What is Islamic Banking

What is Islamic Banking

Al Baraka Bank in South Africa is a fully integrated subsidiary of Al Baraka Group B.S.C. (c), a Bahrain-based financial institution and a world leader in Islamic banking.

Islamic Banking is embedded in Islamic law and ethics. Despite this, Islamic Banking products are accessible to people of all faiths. The term “Shariah” translates literally to “the path to water”. The Shariah, which refers to Islamic Law, includes laws and guidelines which guides every aspect of a Muslim’s life, including economic and financial activities. The products and services offered by Al Baraka offer are Shariah-compliant, i.e.  in alignment with the precepts of the Shariah.

Money is not considered to be a commodity in Islamic Economics. Rather, it is viewed as a unit of account, medium of exchange and a store of value. In other words, currencies are simply a means to attain an asset, product or service. (The use of money for the purposes of making money in the form of interest is expressly forbidden.)

Wealth can be generated through legitimate trading, provision of services and asset-based investments. The Islamic Finance system prohibits dealings that involve receiving or payment of interest (“riba”), as well as investing in impermissible/unethical industries. One of the requirements for Shariah compliance is absolute transparency and the removal of any uncertainty and ambiguity in the contract.

Islamic Banking caters for the increasing demand for alternatives to conventional banking. The core principles of Islamic Banking are: Prohibition of Interest, Risk- sharing, Transparency, Integrity and Social Responsibility. The essential distinction between Islamic and conventional banking, is in the type of business relationships the bank has with its client, and the precepts that regulate that relationship. The Islamic Bank is a trader, an investor, a lessor, and a service provider to its client. In conventional banking, deposit and loan transactions typically involve monetary exchange, with interest being either earned or charged whereas, in Islamic banking, since money is not treated as  a commodity, transactions are structured as trade or partnerships or service agreements designed to facilitate the customer’s requirements.

As part of its commitment to Shariah compliance, the bank  has an independent Shariah Supervisory Board consisting of scholars with expertise and experience in Islamic banking and finance as well as an internal Shariah Advisory Department and an internal Shariah Audit Department. The bank also undergoes an Independent External Shariah Compliance Audit on an annual basis. The vital roles of these bodies are to ensure the bank’s full compliance with Shariah in its day-to-day business activities. In addition, Al Baraka Bank is a member of the authoritative and respected international Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) and voluntarily subscribes to the AAOIFI Shariah Standards. The bank’s financial products are developed, reviewed and audited on an ongoing basis under the guidance of the Shariah Supervisory Board.

At Al Baraka Bank, we endeavour to provide our clients with innovative products and services without compromising on the values of Shariah.

The Bank’s products and services are for all individuals and companies that seek to manage their finances in an ethical and equitable manner.

A contract in which the owner of property allows use of the property for a specified period of time in lieu of specific periodic payments. In Islamic finance it refers to an arrangement in which the Islamic bank purchases and leases an asset to the client against an agreed periodic rental amount for a specified term, under certain terms and conditions

Click here to view Shariah Certificate

Literally it means a sale on mutually agreed profit. Technically, it is a contract of sale in which the seller declares his cost and the profit. This contract has been adopted by Islamic banks as a mode of financing. As a financial product, it can involve a request by the client to the bank to purchase a certain item in order to sell it to the client at cost plus the pre-agreed markup

Click here to view Shariah Certificate for Property Finance

Click here to view Shariah Certificate for Vehicle Finance

Click here to view Shariah Certificate for Equipment Finance

Click here to view Shariah Certificate for Trade Finance

Partnership between two or more parties who provide capital towards the financing of a project. Profits are shared as per the pre-agreed ratio whilst losses are shared in proportion to capital contribution towards the project. Each partner has the right, but is not required, to participate in the management of the project. The management of the project can be left to the most capable partner/s or outsourced to a third party. Musharaka can take the form of Permanent Musharaka or Diminishing Musharaka

Click here to view Shariah Certificate for Purchase of Equity in Property

Click here to view Shariah Certificate for Third Party Musharaka Property Finance

A form of partnership where one party provides the funds to finance a project while the other provides expertise and management. The latter is referred to as the Mudarib (the Managing Partner or Investor of the Capital) and the former as Rabb-al-Mal (the Capital Provider). Any profits earned from the project are shared between the two parties on a pre-agreed profit-sharing ratio, while loss is borne by the Capital Provider(s)
Sukuk is the Arabic name for a financial instrument akin to a conventional bond. Sukuk are defined as investment certificates of equal value representing undivided shares in the ownership of tangible assets, usufruct and services or (in the ownership of) assets of the particular project/s or business activity

The Bank offers Qard Accounts (i.e. transactional Accounts) which allow clients to deposit and withdraw their funds on demand. Since these funds are not exposed to any business risk, they are guaranteed but are not entitled to any profit. The bank may choose to invest such funds at its own risk and retain the profit


The Bank offers various Mudaraba investment accounts which allows clients to deposit funds for investment purposes. Any profit earned by the Bank on the investment deposits is shared with the depositors on a 60:40 split. Any capital loss will be borne by the depositors in line with the dictates of the Mudaraba contract

Click here to view Shariah Certificate

The Mudaraba investment deposits are pooled in the Mudaraba Pool and invested on behalf of the depositors in medium-to-long term income generating assets (The Mudaraba Assets). Premature withdrawals of Mudaraba Investment Deposits, in part or in full, constitute the sale of the respective deposit’s proportionate undivided share in the Mudaraba Assets to the Mudaraba Pool. Where a depositor requests to make a premature withdrawal, the Bank will purchase from the depositor, on behalf of the remaining Mudaraba investment depositors, a share equivalent to the required withdrawal amount at its net value less 1% thereof. For example:


Deposit Type: PA 182

Rand Amount

Date

Initial Deposit Amount

R 10, 000,000.00

01/06/2021

Net Value of the Deposit

R 10,800,000.00

30/06/2022

Required Withdrawal Amount

R 5,400,000.00

30/06/2022

Withdrawal Amount Less 1%

R 5,346,000.00

30/06/2022

  Account Balance

R 5,400,000.00

30/06/2022

A discretionary and immediate transfer of property/funds from one party to another, without expectation of any consideration (iwad) or reward. In terms of Albaraka Bank’s profit distribution model, profits earned are first distributed between the Mudaraba Pool and shareholders according to the respective capital contribution towards the General Pool. From the Mudaraba Pool’s share, the Bank receives a 40% Mudarib fee based on the profit-sharing ratio of 60:40 agreed upon with the depositors at the time of opening the investment account. The Bank and shareholders may voluntarily agree that a portion of their total profit be allocated to a specific account or group of depositors as an unconditional gift (on the basis of hiba)

How is profit calculated and distributed to depositors?

The investment deposits are pooled together in the Mudaraba Pool. The Mudaraba Pool is commingled, in the General Pool, with the shareholders’ funds that are available for investment, thereby forming a partnership between the shareholders’ funds and the Mudaraba Pool.

The bank calculates the profit to be distributed to depositors, based on the profit available for distribution for the month. The Profit available for distribution is determined by adding the income earned from the bank's financing activities and, investment in equity deals less any valid provisions for doubtful debts for the month.

The Net Profit for distribution against the Mudaraba Pool is derived after firstly deducting the Bank's share as a partner (Shareholder's funds) in proportion to its capital contribution towards to the General Pool, and secondly after deducting the Bank's share as a Mudarib (Investor of the Capital).

This is explained further: The Bank participates in profit sharing on two levels. Firstly, the Bank is entitled to a share of the profits as a partner due to it having also contributed to the General Pool in the form of Shareholders' funds. The percentage the Bank is entitled to at this stage is calculated by working out the percentage of Shareholders' funds as a percentage of the total funds in the General Pool.

For example, let us assume that the Bank earned a profit of R100 000 on the financing transactions during a particular month. If the current Capital Structure of the Bank is as follows

Depositors’ Funds (Mudaraba Pool) - R90 000 000

Shareholders’ Funds Available for Investment - R10 000 000

Total Capital Employed (General Pool) - R100 000 000

The available profit will be distributed as follows:

a) Calculation of % of Banks contribution to General Pool:

10 000 000 / 100 000 000 * 100 = 10%

b) The Bank is therefore entitled to 10% of the profits as a partner:

10 % of 100 000 = R10 000

c) The remaining profit attributable to the Mudaraba Pool is calculated as follows,

100 000 – 10 000 = R90 000

Then, the remaining income of the Mudaraba Pool (as per point d below) is shared between the Bank as an Investor of the Capital (Mudarib) and the Mudaraba Pool as investor (Rab ul Mal) on the basis of a pre-determined profit-sharing ratio.

This profit-sharing ratio is currently fixed as follows:

The Bank's share is 40%

Depositors share 60%

d) This R90 000 is distributed as follows 40% to the Bank (Mudarib) = R 36 000 60% to the Depositors = R54 000

e) Total profit due to the Bank = R36 000 + R10 000 = R 46 000

f) The R54 000 due to Mudaraba Pool is shared amongst depositors using the points system as mentioned above, the 60% of profit accruing to depositors is distributed on the basis of the points system.

The points system takes into account the amount of the investment and its duration or type of account in the Mudaraba Pool. The reason for this is that the deposits of the investors as a whole participate in the production of income in accordance with their respective amounts and duration - this is the most equitable method of delivering the respective entitlements (to investors) and is in accordance with resolution 13/5 issued by the Islamic Fiqh Academy of Jeddah.

The profit ratios defined on Al Baraka Bank's deposit products are in fact weighting ratios to allow deposits of a longer term or those of a specific type of account to have a greater share in the available profit. Therefore, based on this principle, if Ahmed has deposited R1000 in a 35 Day Participation Account which has a weighting of 65% and Ebrahim has also deposited R1000 but in a Haj account which has a weighting of 80% then even though the amounts are the same, Ebrahim could expect to receive more profits because of the higher weighting on the type of account his deposit lies in. The weightings on the deposit products have been structured to allow for longer term deposit accounts to have a higher weighting. Similarly, due to the type of certain accounts, they are given a greater weighting e.g., Haj has a higher weighting of 80% compared to some other accounts.

Profit Distribution Information

1. Are Islamic banking and finance products available to Muslims only?

No. Islamic financial institutions serve all members of the public including those of other faiths

2. What is the fundamental difference between Islamic banking and conventional banking?

The fundamental difference between Islamic and conventional banking is that conventional banks take deposits and advance funds on interest. In contrast, Islamic banks take deposits and advance funds on a profit and loss sharing basis. In addition, Islamic banks as ethical banking institutions do not deal with entities that are engaged in activities that are detrimental to the moral fibre, & socio-economic wellbeing, of society

3. Why is interest prohibited in Islam?

Interest is prohibited in Islam fundamentally because money is not considered a commodity with an intrinsic economic value of its own; rather it is considered to be a unit of account, medium of exchange and a store of value. Charging interest on money is deemed unjust as the lender is guaranteed the capital plus interest without taking exposure to any commercial risk. However, the borrower is required to pay back the money (capital + interest) irrespective of the outcome of the investment

4. How does an Islamic bank make money if it does not charge interest?

Islamic banks take investment deposits as an agent and invest same on behalf of the depositors on a profit and loss sharing basis. Islamic banks advance funds to individuals and the real sector of the economy using “cost plus sale” and equity modes of finance. The bank shares the income it earns from advances with depositors on a pre-agreed profit-sharing ratio. The profit earned by both the bank and depositors is a function of the performance of the underlying investment assets

5. How do investments in Islamic banks work?

Islamic banks accept investment deposits on a Mudaraba (Venture Capital) basis and invest same on behalf of the depositors. Profits are shared with depositors as per a pre-agreed profit-sharing ratio

 

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