Interest Free Banking in Ethiopia: Customer Awareness, Satisfaction and Its Role on Economic Development

This study is aimed at evaluating the customer’s awareness and satisfaction toward Interest-free Banking and its role on Ethiopia economic development with some selected Commercial Bank in Ethiopia. To achieve the aim of the study the primary data was collected from Customers and Managers of the selected banks by using convenience method through questionnaire and interview. While, secondary data was collected by compiling and summarizing the bank’s Annual reports and Journals. The collected data was analyzed in descriptive and inferential analysis. The finding of the study depicts as low customer awareness regarding Interest-free Banking services except the Interest-free Banking account holders. Further, majority of Interest-free Banking account holders are more or less satisfied with the current Interest-free Banking services provided since, it can potentially serve as an alternative banking channel in filling the gap left unaddressed by conventional banking and economic development in relation to idle monetary resource mobilization and allocation, inviting to use banking system, creating employment opportunity, supporting GDP growth and assisting in stabilizing crisis and arresting inflation. Based on the study result it concluded as Interest Free Banking have its own role on the country economic development through mobilizing the idle monitory resource, allocating the monitory resource, creating employment opportunity, and inviting to the banking system. Therefore, it recommended as the banks should make aggressive promotion on Interest Free Banking services for customers awareness specially those of out of Muslim customers, the government has to support and should give more emphasis to enable Interest Free Banking service, promote Interest Free Banking which can help assist the economy in stabilizing economic crisis and arresting inflation.

Incentive Zakat Agency Mechanism, a Comparison between Indonesia and Malaysia

The objective of the research is to compare the incentive zakat agency mechanism between Indonesia and Malaysia. In Indonesia, private institutions are permitted to collect zakat and have the agency to support zakat collection, while in Malaysia only state institution collects zakat. To enhance zakat fund collectability, they need agencies located in specific institutions. However, both countries share a similar mechanism of incentive zakat agency allocation. The method of the research is based on a qualitative study. Some respondents are questioned and interviewed on a specific topic of incentive zakat agency mechanism. The result shows that the agency mechanism in private zakat institutions in Indonesia is more flexible than Malaysia. The agency is authorized to get zakat allocation to be disbursed to surrounding zakat recipients and develop the allocation report. On the other hand, a zakat rebate can be a supporting factor for Muslims to pay zakat more in Malaysia than in Indonesia. This is the first study which compare the incentive zakat agency mechanism between Indonesia and Malaysia. Most of previous research does not investigate and compare the zakat incentive.

The Intention of Millennial Generation in Paying Zakat through Digital Payments

The zakat management organization (OPZ) is currently making innovations following technological developments, making it easier to pay zakat through digital payments. One of the groups of people who use digital payments is the millennial generation. The millennial generation is also known as the generation that likes things that are easy and related to technology. This study aims to analyze how the millennial generation intends to pay for zakat through digital payments. The method used in this research is logistic regression. The results showed that the variable trust, perception variable, and convenience variable had a significant influence on the intention of the millennial generation to pay zakat through digital payments, while knowledge and motivation had an insignificant effect. This research result implies that OPZ must make a convenient application for the millennial generation in making zakat payments digitally.

Evaluating Efficiency of Zakah Institutions: An Intermediation Approach Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)

This paper analyzes the efficiency of Badan Aml Zakat Nasional (BAZNAS) and Dompet Dhuafa from 2002 to 2018. Based on selected input and output, the intermediary approach assumes that BAZNAS and Dompet Dhuafa act as a link between muzakki (giver) and beneficiaries. Furthermore, BAZNAS and Dompet Dhuafa were selected as decision-making units (DMU) from 2002 to 2018, and their efficiency was measured using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method under output-orientation with Constant Return to Sclae (CRS) and Variable Return to Scale (VRS) assumptions. The results showed both BAZNAS and Dompet Dhuafa raise the optimum efficiency in the years before 2007. Meanwhile, their inefficiency was mostly due to lack of input such as higher personalia (amil/volunteers) expenses. Therefore, these findings suggests that both technical and scale efficiency should be improved by adjusting the input. This is to achieve the most efficient and productive level of performance in order to fulfill the institutions' objectives as an intermediary between muzakki and the beneficiaries. This paper is among the pioneers that analyzed the efficiency of zakat institutions from their initial establishment to present. Also, existing papers examined data spanning 5 years or less. Hence, long duration of data analysis provides a comprehensive evaluation of fluctuations in the zakat institutions efficiency and their supporting or inhibiting factors.

A Measurement Model of Successful Muslim Entrepreneur

Approximately 1.4 billion of the world's population lives on less than USD 1 per day, and since 50% of the poorest people are in Muslim countries, the solution is to increase successful Muslim entrepreneurs. Hence, this study aims to create a conceptual model through a literature review and descriptive-qualitative approach. These were employed to determine the indicators of successful Muslim entrepreneurs and the expected factors required to provide a positive and significant effect. Meanwhile, four factors and indicators, each considered to influence successful Muslim entrepreneurs, were identified. Subsequently, the results obtained were conceptual papers and hypotheses that required testing to ensure correctness. It was also used to produce new constructs validated for the individuals and communities of Muslim entrepreneurs. Therefore, this conceptual model is hoped to motivate new, future research and has also been enhanced as a pioneer that has attempted to construct a model for successful Muslim entrepreneurs. Finally, a conceptual model was created, which is the initial contribution to solving poverty among the Muslim population in the world.

Do Funerals Funds by Informal Institution Comply with Microtakaful Principles?

Research on funeral funds on a homeowner association has never been performed before. Meanwhile, previous studies on the funeral fund in insurance companies, 'rukun kematian,' and mosques are used as a reference. The research aims to analyze whether the funeral funds managed by informal institutions correspond with the micro takaful principle. Method is a descriptive analysis is used by comparing the survey in two groups, namely residential and village areas, of 31 communities spread across Java Island. The research variables developed include calculation, collection method, and amount of funeral fund contribution, alongside the calculation and amount of benefits. Although the funeral funds' variables have not fulfilled the micro takaful principle, there are interesting findings. These include that the calculation of contribution for the two groups, namely the residential and village areas, is performed by mutual agreement through community deliberations. In the village, the collection method is by direct payment from members of the public to the officers, which is different from the residential areas, where it is picked up by the officers. Furthermore, the amount of funding contributions to the community in the villages is around Rp. 3.001 and Rp. 5,000, while the total is over Rp. 10,000 in residential areas. The informal funeral funding scheme (IFFS) has become a mutually beneficial culture of Indonesian society, which fosters strong humanity and brotherhood. This scheme can be formulated in micro-takaful cooperatives to ensure that the benefits trickle down for every member of the community, including Muslims and non-Muslims.

Determinants of Non-Performing Financing of Mortgage in Islamic Commercial Banks

This study aims to determine the effect of Capital Adequacy Ratio, Return on Assets, BI 7-Day Rate, and Inflation towards Non-Performing Financing Mortgages in Islamic commercial banks in Indonesia. The population of this study is the Islamic commercial banks in the period 2015-2019. The sample used is a saturated sample, which uses all Islamic banks as research samples. This research uses a quantitative approach using time series data. All variables use the percentage of growth and show the results of the level stationary so that the technique used is Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis which is processed using E-Views 10 software. The results of this study indicate partially the Capital Adequacy Ratio and Return on Assets variables have a negative influence significant to Non-Performing Financing Mortgages. While BI 7-Day Rate and Inflation variables do not influence Non- Performing Financing Mortgages. Nonetheless, Capital Adequacy Ratio, Return on Assets, BI 7-Day Rate, and Inflation simultaneously have a significant effect on the Non-Performing Financing of Mortgages in Islamic commercial banks in Indonesia in the period 2015-2019.

Investigating Intention-To-Use Sharia Financial Technology In New Normal Era

The new normal era has made digital-based industries with good prospects, including the sharia fintech industry. The aims of this study investigated the influence of knowledge about products, attitudes, and intentions-to-use of Sharia Financial Technology. There are three variables discussed in this study is knowledge about products, attitudes, and intentions. The quantitative approach used with this research using a regression test. Data Collected by an online survey of 60 respondents. The results of this study indicate that knowledge of Sharia Fintech affects attitudes and the intention-to-use Sharia Fintech. This study is limited to only Muslim respondents. Knowledge Products provide significant influence to shape attitudes and intentions. There has not been much research on new normal, including the sharia fintech industry. For practitioners, this research is useful as a reference in mapping the Muslim market in the fintech industry. This study highlights the importance of fintech in the new normal era because it can reduce the spread of the covid-19 virus.

Diagnostic of Innovations and Volatility Persistence in Emerging Markets

This paper aims to analyse the shocks and volatility persistence of both Islamic and conventional financial market, and the nature of the correlation between the two markets. The study uses Bivariate BEKK-GARCH(1,1) model in the examination of the shocks and volatility based on the daily prices of Dubai Islamic Capital Market (Sukuk index) and conventional Stock Market (DFM index).As a result, it documents that both Sukuk and stock market indices are affected by their own news and shows volatility persistence over the study period. The study also finds a negative correlation between the Sukuk and Stock market prices during the Dubai debt crisis which indicates that Islamic bonds are good portfolio diversifier. Our study seeks to define the nature of the correlation between the Sukuk market and the stock market using daily prices, unlike other studies that use returns. In addition, our empirical results might be valuable for investors and market makers to ensure a good portfolio diversification strategy.

The Effect Of Debt-Based Financing And Equity-Based Financing On Islamic Banks Profitability In Indonesia

This study's main objective is to investigate equity-based financing and debt-based financing of the profitability of Islamic banking in Indonesia. This research is expected to contribute to the theoretical and practical dimensions. On the conceptual aspect, this study can provide evidence of whether equity-based financing and debt-based financing affect the profitability of Islamic banking. While on the practical dimension, Islamic banks in Indonesia can determine the extent of their profitability and, in turn, the competitiveness of Islamic banks to enable it to be developed in line or even better than conventional banks. The data analysis technique uses panel data regression, which is time series data and cross-section. Next, to estimate the panel data model, which is divided into three, namely: common effect, fixed effect, and random effect. The result of this study that partially equity-based financing does not affect ROE. At the same time, debt-based financing influences the ROE of Islamic banks. Partially equity-based financing and debt-based financing do not affect ROA of Islamic banks. However, it simultaneously shows that the independent variable test results, namely equity-based financing and debt-based financing, have a strong influence on the dependent variable, namely, profitability as measured by ROA and ROE.