Definition of Major Islamic Finance Instruments
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ajr = commission or fee charged for services

Amanah = reliability, trustworthiness, loyalty, honesty
Alternative spelling = Amana
An important value of Islamic society in mutual dealings. It also refers to deposits in trust, where a person may hold property in trust for another.

Bai al Arboon = deposit-secured sale  
A sale agreement in which a security deposit is provided in advance as part payment towards the price of the commodity. The deposit is forfeited if the buyer does not meet his obligation.

Bai al Inah = sale and buy-back
The sale and buy-back of an asset for a higher price than that for which the seller originally sold it.

Bai al Salam = future delivery
A contract whereby the payment is made in cash at the point of contract but the delivery of asset purchased will be deferred to a predetermined date.

Bai Bithaman Ajil = deferred payment sale
Also known as Bai Muajjal.
The sale of goods on a deferred payment basis. Equipment or goods requested by the client are bought by the bank, which subsequently sells the goods to the client for an agreed price, including a mark-up (profit) for the bank. The client may pay by installments within a pre-agreed period, or in a lump sum.

This sale works in a similar way to a Murabahah contract, but with deferred payment.

Bai Dayn = debt financing
The provision of financial resources required for production, commerce and services through the sale and purchase of trade documents and papers. Bai Dayn is a short-term facility with a year or less maturity. Only documents evidencing debts arising from bona fide commercial transactions can be traded.

A seller immediately buys back the asset he has sold on a deferred payment basis at a price higher than the original price. This can be seen as a loan in the form of a sale.

Bai Istijrar = supply sale
When a supplier agrees to deliver to a client on a regular basis at an agreed price and mode of payment.

Bai Muajjal = see Bai Bithaman Ajil above

Bai Muzayadah = open bidding trading
The principle governing open auctions, where the asset is awarded to the highest bidder.

Bai Wafa = sale and buy-back
The sale and buy-back of an asset within a set time, when the original buyer agrees to the original seller's repurchase.

Baitul Mal = treasury

Batil = null and void

Darura = necessity   
Muslims may disregard aspects of Shariah laws in order to save their lives, or to preserve the Islamic community.

Dhaman = guarantee
A contract of guarantee whereby a guarantor shall underwrite any claim and obligation that should be fulfilled by an owner of the asset. This concept is also applicable to a guarantee provided on a debt transaction in the event a debtor fails to fulfill his debt obligation.

Dha 'wa ta 'ajjal = Creditor’s debt
A creditor’s forfeit on part of the debt when the debtor settles the balance of his debt earlier than scheduled

Dirham = unit of currency
A unit of currency, usually a silver coin, used in the past in some Muslim countries and still used in some Muslim countries today, for example Morocco and the UAE.

Fard al Kifayah = socially obligatory duties   
Alternative spelling = Fard Kifaya
A collective duty of Muslims. The performance of these duties (for example funeral prayers) by some Muslims absolves the rest from discharging them.

This term covers functions which the community fails to or cannot perform and hence are taken over by the state, such as the provision of utilities, or the building of roads, bridges and canals.

Fasid = unsound or unviable
A forbidden term in a contract, which consequently renders the contract invalid.

Fatwa = religious decree
Alternative spelling = Fatwah

Fiqh = Islamic jurisprudence
The science of the Shariah. An important source of Islamic economics.

Faqih = Shariah jurist
Plural = Fuqaha

Gharar = uncertainty  
One of three fundamental prohibitions in Islamic finance (the other two being riba and maysir). Gharar is a sophisticated concept that covers certain types of haram uncertainty in a contract. It is an exchange in which one or more parties stand to be deceived through ignorance of an essential element of the exchange. Gambling is a form of gharar because the gambler is ignorant of the result of the gamble.

The prohibition on gharar is often used as the grounds for criticism of conventional financial practices such as short selling, speculation and derivatives.

Ghalat = Mistake
A negative element that can affect the validity of `aqad. In Arabic, it connotes error in perception.

Hadith = the Prophet's sayings and commentary on the Quran  

Hajj = pilgrimage to Mecca
There is a duty on every Muslim who is financially and physically able to carry out Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, at least once in his lifetime. The pilgrimage takes place in the week from the 8th until the 13th day of the 12th Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah.

Hak Tamalluk = ownership right
A tradable asset in the form of ownership rights.

Halal = lawful, permissible
The concept of halal has spiritual overtones. In Islam there are activities, professions, contracts and transactions that are explicitly prohibited (haram) by the Quran or the Quran. All other activities, professions, contracts and transactions are halal.

This concept differentiates Islamic economics from conventional economics. In western finance all activities are judged on economic utility. In Islamic economics, spiritual and moral factors are also involved – an activity may be economically sound but may not be allowed in Islamic society if it is not forbidden by the Shariah.

Hanbali = Islamic school of law
Islamic school of law founded by Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. Followers of this school are known as Hanbalis.

Hanifite = Islamic school of law
One of the major Islamic school of law, founded by Imam Abu Hanifa. Followers of this school are known as Hanafis.

Haram = unlawful, forbidden
Activities, professions, contracts and transactions that are explicitly prohibited by the Quran or the Sunnah. See halal above.

Haq Maliy = rights on the financial assets
Haq Maliy are rights on the financial assets. Examples of such rights are haq dayn (debt rights) and haq tamalluk (ownership rights).

Hawala = bill of exchange, remittance
Alternative spelling = Hiwala
A contract which allows a debtor to transfer his debt obligation to a third party who owes the former a debt. The mechanism of Hawala is used for settling international accounts by book transfers, thus obviating the need for a physical transfer of cash.

Hibah = gift
A gift voluntarily donated in return for a loan provided or a benefit obtained.

Hila = forbidden structure
A transaction which appears permissible, but is in fact structured in an un-Islamic way.

Ibra = rebate  
When a person withdraws the right to collect payment from a borrower.

Ijarah = leasing
Alternative spelling = Ijara
A lease agreement whereby a bank or financier buys an item for a customer and then leases it to him over a specific period, thus earning profits for the bank by charging rental.

The duration of the lease and the fee are set in advance. During the period of the lease, the asset remains in the ownership of the lessor (the bank), but the lessee has the right to use it. After the expiry of the lease agreement, this right reverts back to the lessor.

This is a classic Islamic financial product.

Ijarah Thumma Bai = leasing to purchase
The principle governing an Ijarah contract at the end of the lease period, when the lessee buys the asset for an agreed price through a purchase contract.

Ijarah wa Iqtina = buy-back leasing
A hire and purchase mode of financing where an Islamic bank finances equipment, a building or other facility for the client against an agreed rental, together with an undertaking from the client to repurchase the facility at the end of the contract. The rental and the purchase price are fixed so that the bank gets back its principal sum along with some predetermined profit.

Ijtehad = effort, exertion, industry
A faqhi's endeavor to formulate a rule on the basis of evidence found in the Islamic sources.

Inan = financial partnership

Istijrar = recurring sale
Different quantities are bought from a single seller over a period of time. Sometimes it is also referred to transactions whereby seller delivers different quantities in different installments to complete the full purchase. Some divergence among the scholars in terms of the timing of fixation and pricing.

Istisna = advance purchase of goods or buildings
Alternative spellings = Istisna’a, Istisna’ah

A contract of acquisition of goods by specification or order, where the price is paid in advance, or progressively in accordance with the progress of a job. For example, to purchase a yet to be constructed house, payments would be made to the builder according to the stage of work completed.

This type of financing, along with Salam, is used as a purchasing mechanism, and Murabahah and Bai Bithaman Ajil are for financing sales.

Ittifaq Dhimni = pre-agreed contract
The sale and repurchase of an underlying asset. Prices are agreed in advance, prior to the contract, to allow the bidding process to take place.

Ji Alah = pre-agreed contract
A unilateral contract promising a reward for a specific act or accomplishment, also known to be a contract of reward;

Ju’alah = stipulated price for performing a service
Alternative spelling = Ju’ala
Applied by some in Islamic banking. Bank charges and commission have been interpreted to be ju'alal by the jurists and thus considered lawful.

Jahl = ignorance (of morality or divinity)

Kafalah = guarantee  
Shariah principle governing guarantees. It applies to a debt transaction in the event of a debtor failing to pay.

Khilabah = fraud
A form of fraud, either in word or deed by a party to the trading contracts with the intention of inducing the other party into making a contract. This is prohibited according to the Shariah.

Khiyanah = deception
Refers to deception by not disclosing the truth or breaching an agreement in a hidden way. This is prohibited according to the Shariah.

Loan = (with service charge)  
Some Islamic banks give loans with service charges. The Council of the Islamic Fiqh Academy has resolved that it is permitted to charge a fee for loan-related services offered by an Islamic bank, provided that the fee relates to service-related expenses.

The service charge can only be calculated accurately after all administrative expenditure has been incurred (at the end of the year). However it is permissible to levy an approximate charge on the client, and then reimburse/claim the difference when the actual expenses are known.

Maaliki = Islamic school of law  
Islamic school of law founded by Imam Malik Ibn Anas. Followers of this school are known as Maalikis.

Mal = Capital or wealth
Valuable item that can be gainfully used according to the Shariah

Mansil = Shariah compliant property mortgage in the UK

Maysir = gambling
One of three fundamental prohibitions in Islamic finance (the other two being riba and gharar).

The prohibition on maysir is often used as grounds for criticism of conventional financial practices such as speculation, conventional insurance and derivatives.

Muamalat = economic transaction
Alternative spellings = Mu'amalah, Mu'amalat, Muamalah

The lease of land or fruit trees for money, or for a share of the crop.

Mudarabah = trust financing, profit sharing
Alternative spellings = Mudaraba, Modaraba, Modarabah

An investment partnership, whereby the investor (the rab al maal) provides capital to the entrepreneur (the mudarib) in order to undertake a business or investment activity. While profits are shared on a pre-agreed ratio, losses are born by the investor alone. The mudarib loses only his share of the expected income.

The investor has no right to interfere in the management of the business, but he can specify conditions that would ensure better management of his money. In this way Mudarabah is sometimes referred to as a sleeping partnership.

A joint Mudarabah can exist between investors and a bank on a continuing basis. The investors keep their funds in a special fund and share the profits before the liquidation of those financing operations that have not yet reached the stage of final settlement. Many Islamic investment funds operate on the basis of joint Mudarabah.

Mudarib = entrepreneur in a Mudarabah contract

The entrepreneur or investment manager in a Mudarabah who puts the investor's funds in a project or portfolio in exchange for a share of the profits. A Mudarabah is similar to a diversified pool of assets held in a discretionary asset management portfolio.

Mufawadah = equal, unlimited partnership

Murabahah = cost-plus financing
Alternative spellings = Morabaha, Morabahah, Murabaha

A form of credit that enables customers to make a purchase without having to take out an interest-bearing loan. The bank buys an item and sells it to the customer on a deferred basis. The price includes a profit margin agreed by both parties. Repayment, usually in installments, is specified in the contract.

The legality of this financing technique has been questioned because of its similarity to riba. However, the modern Murabahah has become the most popular financing technique among Islamic banks, used widely for consumer finance, real estate, the purchase of machinery and for financing short-term trade.

Muqasah
Debt settlement by a contra transaction.

Musaqah = agricultural contract
A contract in which the owner of agricultural land shares its produce with another person in return for his services in irrigating the garden.

Musharakah = joint venture, profit and loss sharing
Alternative spelling = Musharaka

An investment partnership in which all partners are entitled to a share in the profits of a project in a mutually agreed ratio. L osses are shared in proportion to the amount invested. All partners to a Musharakah contribute funds and have the right to exercise executive powers in that project, similar to a conventional partnership structure and the holding of voting stock in a limited company.

This equity financing arrangement is widely regarded as the purest form of Islamic financing.

The two main forms of Musharakah are:

Permanent Musharakah: an Islamic bank participates in the equity of a project and receives a share of the profit on a pro rata basis. The length of contract is unspecified, making it suitable for financing projects where funds are committed over a long period.

Diminishing Musharakah: this allows equity participation and sharing of profits on a pro rata basis, and provides a method through which the bank keeps on reducing its equity in the project, ultimately transferring ownership of the asset to the participants. The contract provides for payment over and above the bank's share in the profit for the equity held by the bank. Simultaneously the entrepreneur purchases some of the bank's equity, progressively reducing it until the bank has no equity and thus ceases to be a partner.

Muzara'a = agricultural contract
A contract in which one person works the land of another person in return for a share in the produce of the land.

Nisab = exemption limit   
Exemption limit for the payment of zakat, which differs for different types of wealth.

Non Performing Financings(NPF’s)
The Islamic banking equivalent to non-performing-loans. NPF’s are based on a profit sharing basis and not interest as are their conventional counterparts.

Qabdh = discount   
Qabdh means possession, which refers to a contract of exchange. Generally, qabdh depends on the perception of ‘urf or the common practices of the local community in recognizing that the possession of a good has taken place.

Qard = loan

Qard Hasan = benevolent loan
Alternative spellings = Qard Hassan, Qard al Hassan
A loan contract between two parties for social welfare or for short-term bridging finance. Repayment is for the same amount as the amount borrowed. The borrower can pay more than the amount borrowed so long as it is not stated by contract.

Most Islamic banks provide interest-free loans to customers who are in need. The Islamic view of loans (qard) is that there is a moral duty to give them to borrowers free of charge, as a person seeks a loan only if he is in need of it. Some Islamic banks give interest-free loans only to the holders of investment accounts with them; some extend them to all bank clients; some restrict them to needy students and other economically weaker sections of society; and some provide interest-free loans to small producers, farmers and entrepreneurs who cannot get finance from other sources.

Qimer = gambling
An agreement in which possession of a property is dependant upon the occurrence of an uncertain event. By implication it applies to those agreements in which there is a definite loss for one party and a gain for the other, without specifying which party will gain and which party will lose.

Quran = the holy scriptures of Islam

Rab al maal = the investor in a Mudarabah contract  
Alternative spellings = Rab al mal

Rahn = collateral
An arrangement whereby a valuable asset is placed as collateral for a debt. The collateral may be disposed of in the event of a default.

Riba = interest
An increase, addition, unjust return, or advantage obtained by the lender as a condition of a loan. Any risk-free or “guaranteed” rate of return on a loan or investment is riba. Riba in all its forms is prohibited in Islam.

In conventional terms, riba and “interest” are used interchangeably, although the legal notion extends beyond mere interest.

Riba al Buyu = usury of trade
Also known as riba al fadl.

A sale transaction in which a commodity is exchanged for an unequal amount of the same commodity and delivery is delayed.

To avoid riba al buyu, the exchange of commodities from both sides must be equal and instant. Riba al buyu was prohibited by the prophet Mohammad to forestall riba (interest) from creeping into the economy.

Riba al Diyun = usury of debt
Also known as usury of delay (riba al nasia).

The usury of debt was an established practice amongst Arabs during the pre-Islamic period. It can occur as an excess increment on top of the principal, which is incorporated as an obligatory condition of the giving of a loan.

Alternatively, an excess amount is imposed on top of the principal if the borrower fails to repay on the due date. More time is permitted for repayment in return for an additional amount. If the borrower fails to pay again, a further excess amount is imposed, etc.

Ruq'a = payment order
A payment order to draw money from the bank; used in the early Muslim period.

Sadaqah = voluntary charitable giving  
Alternative spellings = Sadaqat

Salam = advance purchase
Alternative spellings = Al Salam, Bai al Salam, Bai Salam

Advance payment for goods which are to be delivered at a specified future date. Under normal circumstances, a sale cannot be effected unless the goods are in existence at the time of the bargain. However, this type of sale is an exception, provided the goods are defined and the date of delivery is fixed. The objects of sale must be tangible goods that can be defined as to quantity, quality and workmanship.

This mode of financing is often applied in the agricultural sector, where the bank advances money for various inputs to receive a share in the crop, which it then sells.

Samad = Shariah compliant property mortgage in the USA

Sarf = currency sale
Refers to buying and selling of currencies.

Shafi'e = Islamic school of law
Islamic school of law founded by Abu Abdullah Ahmad bin Idris or Imam Shafie. Followers of this school are known as Shafi'es.

Shariah = Islamic jurisprudence
Alternative spellings = Sharia, Shari'a, Shari'ah, Syariah, Syaria, Syari'ah, Syari'a
Islamic cannon law derived from three sources: the Quran, the Hadith and the Sunnah

A “Shariah compliant” product meets the requirements of Islamic law.

A “Shariah board” is the committee of Islamic scholars available to an Islamic financial institution for guidance and supervision in the development of Shariah compliant products.

A “Shariah advisor is an independent Islamic trained scholar that advises Islamic institutions on the compliance of the products and services with the Islamic law

Shirkah = partnership
A contract between two or more persons who launch a business or financial enterprise to make a profit.

Suftajah = bill of exchange
Alternative spellings = Suftaja, Suftajal

A bill of exchange between three parties (the payor, the payee and the transmitter), which was used for the delegation of credit during the Muslim period, especially the Abbasides period. It was used to collect taxes, disburse government dues, transfer funds by merchants and was commonly used by traveling merchants. Suftajahs could be payable on a future fixed date or immediately.

It differs from the modern bill of exchange in that a sum of money transferred by suftajah had to keep its identity and payment had to be made in the same currency. Also it usually involved three persons (A pays a certain sum of money to B for agreeing to give an order to C to pay back to A). Finally, a suftajah could be endorsed. The Arabs had been using endorsements (hawala) since the days of the Prophet Muhammad.

Sukuk = Islamic bond (Plural. Also see Saak.)
An asset-backed bond which is structured in accordance with Shariah and may be traded in the market.

A Sukuk represents proportionate beneficial ownership in the underlying asset, which will be leased to the client to yield the return on the Sukuk.

Sunnah = practice and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad

Tabarru' = Takaful donation  
A contract where a participant agrees to donate a pre-determined percentage of his contribution (to a Takaful fund) to provide assistance to fellow participants. In this way he fills his obligation of joint guarantee and mutual help should another participant suffer a loss. This concept eliminates the element of gharar from the Takaful contract.

Tadlis al’ aib = intentionally hiding the defects of goods
Refers to the activity of a seller intentionally hiding the defects of goods. This activity is prohibited according to the Shariah principles.

Takaful = Islamic insurance
Based on the principle of mutual assistance, Takaful provides mutual protection of assets and property and offers joint risk-sharing in the event of a loss by one of the participants. Takaful is similar to mutual insurance in that members are the insurers as well as the insured.

Conventional insurance is prohibited in Islam because its dealings contain several haram elements, such as gharar and riba.

Tanajusy = manipulation
Refers to a conspiracy between a seller and a buyer wherein the buyer is willing to purchase the goods at a higher price. This is done so that others would rush to buy the goods at a higher price, resulting in the seller obtaining a huge profit. This transaction is not permissible in Islam.

Tawarruq = reverse Murabahah
In personal financing, a client with a genuine need buys an item on credit from the bank on a deferred payment basis and then immediately resells it for cash to a third party. In this way, the client can obtain cash without taking out an interest-based loan.

Ta’widh = deliberate delay in payment
Penalty agreed upon by the contracting parties as compensation that can rightfully be claimed by the creditor when the debtor fails or is late in meeting his obligation to pay back the debt.

Ujrah = fee  
The financial charge for using services, or manfaat (wages, allowance, commission, etc).

Urbun = deposit  
Earnest money which forms part payment of the price of goods or services paid in advance, but will be forfeited in the event the transaction is cancelled. The forfeited money is considered as hibah (gift).

'Umum balwa = Common plight
An unfavorable widespread situation affecting most people which is difficult to avoid.

‘Uqud al-Mu’awadhart = Contracts of exchange.

‘Uqud al-Tabarruat = Charitable contracts.

‘Uqud al-Isytirak = Contracts of partnership.

Wadiah = Deposit   
Alternative spellings = Wadia, Al Wadia, Al Wadiah
The safekeeping of goods with a deposit on the original stated cost. An Islamic bank acts as the keeper and trustee of depositors' funds. It guarantees to return the entire deposit, or any part of it, on the depositor's demand.

Wakalah = agency
Alternative spellings = Wakala, Al Wakala, Al Wakalah
Absolute power of attorney: where a representative is appointed to undertake transactions on another person's behalf.

In terms of Takaful operations, Wakalah refers to an agency contract, which may involve a fee for the agent.

Waqf = charitable trust
Plural = Awkaf, Awqaf
An endowment or a charitable trust set up for Islamic purposes (usually for education, mosques, or for the poor). It involves tying up a property in perpetuity so that it cannot be sold, inherited, or donated to anyone.

Zakat = religious tax   
Alternative spellings = Zakah
An obligatory contribution which every wealthy Muslim is required to pay to the Islamic state, or to distribute amongst the poor.

According to Islam, zakat – the third pillar of Islam – purifies wealth and souls. Zakat is levied on cash, cattle, agricultural produce, minerals, capital invested in industry and business.

There are two types of zakat: