ON ISLAMIC BANKING
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS(FAQs)ONISLAMIC BANKINGPrepared byMr. Imran AhmadMr. Ghulam ShabbirIslamic Banking DepartmentState Bank of PakistanKarachi.
PART 1: RIBA AND INTEREST. 4Question No. 1). What is Islamic Banking? . 4Question No. 2). What is the philosophy of Islamic banking?. 4Question No.3) What is Meant By Riba? . 5Question No.4) What is interest? Is there any difference between interest and Riba? . 5Question No. 5) What are the different kinds of Riba?. 6Question No. 6). What are the revelations/verses in Holy Quran regarding prohibition of Riba/interest?. 7Question No. 7) What are the sayings/Ahadith about Riba/Interest? . 10Question No.8) Are there any injunctions against Riba/usury in religious texts other than Holy Quran?. 12Question No. 9)Does interest/Riba is related only to consumption loans or it applies to commercialloans also? . 13Question No.10) Does the prohibition of Riba apply equally to the loans obtained from or extended toMuslims as well as non-Muslims?. 13Question No. 11). What is the difference between conventional banking and Islamic banking? . 14Question No. 12): What are the basic principles of Islamic banking? . 14Question No. 14): The end result of Islamic Banking and Conventional Banking is the same. Why do theyappear similar?. 16Question No. 15) If Islamic banks do not invest in interest based activities then how do they generateprofit to pay to their customers?. 17Question No. 16). Are not Islamic banks just paying interest and dressing it as profit on trade andinvestments? . 17Question No. 17): Islamic banks use interest base system (KIBOR) as a Bench Mark while determiningprofit; how Islamic banking can be said to be Islamic? . 17Question No. 18) Is Islamic banking meant only for Muslims? . 18PART 2: ISLAMIC MODES OF FINANCE . 18Question No.19) What are the major modes of Islamic banking and finance? . 18Answer: The following are the modes of finance which are or three categories:. 18Question No. 20). What is Mudarabah? . 19Question No. 21) What is Musharakah? . 201
Question No. 22) What is Murabaha? . 21Question No. 23) What are the basic rules of a valid Murabaha transaction? . 22Question No. 24). What is Murabaha used for in Islamic banks? . 23Question No. 25). What is Bai Muajjal? . 24Question No. 26). What is Musawamah? . 24Question No. 27) What is Ijarah? . 25Question No. 28): What are the salient features of Ijarah transaction?. 25Question No. 29) What is difference between conventional mortgage financing and Islamic Mortgagefinancing?. 27Question No. 30): The rental amount under Ijarah transaction is normally linked to interest basedbenchmark like LIBOR or KIBOR. Is not it an interest based financing?. 27Question No. 31): Interest rates are subject to unknown variations and linking the amount of rent withinterest rate will create uncertainty (Gharar) impermissible in Shariah. How would the Ijarah contractremain valid under this scenario?. 28Question No.32). What is Ijarah-Wal-Iqtina? . 29Question No. 33) What is Bai Salam? . 29Question No. 34) What is Istisna? . 31Question No. 35) What is the difference between Istisna and Ijarah? . 32Question No. 36): What is the difference between Istisna and Salam? . 32Question No. 37)Is it permissible for an Islamic bank to impose penalty in case receivables aredelayed?32Question No. 38)Can Islamic banks claim compensation or liquidated damages on account of latepayment/default by the clients?. 33Question No. 39) Islamic bank’s financing is sometime costlier than that of the conventional banking.Why is it so? . 34Question No. 40) Does discounting of bills is allowed under Islamic Shariah?. 34PART 3: PRACTICAL ASPECT OF ISLAMIC BANKING . 35Question No. 41) If the Islamic banks do not lend money on interest then what modes of financing canbe used for the following: . 35A) Trade and industrial finance. 35B) Financing the budget deficit . 35C) Acquiring foreign loans. 352
Question No. 42) If banking were to be based on interest-free transactions, how would it work inpractice? . 37Question No. 43) Do We Really Need Islamic Banks? . 38Question No. 44) Is Islamic Banking Viable?. 39Question No. 45) How does Islamic banking fare vis-à-vis conventional banking?. 40Question No.46) How can Islamic banking institutions avoid money laundering and such kind of otherillegal/illegitimate activities? . 42PART 4: AN ECONOMY-WIDE APPLICATION OF ISLAMIC BANKING ANDFINANCE . 43Question No.47) Can a Muslim country transform its economy according to the principles Islamic financein a successful manner? What are the prerequisites for success?. 43Question No. 48) In cases all interest-based transactions are abolished from the economy, what would bethe economic implications on national and international levels?. 44Question No. 49) A large number of Muslim countries depend heavily on foreign loans from othercountries as well as from international financial institutions like the World Bank and the IMF. If interestis totally abolished from the economy of a Muslim country, how can it deal with foreign countries andforeign financial institutions? . 47Question No. 50). Can Islamic banks play any role in economic development of the Country?. 513
PART 1: RIBA AND INTERESTQuestion No. 1). What is Islamic Banking?Answer: Islamic banking is defined as banking system which is in consonance withthe spirit, ethos and value system of Islam and governed by the principles laid downby Islamic Shariah. Interest free banking is a narrow concept denoting a number ofbanking instruments or operations which avoid interest. Islamic banking, the moregeneral term, is based not only to avoid interest-based transactions prohibited inIslamic Shariah but also to avoid unethical and un-social practices. In practical sense,Islamic Banking is the transformation of conventional money lending intotransactions based on tangible assets and real services. The model of Islamic bankingsystem leads towards the achievement of a system which helps achieve economicprosperity.Question No. 2). What is the philosophy of Islamic banking?Answer: The philosophy of Islamic banking takes the lead from Islamic Shariah.According to Islamic Shariah, Islamic banking cannot deal in transactions involvinginterest/riba (an increase stipulated or sought over the principal of a loan or debt).Further, they cannot deal in the transactions having the element of Gharar 1 orMaiser2. Moreover, they cannot deal in any transaction, the subject matter of which isinvalid (haram in the eyes of Islam). Islamic banks focus on generating returnsthrough investment tools which are Shariah compliant as well. Islamic Shariah linksthe gain on capital with its performance. Operating within the ambit of Shariah, theoperations of Islamic banking are based on sharing the risk which may arise throughtrading and investment activities using contracts of various Islamic modes of finance.12Excessive level of uncertainty or ambiguity created due to the lack of information or control in a contract.Game of Chance4
The prohibition of a risk free return and permission of trading, as enshrined in theVerse 2:275 of the Holy Quran, makes the financial activities asset-backed in anIslamic set-up with ability to cause ‘value addition’.Question No.3) What is Meant By Riba?Answer: The word "Riba" means excess, increase or addition, which correctlyinterpreted according to Shariah terminology, implies any excess compensationwithout due consideration (consideration does not include time value of money). Thisdefinition of Riba is derived from the Quran and is unanimously accepted by allIslamic scholars. 3The meaning of Riba has been clarified in the following verses of Quran (Surah AlBaqarah 2:278-9)"O those who believe; fear Allah and give up what still remains of the Riba if you arebelievers. But if you do not do so, then be warned of war from Allah and HisMessenger. If you repent even now, you have the right of the return of yourprincipal; neither will you do wrong nor will you be wronged."Question No.4) What is interest? Is there any difference between interest andRiba?Answer:The origination of term interest dates back to 17th century with theemergence of banking system at global level. Interest means giving and/or taking ofany excess amount in exchange of a loan or on debt. Hence, it carries the samemeaning/value as that of Riba as defined in the previous question. Further, it isnarrated that “the loan that draws interest is Riba”.43Dr. Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani (2002), Meezan Bank’s Guide to Islamic banking, Darul Ishaat,Karachi, Pakistan, p 454Dr. Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani (2002), Meezan Bank’s Guide to Isalmic banking, Darul Ishaat,Karachi, Pakistan, p 485
There is consensus among the Muslim scholars of all the fiqhs that interest is Riba inall its forms and manifestations. 5Question No. 5) What are the different kinds of Riba?Answer: There are two kinds of 1. Riba An Nasiyah/Riba Al-Quran:In the Holy Quran, Allah (SWT) says in Sura Al-Baqarah (2-279):“ .And if you repent, yours is your principal”It is reported by Harith ibe Abi Usamah in his Musnad that Sayyidna Ali Radi-AllahuAnhu reportedly referred that the Holy Prophet said:alayhi wa sallam, said that:"Every loan that derives a benefit (to the lender) is riba"6.Example of Riba-al-Nasiyah/Interest: If Mr. A lends Rs.100 to Mr. B (a borrower)with a condition that Mr. B shall return him Rs.110 after one month. In this case, theextra amount of Rs. 10 is Riba or Interest.2. Riba-al-Fadl:Abu Said al Khudri Radi-Allahu anhu narrated that Holy Prophet (Peace be uponhim) said:5Dr. Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani (2002), Meezanbank’s Guide to Islamic Banking” Darul Ishaat,Karachi, Pakistan, p 45”6 Al-Syuti, Al-Jame’ al-Saghir V.2, P.946
"Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates andsalt for salt, like for like, payment made hand by hand. If anyone gives more or asksfor more, he has dealt in riba. The receiver and giver are equally guilty" 7Based on aforesaid definition, it may be noted that economically speaking it would beirrational to exchange one kilogram of wheat with one and a half kilogram of wheatin a spot exchange. Therefore, some fuqaha have pointed out that Riba-al-Fadl hasbeen prohibited because if it was left un-prohibited it could be used as a subterfugefor getting Riba-al-Nasiyah. Of the six commodities specified in the hadith, two (goldand silver) unmistakably represent commodity money used at that time. One of thebasic characteristics of gold and silver is that they are monetary commodities. As amatter of fact, each of the six commodities mentioned in the hadith has been used as amedium of exchange at some time or the other.During the dark ages, only the first form (Riba An Nasiyah) was considered to beRiba. However, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) also classified the second form(Riba-al-Fadl) also as Riba8.Question No. 6). What are the revelations/verses in Holy Quran regardingprohibition of Riba/interest?Answer: There are four sets of revelations about Riba which were revealed ondifferent occasions.1. First Revelation: In Surah-Ar-Rum, verse 39 , dealing in riba has been discouragedin the following words:7Sahih Muslim, Karachi, V.2, P.25Dr. Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani (2002), Meezanbank’s Guide to Islamic Banking” Darul Ishaat,Karachi, Pakistan, p 45”87
"And whatever riba you give so that it may increase in the wealth of the people, itdoes not increase with Allah." [Surah Ar-Rum 30:39]2. Second Revelation: Muslims have been informed about the practice of taking ribaby Jews in Surah An-Nisaa:"And because of their charging riba while they were prohibited from it." [Surah AnNisaa 4-161]3. Third Revelation: Riba/Interest has been abolished in the third verse of Surah Ali-'Imran. The prohibition of riba is laid down in the following words:"O those who believe do not eat up riba doubled and redoubled." [Surah Al-e-Imran3- 130]4. Fourth Revelation: In the fourth revelation, Riba has categorically been prohibitedin all its forms. The following set of verses is found in the Surah Al-Baqarah, verse275-281 in the following words:8
"Those who take interest will not stand but as stands whom the demon has drivencrazy by his touch. That is because they have said: 'Trading is but like riba'. And Allahhas permitted trading and prohibited riba. So, whoever receives an advice from hisLord and stops, he is allowed what has passed, and his matter is up to Allah. And theones who revert back, those are the people of Fire. There they remain for ever. Allahdestroys riba and nourishes charities. And Allah does not like any sinful disbeliever.Surely those who believe and do good deeds, establish Salah and pay Zakah, havetheir reward with their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. O9
those who believe, fear Allah and give up what still remains of the riba if you arebelievers. But if you do not, then listen to the declaration of war from Allah and HisMessenger. And if you repent, yours is your principal. Neither you wrong, nor bewronged. And if there be one in misery, then deferment till ease. And that you leaveit as alms is far better for you, if you really know. And be fearful of a day when youshall be returned to Allah, then everybody shall be paid, in full, what he has earned.And they shall not be wronged." [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:275-281]Question No. 7) What are the sayings/Ahadith9 about Riba/Interest?Answer: According to Islamic jurists and scholars, there are around 40 differentAhadith on the subject of riba and its prohibition from Holy Prophet (peace be uponhim).Few of these are as follows:1. From Hazrat Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet, cursed thereceiver and the payer of interest, the one who records it and the two witnesses to thetransaction and said: "They are all alike [in guilt]." 102. Jabir ibn Abdallah (May Allah be pleased with him), giving a report on theProphets Farewell Pilgrimage, said: The Prophet addressed the people and said "All ofthe riba of Jahiliyyah is annulled. The first riba that I annul is our riba, that accruingto Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (the Prophet’s uncle); it is being cancelledcompletely."119Hadith means a saying, action or sanction by the Prophet.Narrated in Muslim, Kitab al-Musaqat, Bab lani akili al-riba wa mukilihi; also in Tirmidhi andMusnad Ahmad.1011Narrated in Muslim, Kitab al-Hajj, Bab Hajjati al-Nabi.10
3. From Hazrat Abdallah ibn Hanzalah (May Allah be pleased with him): TheProphet, said: "A dirham of riba which a man receives knowingly is worse thancommitting adultery thirty-six times"124. Bayhaqi has also reported the above hadith in Shuab al-iman with the additionthat "Hell befits him whose flesh has been nourished by the unlawful."5. From Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet said:"On the night of Ascension I came upon people whose stomachs were like houseswith snakes visible from the outside. I asked Gabriel who they were. He replied thatthey were people who had received interest."136. From Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet said:"Riba has seventy segments, the least serious being equivalent to a man committingadultery with his own mother."147. From Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet said:"There will certainly come a time for mankind when everyone will take riba and if hedoes not do so, its dust will reach him."158. From Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet said:"God would be justified in not allowing four persons to enter paradise or to taste itsblessings: he who drinks habitually, he who takes riba, he who usurps an orphansproperty without right, and he who is undutiful to his parents."1612Narrated in Mishkat al-Masabih, Kitab al-Buyu, Bab al-riba, on the authority of Ahmad andDaraqutni13Narrated in Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Tijarat, Bab al-taghlizi fi al-riba; also in Musnad Ahmad14Narrated in Ibn Majah.15Narrated in Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Buyu, Bab fi ijtinabi al-shubuhat; also in Ibn Majah.16Mustadrak al-Hakim, Kitab al-Buyu.11
Question No.8) Are there any injunctions against Riba/usury in religious textsother than Holy Quran?Answer: The following references against the prohibition of Riba/usury are drawnfrom the old testament of the bible17:Deuteronomy 23:19: "Thou shall not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money,usury of victuals, usury of anything that is lent upon usury."Psalms 15:1, 2, 5: "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thyholy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness and speaketh thetruth in his heart. He that putteth not out of his money to usury, nor taketh rewardagainst the innocent."Proverbs 28:8: "He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shallgather it for him that will pity the poor."Nehemiah 5:7: "Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and rules andsaid unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assemblyagainst them."Ezekiel 18:8.9: "He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken anyincrease, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniguity, hath executed true judgmentbetween man and man, hath walked in my statues, and hath kept my judgments, todeal truly; he is just. He shall surely live, said the Lord God."Ezekiel 22:12: "In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury andincrease, and though hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion, and hastforgotten me, said the Lord God."In these excerpts of the Bible the word usury is used in the sense of any amountclaimed by the creditor over and above the principal advanced by him to the debtor.The word riba used in the Holy Qur'an carries the same meaning because the verse ofSurah An-Nisaa (4-161) explicitly mentions that riba was prohibited for the Jewsalso18.17Justice Maulana Muhammad Taqi Usmani (May 2005), The Historical Judgment on Interest,delivered in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Idaratul – Ma’arif, Karachi-14 – Pakistan , p 31-3218ibid12
Question No. 9) Does interest/Riba is related only to consumption loans or itapplies to commercial loans also?Answer: The interest is prohibited whether it is consumption loan (loan for meetingday to day human needs) or commercial loan (loan for business purpose). There arequite a number of ahadith which clarify that in the days of Holy prophet, people notonly borrowed for consumption purposes but also for productive purposes. A few ofthe ahadith are given as follows for reference:(i)Ibn Saad has reported Hazrat Umar ( Radi-Allahu anhu), wanted to send atrade caravan to Syriya.He borrowed four thousand dirhams from SayyidnaAbdurrahman ibn Awaf, Radi-Allahu anhu for this purpose.19(ii)Ibn Jarrir has reported that Hind, daughter of Utbah and wife of Abu Sufyanborrowed four thousand dirhams from Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, for thepurpose of her trade. She invested this money in purchasing goods and selling them inthe market of the tribe of Kalb.20This is an ample testimony that the commercial loan was in practice when Quranicverses on Riba were revealed and the term Riba covers not only consumption loan butalso the commercial loan.Question No.10)Does the prohibition of Riba apply equally to the loansobtained from or extended to Muslims as well as non-Muslims?Answer: With respect to the receipt and payment of interest, there is no distinctionbetween Muslims and non-Muslims or between individuals and states becauseinterest is prohibited not only in Islamic scriptures but also in other religiousscriptures of the world as given in Question No. 8 above. Therefore, prohibitions ofinterest apply to Muslims as well as to non-Muslims.1920Ibn Saad, Al-Tabqat al-Kubra, Beirut, V.3, P.278Al-Tabari, Tarikh-al-Umam V.3, P.87, Events of the year 23 A.H.13
Question No. 11). What is the difference between conventional banking andIslamic banking?Answer: The following are the main differential points between conventionalbanking and Islamic banking.Sr.No.1CONVENTIONAL BANKINGISLAMIC BANKINGMoney is a commodity besidesmedium of exchange and store ofvalue. Therefore, it can be sold at aprice higher than its face value andit can also be rented out.Money is not a commodity though it isused as a medium of exchange and storeof value. Therefore, it cannot be sold ata price higher than its face value orrented out.2Time value is the basis for charging Profit on trade of goods or charging oninterest on capital.providing service is the basis for earningprofit.3Interest is charged even in case theorganization suffers losses by usingbank’s funds. Therefore, it is notbased on profit and loss sharing.Islamic bank operates on the basis ofprofit and loss sharing. In case, thebusinessman has suffered losses, thebank will share these losses based on themode of finance used (Mudarabah,Musharakah).4While disbursing cash finance,running finance or working capitalfinance,noagreementforexchange of goods & services ismade.Conventional banks use money as acommoditywhichleadstoinflation.The execution of agreements for theexchange of goods & services is a must,while disbursing funds under Murabaha,Salam & Istisna contracts.5Islamic banking tends to create link withthe real sectors of the economic systemby using trade related activities. Since,the money is linked with the real assetstherefore therefore it contributesdirectly in the economic development.Question No. 12): What are the basic principles of Islamic banking?Answer: There are at least six basic principles which are taken into considerationwhile executing any Islamic banking transaction. These principles differentiate a14
financial transaction from a Riba/interest based transaction to an Islamic bankingtransaction.1. Sanctity of contract: Before executing any Islamic banking transaction, the counterparties have to satisfy whether the transaction is halal (valid) in the eyes of IslamicShariah. This means that Islamic bank’s transaction must not be invalid or voidable.An invalid contract is a contract, which by virtue of its nature is invalid according toShariah rulings. Whereas a voidable contract is a contract, which by nature is valid,but some invalid components are inserted in the valid contract. Unless these invalidcomponents are eliminated from the valid contract, the contract will remain voidable.2. Risk sharing: Islamic jurists have drawn two principles from the saying of prophetMuhammad (SAW). These are “Alkhiraj Biddamaan 21 ” and “AlghununBilghurum22”. Both the principles have similar meanings that no profit can be earnedfrom an asset or a capital unless ownership risks have been taken by the earner of thatprofit. Thus in every Islamic banking transaction, the Islamic financial institutionand/or its deposit holder take(s) the risk of ownership of the tangible asset, realservices or capital before earning any profit there from.3. No Riba/interest: Islamic banks cannot involve in riba/interest related transactions.They cannot lend money to earn additional amount on it. However as stated in pointNo. 2 above, it earns profit by taking risk of tangible assets, real services or capital andpasses on this profit/loss to its deposit holders who also take the risk of their capital.4. Economic purpose/activity: Every Islamic banking transaction has certain economicpurpose/activity. Further, Islamic banking transactions are backed by tangible asset orreal service.5. Fairness: Islamic banking inculcates fairness through its operations. Transactionsbased on dubious terms and conditions cannot become part of Islamic banking. Allthe terms and conditions embedded in the transactions are properly disclosed in thecontract/agreement.6. No invalid subject matter: While executing an Islamic banking transaction, it isensured that no invalid subject matter or activity is financed by the Islamic financialtransaction. Some subject matter or activities may be allowed by the law of the landbut if the same are not allowed by Shariah, these can not be financed by an Islamicbank.21Gain accompanies liability for loss22Earning profit is legitimized only by risk-sharing and engaging in economic activity.15
Question No. 13) What is meant by Shariah/Islamic Law?Answer: Shariah lexically means a way or path. In Islam Shariah refers to the divineguidance and laws given by the Holy Quran, the Hadith (sayings) of the ProphetMuhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and supplemented by the juristic interpretationsby Islamic scholars. Shariah embodies all aspects of the Islamic faith, including beliefsand practices. Islamic Shariah or the divine law of Islam is derived from the followingfour sources:1.The Holy Quran2.The Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)3.Ijma’ (consensus of the Ummah)4.Qiyas (Anology)Question No. 14): The end result of Islamic Banking and Conventional Bankingis the same. Why do they appear similar?Answer: The validity of a transaction does not depend on
Answer: Islamic banking is defined as banking system which is in consonance with the spirit, ethos and value system of Islam and governed by the principles laid down by Islamic Shariah. Interest free banking is a narrow concept denoting a number of banking instruments or operations which a
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2 Korean Language Korean is an agglutinative language in which “words typically contain a linear sequence of MORPHS ” (Crystal, 2008). Words in Korean (eojeols), there-fore, can be formed by joining content and func-tional morphemes to indicate such meaning. These eojeols can be interpreted as the basic segmenta-tion unit and they are separated by a blank space in the Korean sentence. Let .
