Thursday, October 30, 2008

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Monday, October 13, 2008

islamic finance

BBC NEWS BBC Sport >> Graphics version >> Change to UK edition >>
News Front Page Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Entertainment Science/Nature Technology Health Talking Point
Business Contents: E-Commerce Economy Market Data
Sunday, 3 November, 2002, 12:39 GMT
Muslim countries agree bank watchdogJonathan Kent BBC News reporter in Kuala Lumpur
The heads of the central banks of eight Muslim countries have launched a new body to regulate Islamic financial institutions.
Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Sudan, Bahrain and Kuwait are all represented at the Islamic Financial Services Board.
The new body will set common standards which member countries will be encouraged to adopt and promote financial services that respect Muslim beliefs.
It will not specifically address concerns that Islamic banks have been used to channel money to militant groups.
But analysts say it will set tougher rules for accounting and transparency and that will make money laundering more difficult.
Fast growth
The inauguration is being hailed as marking the coming of age of international Islamic banking.
Around a fifth of the world's population is Muslim, but investments in financial services that meet with Islamic Shari'ah law are estimated at less than $200bn.
Private wealth in the Middle East alone is put at four times that figure.
Launching the new board, the Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Islamic finance sector has great potential.
"Although the size of the international Islamic finance is still small, it has expanded significantly at 15% per annum," he said.
"The potential for growth is enormous, given not only the huge wealth of the global Muslim community but also the interest shown in the international financial markers in this form of financial intermediation."
Strict rules
Central to the concept of Islamic banking is Islam's prohibition of Usury.
In effect this means that charging interest, or making loans with the promise of a fixed return is forbidden.
So is making excess profit.
Banks must instead take a share of the profit or loss made by those they lend to.
Supporters say this makes them less prone to lend rashly and less ready to demand their money back when times get tough for borrowers.
Nor can Islamic funds invest in products that would be considered unethical by Muslims; alcohol, gambling, pornography, tobacco or weapons.
Those behind the launch of the IFSB hope that by promoting good practice and stability in the sector it will give Muslims the confidence to invest their wealth in a way that reflects Islamic values.
Related to this story:Gulf investors target European property (01 Nov 02 Business) Muslims tackle mortgage hurdles (16 Oct 02 Business) Bahrain starts Islamic financial market (12 Aug 02 Business) UK to encourage Islamic mortgages (18 Feb 02 Business)
Internet links: Islamic Financial Services Board The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
News Front Page Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Entertainment Science/Nature Technology Health Talking Point
Business Contents: E-Commerce Economy Market Data
^^ Back to top BBC News Home BBC Homepage Feedback ©
var si = document.location+"";
var tsi = si.replace(".stm","").substr(si.length-11, si.length);
if (!tsi.match(/\d\d\d\d\d\d\d/)) {tsi = 0;}
document.write('');

Monday, October 6, 2008

Majlis Fatwa haram pameran hantu, pelaburan internet

Oleh Baharom Bakar
KUALA TERENGGANU: Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan semalam memutuskan sebarang pelaburan melalui internet yang menjamin keuntungan secara tetap serta pameran jin, hantu dan keranda adalah haram.
Pengerusinya, Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin, berkata skim pelaburan seumpama itu, seperti yang ditawarkan Swiss Cash Mutual Fund, didapati mengandungi unsur riba.Beliau berkata, berdasarkan rujukan beberapa ayat al-Quran, majlis itu mendapati pelaburan yang menjamin keuntungan secara tetap tidak dibenarkan."Kita menasihatkan umat Islam yang membuat pelaburan melalui internet supaya menghentikannya serta-merta.“Masih banyak skim pelaburan berlandaskan Islam yang disediakan kerajaan, boleh disertai umat Islam,” katanya pada sidang media selepas mempengerusikan muzakarah ke-77 majlis itu di sini. Muzakarah tiga hari bermula Selasa lalu itu disertai semua mufti.Skim pelaburan itu menjadi isu selepas Pejabat Mufti Perlis memutuskannya haram dan Johor serta Terengganu pula meminta Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan mengkaji dan mengeluarkan fatwa mengenainya.Mengenai pameran jin, hantu dan keranda yang dianjurkan sebuah syarikat, Abdul Shukor berkata, ia ditegah kerana boleh memudaratkan akidah umat Islam.“Perkara ghaib tidak boleh dicapai (akal fikiran) manusia dan kita tidak mahu umat Islam dididik dan disogok dengan tahyul serta boleh menjurus ke arah kurafat," katanya.Beliau berkata, keputusan majlis itu akan dikemukakan kepada semua kerajaan negeri untuk diwartakan."Hanya kerajaan negeri berkuasa mengambil tindakan, terutama berkaitan pameran jin, hantu dan keranda," katanya.Pameran itu yang kini diadakan di Muzium Negeri Sembilan, sebelum ini mendapat teguran Menteri Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, kerana disifatkan tidak memberi sebarang faedah kepada masyarakat.Mengenai keresahan umat Islam berhubung penggunaan ayat al-Quran dan azan pada nada dering telefon bimbit, Abdul Shukor berkata, majlis itu memutuskan tiada halangan bagi menggunakannya.Bagaimanapun, Abdul Shukor mengingatkan umat Islam supaya menggunakannya di tempat sesuai.Muzakarah kali ini turut mencapai kata sepakat untuk menerima pakai keputusan muzakarah ke-44 pada 25 Jun 1998, berhubung penggunaan nama saudara baru, iaitu nama itu hendaklah tidak berunsur lucah dan memberi makna yang sesuai dan baik.“Perlis juga bersetuju pada prinsipnya. Mereka hanya berbeza sedikit iaitu masih mengekalkan bin atau binti bapa yang bukan Islam itu,” katanya merujuk keputusan Majlis Fatwa Negeri Perlis melarang orang bukan Islam yang memeluk agama Islam, menukar nama kepada ‘bin atau binti Abdullah’, sebaliknya mereka wajib mengekalkan nama bapa atau keturunan mereka.INFOKeputusan Majlis Fatwa
Skim pelaburan melalui internet didapati mengandungi unsur riba.
Pameran jin, hantu dan keranda boleh memudaratkan akidah umat Islam.
Tiada halangan guna ayat al-Quran dan azan pada nada dering telefon bimbit, namun perlu pastikan tempat sesuai agar tidak mencemar kesucian ayat al-Quran.
Menerima pakai keputusan muzakarah ke-44 berhubung penggunaan nama saudara baru hendaklah tidak berunsur lucah dan memberi makna yang sesuai dan baik.

murtad menyambut hari kekasih mirip agama kristian

KUALA LUMPUR 11 Feb. 2004 - Umat Islam yang meraikan Hari Memperingati Kekasih pada 14 Februari boleh dianggap murtad atau terkeluar daripada Islam jika cara melakukannya mirip dengan agama asal perayaan itu, Kristian.
Mufti Perak, Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria berkata, hukum itu boleh jatuh kepada mereka berdasarkan sebuah hadis sahih yang menyebut bahawa:
``Sesiapa yang melakukan perbuatan yang menyerupai sesuatu kaum itu, maka ia turut termasuk bersama golongan tersebut.''
Beliau berkata, perbuatan meraikan hari berkenaan juga akan menjadi lebih bercanggah dengan ajaran Islam terutamanya apabila ia dikaitkan sebagai usaha untuk memperingati kematian seorang paderi yang dibunuh seperti mengikut sejarah purba Rom.
``Kita umat Islam tidak perlukan budaya atau amalan seperti ini yang jelas bertentangan dengan agama kita. Lagipun ajaran Islam sudah lengkap, sempurna dan diyakini,'' katanya ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.
Beliau mengulas sikap umat Islam di negara ini khususnya muda-mudi yang masih cenderung untuk meraikan Hari Memperingati Kekasih setiap kali muncul 14 Februari biarpun telah banyak penerangan disampaikan oleh para ulama.
Mengikut sejarah mitos, sambutan berkenaan diasaskan oleh masyarakat Rom yang beragama Kristian sebagai memperingati peristiwa seorang paderi yang dihukum bunuh oleh pemerintah Rom, Claudius II.
Saint Valentine dihukum bunuh kerana mengahwinkan salah seorang askar secara rahsia sedangkan undang-undang Rom ketika itu menghalang golongan muda berkahwin atau berkeluarga sebaliknya dikerah untuk menjadi tentera.
Hari ini budaya Valentine menganjurkan orang ramai menghantar kad ucapan Valentine kepada buah hati mereka, teman karib dan orang-orang yang mereka sayangi sebagai simbolik dalam menyatakan cinta terhadap mereka.
Pada zaman pertengahan, masyarakat England dan Perancis menganggap 14 Februari sebagai `hari burung-burung mencari pasangan mereka.'
Pada kurun ke-14 dan ke-15 mereka mula meniru perbuatan burung tersebut dengan mengadakan hari mencari pasangan atau jodoh pada tarikh tersebut.
Masing-masing akan mengucapkan `Selamat Hari Valentine' sesama pasangan mereka.
Ada juga mitos menyebut, kad Hari Valentine dijadikan amalan memperingati peristiwa seorang paderi yang dipenjarakan dan sering menghantar kad bertulis From Your Valentine kepada kekasihnya, seorang gadis iaitu anak seorang pengawal penjara.
Harussani turut menyeru umat Islam agar tidak sesekali meniru budaya asing dan ternyata bercanggah itu apatah lagi ia turut menjerumuskan mereka ke lembah kemaksiatan.
``Mengapa kita perlu mengamalkannya sedangkan Islam menggalakkan umatnya kasih-mengasihi sesama sendiri sepanjang waktu dan bukannya menetapkan pada hari-hari tertentu atau berkala.
``Bahkan jika kita tidak bertegur sapa dengan saudara se-Islam selama tiga hari berturut-turut, hukumnya sudahpun jatuh haram. Jadi amalan atau budaya Islam sendiri sudah terbukti jauh lebih baik,'' kata beliau.
Menurut Harussani, Islam turut menggalakkan umatnya mengasihi sesama mereka secara ziarah-menziarahi selain berkongsi suka-duka dengan tumpang bersyukur jika senang dan bertakziah atau bersimpati apabila ditimpa malapetaka.
``Berkasih sayang bagi Islam juga tidak terhad kepada golongan tertentu sebaliknya meliputi semua pihak dengan keutamaannya diberikan kepada ibu bapa, suami isteri, keluarga, saudara Muslim dan akhirnya seluruh manusia,'' kata beliau.

Haram sambut Hari Kekasih
Feb 12, 2006
Bersama: MOHD FARID RAVI ABDULLAH1. Apakah hukum umat Islam turut menyambut Hari Valentine pada 14 Februari lalu dan bagaimana hendak menyedarkan golongan tersebut agar menghentikan perbuatan itu yang menjadi amalan kebanyakan remaja yang bercinta?

JAWAPAN: Menyambut Valentine Day (Hari Kekasih) hukumnya haram. Allah s.w.t. berfirman yang bermaksud, “Dan janganlah kamu menghampiri zina sesungguhnya zina itu adalah satu perbuatan keji dan satu jalan yang jahat.’’ (al-Isra: 32)
Mafhumnya, Allah s.w.t. tidak mengharamkan zina semata-mata malahan apa-apa yang boleh membawa kepada zina juga hukumnya haram.
Apa yang jelas dalam sambutan Valentine Day ialah pergaulan bebas di antara lelaki dan perempuan. Justeru, bagi menzahirkan rasa cinta, pelbagai aktiviti dilakukan yang jelas haram dan bertentangan dengan Islam. Apa yang pasti ialah pasangan kekasih akan mengadakan pertemuan demi melahirkan perasaan cinta. Pada waktu itu yang ketiga ialah syaitan yang menghasut mereka supaya melakukan perkara-perkara terkutuk.
Nabi telah menegah kita daripada meniru budaya Yahudi dan Nasrani dengan sabdanya yang bermaksud, “Nescaya kamu akan turut jejak langkah mereka (Yahudi dan Nasrani ) sejengkal demi sejengkal, sehasta demi sehasta sehingga kamu akan turuti mereka walaupun mereka masuk ke dalam lubang biawak. Lantaran sahabat bertanya: Adakah mereka itu Yahudi dan Nasrani? Baginda menjawab: Siapa lagi kalau bukan mereka.’’
Islam mengharamkan sambutan seperti itu bagi menghalang berlakunya perkara yang lebih buruk. Islam menghalang demi membatasi perhubungan lelaki dan perempuan supaya masing-masing dapat memelihara kehormatan diri.
Menyambut Valentine Day adalah bertentangan dengan syiar dan norma-norma budaya masyarakat Islam Melayu. Malah budaya itu diimport dari Eropah yang menghalalkan perhubungan lelaki dan perempuan atas dasar suka sama suka.
Perlu difahami bahawa Islam bukan satu agama yang rigid atau ekstrem tetapi Islam bermatlamat membawa kesejahteraan demi memelihara nama baik umat Islam supaya menjadi umat contoh.

Good prospects of islamic finance in Malaysia because of economy

Tuesday January 8, 2008
Don: Good prospects of Islamic finance in Malaysia because of economy
KUALA LUMPUR: The prospects of Islamic finance in Malaysia are good because it has a more diversified economy than most Gulf-based countries, says International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance professor Dr Murat Cizakca.
In comparative economic history, Malaysia's economy comprised more viable industries than its Middle Eastern counterparts, he said.
“Malaysia does not rely solely on just one source for its economic well-being. The other (Gulf-based) countries, however, may rely on one main source, which is oil,” Murat said after his lecture on The Maqasid Al-Shariat, Rule of law, democracy and capitalism yesterday.
“Over here, it could rely on its agricultural or petroleum-based resources, for instance,” he said, adding that a diversified economy would reflect better on the Islamic finance sector.


Dr Murat CizakcaWith a more diversified economy, he said, there would also be more scope for investment. Another factor that gave Malaysia an edge was the fact that it was a democratic country, Murat said, noting that there were significantly fewer wars waged within democratic countries.
“Democratic countries do not fight wars against each other. Wars are terribly destructive, much more so in our days with ever more potent weapons.
“Therefore, in a world dominated by democracies, destructive wars that involve expensive armament can be avoided. The funds saved can be channelled towards human and economic development projects instead,” Murat added. Further to this, he said, the relationship between democracy and economic well-being could not be denied.
Introducing investment institutions in democratic countries was easier, he said. “With democracy, you can have political parties that compete to bring in these (investment) institutions, such as trusts, financial institutions and venture capital. “And with these institutions, development of the finance sector is better. In Malaysia, for instance, you have institutions like Bank Negara that promote Islamic products.”
On Malaysia's development potential moving forward, Murat said: “Although there are on-going developments in the Gulf countries, Malaysia would have a better potential for development because of its diversified economy.”

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Maybank to consider strategic mergers for Islamic banking



Maybank to consider strategic mergers for Islamic banking

KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) will consider any strategic alliance or mergers and acquisitions that will create value for its Islamic banking business.

President and chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Amirsham A Aziz said the group planned to expand its wholly owned Islamic banking subsidiary, Maybank Islamic Bhd, in terms of geographic frontiers in the short to medium term.

"We are open to any idea of strategic alliance. At the moment, there is no such discussion but we are open to it.

"We will look at institutions or parties which have a wider distribution network beyond Malaysia and with credible and proven track record in terms of growth in Islamic banking," he told a media briefing on the establishment of Maybank Islamic on Friday.

Under Bank Negara regulation, Islamic banks can sell up to 49% of its stake to foreign investors.

Maybank Islamic will kick off operations on New Year's Day. Maybank's current head of Islamic banking Ibrahim Hassan will lead the subsidiary as acting CEO.

Amirsham anticipated Islamic financing and deposits to grow by about 15% respectively for the current financial year ending June.

"Portfolio growth is anticipated to be at least RM2.5bil driven by Islamic term loan for business contributing 40%, and hire purchase and Islamic mortgage contributing about 27% respectively," he said.

The establishment of Maybank Islamic reaffirmed on the group's focus on three key strategic businesses - international currency business unit (ICBU), Islamic investment banking and Islamic wealth management - to further grow its leadership in Islamic banking locally and compete aggressively in the global Islamic market.

Amirsham said in addition to the lender's stronghold in domestic Islamic business, it wanted to capitalise on the offshore Islamic business.

"The ICBU will enable us to offer a wider range of Islamic banking products at more competitive prices. Our top priority is to support Malaysian companies who intend to tap the international market for their fund raising particularly via Islamic instruments," he said.

The bank's second area of focus was in pursuing growth opportunities domestically in the Islamic investment and capital market.

Maybank Islamic would also concentrate on Islamic wealth management locally and at targeted overseas markets, said Amirsham.