sukuk Report I

The Zawya Collaborative Sukuk Report is an agenda setting study for the growth and development of the global Sukuk industry. The report consists of thought leadership articles contributed by a number of industry leaders, survey analysis showing the matches and mismatches in supply and demand appetite, and also trend analysis, etc.

A full version of the report is available here (registration required).
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