Mastura Abid

Back to the discussion on Islamic Finance in fintech, Islamic Finance and Real Estate Partner Afsor Ullah returns to the Today Show. In this clip, Afsor is asked about the challenges young Muslims face in understanding Islamic Finance principles. He outlines both ends of the issue: on one side, young Muslims trying to grasp the fundamentals of Islamic Finance; on the other, those seeking modern platforms that align with what they're accustomed to. 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝗳𝘀𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀. For specialist advice on Islamic Finance, please contact Afsor Ullah at [email protected]. #IslamicFinance #IslamicFinanceProducts #Fintech #ShariaCompliant #DrucesLLP

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In a recent conversation with Naseeha Institute, Faraz Adam breaks down how Islamic Finance works in practice, not just in theory. From liquidity constraints to return expectations, the discussion dives into how contracts like Murabaha and Mudarabah are adapted to fit today’s financial systems. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dfgN42Ce

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Most people still think Islamic finance is “just for Muslims.” And that misunderstanding is costing them opportunities. See what’s actually happening: Islamic banks and investment institutions are expanding Sukuk is funding infrastructure Takaful is growing as an alternative to insurance (a much better alternative) Regulators are pushing financial inclusion through non-interest models (even in fintech) But there’s a problem....... The industry is growing faster than the available talent. Banks, fund managers, and fintechs are looking for people who understand how this system works, and they are not finding enough people. That gap is where the opportunity is. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be breaking down what Islamic finance really is, how it works, and how you can position yourself within it. If you work in finance, business, or you’re trying to enter the industry, you should be paying attention.

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Ramadan began yesterday, and Muslims around the world will be fasting from dawn to dusk throughout the holy month. Understanding Ramadan's various effects on businesses, and how these effects can change from year to year, is essential for investors in frontier emerging markets, says Analyst and Portfolio Manager Babatunde Ojo, CFA.

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The UK continues to be the leading Western hub for Islamic finance, according to Fitch Ratings. The London Stock Exchanges remains the largest venue for hard-currency sukuk, making up over 40% of the global share as of H1 2025. Find more details here: https://lnkd.in/ee8bj96p

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🇵🇰 Why Islamic Finance Is Still Misunderstood One point that comes up repeatedly in Pakistan’s transition towards an interest-free system is this: there is strong trust in Islamic scholars, but far less understanding of how Islamic finance actually works in practice. In this clip from our latest episode, Farrukh Raza from IFAAS (Islamic Finance Advisory & Assurance Services) explains why this awareness gap matters, why it isn’t unique to Pakistan, and why education and understanding are just as important as regulation and deadlines. As Pakistan moves closer to its 31 December 2027 target, the question isn’t only about implementation, but about whether businesses, institutions and customers are genuinely prepared. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eQjNx6Bw 🎧 Listen on all podcast platforms or stream here: https://lnkd.in/ebjiwSmW

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In this week's episode of #IslamicFinanceWeekly, we explore how Islamic funds enable portfolio diversification, reduce risk, and create new pathways for inclusive participation in the financial market. Watch full video👇🏽 https://lnkd.in/d57Gtvej YouTube: https://lnkd.in/dRT5Mcjz Cc: Rahma Say Muhammed #islamicfinance #halalinvesting #portfoliodiversification #ethicalfinance #retailinvestment

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𝐁𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟: 🚀 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 2 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦'𝘴 5-𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 Fee structures in Islamic finance are often built for the few, not the many. To reach a broader or mainstream Muslim audience, consider adopting more market-competitive fee models. Holding on to legacy economics could be holding back your mission. Disrupting your own model may be the difference between scaling, versus not. Stay tuned for the remainder of our 5-part series. Interested in learning more about Innate? Visit our website here: https://innate.capital/ Aamir A. Rehman Eaman S. Dannah J.

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“Should I support Islamic finance institutions even if their products aren’t perfect?” 🤔 It’s a question we explored with Sh. Joe Bradford, CSAA. Some scholars say we should support these institutions so they can grow stronger. Others say we must avoid anything questionable. But maybe it’s not an either-or. The reality is — these are for-profit businesses, and your money has power. So use it. Ask the hard questions. If a product is labeled “halal” — the company should be able to explain how, especially when things go wrong. That’s not being a difficult customer—that’s honoring your values. You don’t have to settle for the first option or accept pressure tactics. You have choices, and by asking for better, you help build better. Access the full conversation here: https://shorturl.at/5xpSD Learn more at Neeyah.com/invest

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Questions to be addressed include how Islamic economies can bridge growth gaps in Western marketsWhy ethical finance models are attracting UK and global investorsThe role of policy, regulation, and inclusion in enabling adoption #IslamicEconomy #EthicalFinance #EconomicGrowth #FinancialInclusion #UKInvestment

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My previous post examined how Islamic finance operates in practice. Many products are structured to avoid risk rather than share it. But this raises a deeper question. 🌟 Why did Islamic finance move away from risk sharing in the first place? Classical Islamic commerce was built around partnerships and trade: 💠 mudarabah (capital and entrepreneurship sharing profit and loss) 💠 musharakah (joint ventures with shared risk) Modern banking operates very differently. Banks are designed to reduce uncertainty and produce predictable cash flows. Deposits are guaranteed, loans are fixed, and profit comes from the spread. Once Islamic finance entered that architecture, something changed. The legal forms changed, but the underlying system remained the same. The result is a drift from mutuality toward guarantees. I explore that structural shift here: https://lnkd.in/gYCQAtVc #IslamicFinance #Banking #EconomicSystems #RiskSharing

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Faith and Finance - An Islamic Knowledge Series by Alhamra Episode 4: Can Non-Muslims Invest in islamic funds? Is the Mutual Fund Concept Halal?   In this episode, Mufti Dr. Zubair Usmani, a distinguished Shariah scholar and Islamic finance expert, breaks down these fundamental concepts for general audience. Mufti Sahab explains that Alhamra Islamic Funds are inclusive and open to non-Muslim investors seeking ethical, transparent, and disciplined wealth management. He then explains the core of the matter of mutual funds are built on partnership and shared success. This simple structure makes them fundamentally Halal and a great choice for every type of investor.   #IslamicInvestments #HalalInvesting #FaithAndFinanceByAlhamra #InvestWithEthics #MutualFundsExplained #FinancialClarity #AlhamraIslamicFunds #MuftiDrZubairUsmani #SmartInvesting #FinanceForAll #MCBFunds #EthicalGrowth

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This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of Islamic Sukuk and conventional bonds, highlighting their fundamental differences in terms of returns, ownership, risk, contract type, and Sharia compliance. It delves into the structural underpinnings of each financial instrument and elucidates the ethical and financial advantages offered by Islamic finance, particularly in the realm of fixed-income securities. By examining these key distinctions... https://lnkd.in/dRr4iaQm

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Islamic Finance class reflections day 1: Today, we've been learning about Islamic Social Finance in class: things like Zakat, Waqf, ESG, Crowdfunding, and VBI. At first, I thought Islamic Social Finance is just about charity. But the more we explore, the more I understand how deep and important it actually is. Like how Malaysia uses Zakat to fund education (Our university Zakat fund - IIUM Endowment Fund) or how big companies in Malaysia are competing to create value to society even with sponsoring animals at Zoo Negara Malaysia. We explored Waqf lands in one region of Malaysia (Selengor), how ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) initiatives are mandatory for publicly listed companies in Malaysia. Just one example for companies competing in ESG initiatives can be a scarf brand "Tudung People". They are using only 8 plastic bottles to create a sustainable products from recycling.  Then, we saw 10 out of hunderds of Malaysia's listed crowdfunding platforms (pitchIN, MyStartr, Ata Plus, Global Sadaqah, Ethis, Fundaztic, and Skolafund (this one was founded by 2 school students)). And then, something called - Value Based Intermediation (VBI) was our next example for Islamic Social Financing. I was honestly shocked when our lecturer said that Maybank (one of the leading bank in Malaysia) covers all expenses of tigers in Zoo Negara, and Bank Islam sponsors deers there. I hope they don't do this just for PR, but as part of their commitment to giving value to society. These cases made me rethink how Islamic Finance can make society strive for creating value not just profits. My short insight for today's class was: "Islamic Finance encourages competing on ethics and creating value, not just profit." Just sharing what I'm learning at IIUM as a bachelor of Islamic Finance student. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. #IslamicFinanceUz #IslamicFinance #Malaysia #IIUM #Studentthought #IslamicSocialFinancing

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The outcome is never bigger than honesty. As I’ve been studying the AAOIFI standards with Mufti Faraz Adam, one theme consistently stands out — the deliberate effort to identify and prevent manipulation of the very principles that define Islamic finance. It’s a reminder that our industry has evolved through experience — learning from early missteps where commercial innovation sometimes outpaced ethical clarity. The writers of these standards didn’t just codify Shariah compliance; they anticipated how intent can be distorted, and they built safeguards against it. That foresight reflects something deeper — the maturity of Islamic finance. We’ve reached a stage where ethics and structure are not opposing forces, but complementary ones. I’ve seen this principle lived out during my time at Nester — from the top down, there’s been a conscious focus on aligning client interests with transparent and equitable outcomes. And as I prepare to transition into a new chapter, I carry forward the same conviction. There are no shortcuts in building trust — and no outcome worth achieving without honesty. The growth of Islamic finance today is a reflection of that very principle. For those entering the field, the opportunities are endless — not because it’s easier, but because it demands integrity at every level.

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Whilst my thoughts and prayers remain with everyone in the region affected by this wholly unjust, brutal and illegal attack during the holy month of Ramadan, I wanted to share my latest piece for Salaam Gateway on a subject that continues to shape the future of Islamic finance. Islamic fintech and venture capital — underfunded or unscalable? I examine whether Islamic fintechs are genuinely constrained by capital, or whether structural and scalability challenges are holding them back from reaching Series A, B and beyond. Includes insights from Abdul Haseeb Basit, Hazem Ben-Gacem, Khalid H. and Amjad Hussain 📖 Read it here: https://lnkd.in/ejgfgNzX As always, I welcome feedback as well as thoughtful perspectives on how we can unlock stronger VC pathways and build globally competitive Islamic fintech platforms. #IslamicFinance #Fintech #VentureCapital #Startups #IslamicEconomy

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