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About Islamic Banking

About Takaful

Islamic banking has emerged as a new reality in the international financial scene. Its philosophies and principles are however, not new,

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having been outlined in the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah (words, action and approval of the Prophet where later put in writing by his

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followers and transmitted to others as “hadith”) of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) more than 1,400 years ago. The emergence of Islamic

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banking is often related to the revival of Islamic financial system which is totally usury (riba) free. Riba literally means increase, addition,

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expansion or growth which are non-trade related e.g. a loan, advances. Technically however, there is no  specific  or precise definition of

“riba”  thus excessive profits under certain condition, is also said, may tantamount to Riba.

Islamic Banking in the modern world, generally aims to promote and develop the application of Islamic principles, law and traditions to

transactions of financial, banking and related business affairs. It is also to promote investment companies to be engaged in such business

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activities that are acceptable and consistent within the Shariah precept. Islamic banks, by doing so, will safeguard the Islamic

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communities and societies from activities that are forbidden in Islam.

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Justice is such an indispensable ingredient of the Islamic faith that it is impossible to perceive the ideal Muslim society where justice has

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not been established. Islam wishes to eradicate from human society all traces of zulm, a comprehensive Islamic term referring to all forms

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of inequity injustice, exploitation, oppression and wrongdoing whereby a person either deprives offers of their rights or does not fulfill his

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obligations towards them.

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As emphasis in earlier definition of Islamic banking system, Islamic Banks doe not deal with loans (except for benevolent loan – Qardh

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Hassan). Instead, they introduce Musharakah (Partnership), Al-Bai Bithaman Ajil (deferred payment sale as a result from trading activity)

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and Mudharabah (Profit Sharing of gain and losses), which make the investments of the Islamic Banks depend on the usefulness and

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feasibility to the project in which the money is invested.

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This is a contrast with traditional banks using the conventional system that loans out money for interest, without regard as to the usage to

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which the money will be put, because the bank knows that the client is able to repay the loan.

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The Banking system should, like all other aspects of the Islamic way of life, be made to contribute richly to the achievement of the major

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socio-economic goals of Islam. The system should also continue to perform the usual functions that relate to its own special field which

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other banking systems performs.

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Some of the most important goals and function necessary for an Islamic Banking system are socio-economic justice and equitable

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distribution of income and wealth as well as the stability in the value of money to enable the medium of exchange to be a reliable unit of

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account.

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Mutual Funds / Unit Trusts ◄

Mobilization and investment of savings, coupled with effective rendering of all services normally expected from the banking system are

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equally important in achieving the goals of an Islamic banking services provider.

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It may be argued that the goals and functions of the Islamic banking system are similar to those under capitalism but there is in fact a

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significant difference in emphasis, arising from the divergence in the commitment of the two systems to spiritual values, socio-economic

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justice and human brotherhood.

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The main principles of Islamic banking are the prohibitions of interest (usury) in all transactions, the undertaking business and trade

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activities must be on the basis of fair and legitimate profit and the prohibitions of monopoly and hoarding.

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Comparison between Islamic and Conventional Banking

Islamic Banks, like conventional banks, are profitable organizations. Their aim is to gain profit, but they are not allowed to deal with

interest or to engage in any business or trade prohibited by Islam. In contrast, traditional conventional banks have as their main goal the

maximization of profit subject to a reasonable level of liquidity. They tend to deal with loans only and are keen in engaging themselves in

direct investment as a main activity.

The difference between the conventional banking system and the Islamic banking system is that, in the conventional system, interests are

given (pre-promised) with a guarantee of repayment and a fixed percentage return while in the Islamic system, investors share a fixed

percentage of profit when it occurs i.e. the share of the two practices will vary according to the profit achieved. Banks get back only a

share of profit from the business to which it is a party and in case of loss, the business party loses none in terms of money but forgoes

the reward for its activities during that period.

It is very important to remember that the Islamic banking movement in the country has only approximately 30 years, so it is unfair to

compare its result with those of the conventional banks which have been in existence for almost 300 years.

Islamic Financial system in Malaysia

The Islamic financial system in Malaysia has witnessed a tremendous growth in terms of demand, acceptance and development since it

was first introduced in 1963. It started from a modest beginning with the establishment of the Malaysian Pilgrims Fund Board (Tabung

Haji), to the setting up of the country’s first Islamic bank, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB), which commenced business on 1 July

1983.

Since then, BIMB became the core component of the country’s Islamic financial system. With its initial objective confined to developing a

viable and modern alternative to meet the financial needs of Malaysians, the Malaysian model of Islamic banking today is one of the most

advanced Islamic banking system in the world.

The ultimate objective of the Malaysian model of an Islamic financial system is to operate in parallel with the conventional financial system

in the country. In order to achieve this goal, the Malaysia Islamic financial system should be able to present itself as a viable alternative to

the more established conventional system.

Specific legal framework and financial instruments are pre-requisite to the Islamic financial system. Initially, an Islamic Banking Act was

enacted to cater for this system. As the system continues to develop and new components within the system were introduced, legal rules

such as the Takaful Acts as well as rules governing the Islamic Interbank Money Market were then issued.

Being the pressing need to leap frog the expansion of Islamic Banking system, the Central Bank (Bank Negara Malaysia - BNM) later

allows the existing conventional banking institutions to offer Islamic banking services using their existing infrastructure and branches. The

option was seen as the most effective and efficient mode of increasing the number of institutions offering Islamic banking services at the

lowest cost and within the shortest time frame. Following from the above, on 4 March 1993 BNM introduced a scheme known as "Skim

Perbankan Tanpa Faedah" (Interest-free Banking Scheme) or SPTF in short which in later years known as “Skim Perbankan Islam - SPI”

(Islamic Banking Scheme)

In October 1996, BNM issued a model financial statement for the banking institutions participating in the SPI requiring the banks to

disclose the Islamic banking operations (balance sheet and profit and loss account) as an additional item under the Notes to the

Accounts. In harmonizing difference in opinion, the National Shariah Advisory Council, being the highest authority to decide on Shariah

issues pertaining to Islamic Financial System, was set-up in 1997.

In a move to prepare the domestic system to meet future challenges, BNM has formulated the Financial Sector Master Plan (FSMP), a

comprehensive ten-year strategy to evolve a competitive, dynamic and resilient financial system that withstands the challenges that

brought about by globalisation   and liberation of the financial markets. The Islamic banking and takaful sector is recognized as being one

of the major potential growth sectors addressed in the FSMP.

The Malaysian experience of Islamic Banking has had a tremendous impact on neighboring countries. Indonesia established its first

Islamic bank in 1992, followed by Brunei Darussalam in 1993. Thailand has also announced the creation of its first Islamic bank to be set

up soon and many more are expected to come.

The Malaysia experiment is fascinating and rich, illustrating the effectiveness of a  pragmatic approach to solving the chronic problems in

Islamic banking. Such experiment need to be supported, encouraged and guided by all parties especially the Muslims.