Investing In Islamic Funds: A Practitioner's Perspective

Preface

Mohammad Faiz Azmi

Islamic finance and in particular, one of its key components, Islamic asset management has been largely misunderstood. There is a paucity of written materials on how Islamic funds operate, what distinguishes them from conventional funds, and what the opportunities are in this area. This book, written by a market practitioner, is an important addition to the knowledge base on Islamic finance and its practical application.

I have had the privilege of knowing the writer over the last two decades as a client, fellow council member, and an advocate for Islamic finance. We have participated on many initiatives and shared platforms together and, despite her diminutive size, she is clearly one of the giants in our industry. Her passion and drive to make Islamic asset management a viable commercial business has been very evident to all and it is very fitting that she has now chosen to devote her time to sharing her knowledge and experiences with others.

Her book begins by dealing with some misconceptions about the industry. She makes a strong case for the industry’s growth prospects, given the rise of the wealthy throughout the world and the increasing demands by affluent Muslims for investments that are Shariah compatible, and she supports it with recent data. She also traces recent developments to show where the demand and supply of such products are growing.

To elaborate further, she examines some of the criteria that Shariah-compatible investments must have, ...