The actualization of maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah in Islamic finance: a conceptual framework

Purpose This paper aims to formulate a conceptual framework that will facilitate the actualization of maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah in product design and consumption within Islamic financial institutions (IFIs). Design/methodology/approach This paper relies on the classical and contemporary literature on maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah and Islamic finance and adopts a qualitative content analysis method and an inductive approach to outline the constituent elements that formulate the framework. Findings This study determines six vital constituents of maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, namely, parameters of maqāṣid, particular objectives, appropriate means, micro provisions, level of need and legal maxims to develop a conceptual framework of actualizing maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah in Islamic finance. The framework covers the following three stages: identification of maqāṣid, operationalization of maqāṣid in product design and consumption based on maqāṣid. Research limitations/implications This paper proposes a conceptual framework without investigating the practice of any particular industry or products. Further research would focus on formulating a practical framework based on a focus group discussion with industry experts, elaborating the parameters of maqāṣid, scrutinizing the maqāṣid available in the literature by the parameters of maqāṣid and assessing the IFIs’ products and services using the proposed framework. Practical implications This paper provides insights into the importance of maqāṣid elements and the effects of overlooking them on IFIs and customers’ product consumption. Furthermore, a major implication of the proposed framework is to learn how to use the maqāṣid approach as the baseline for designing new financial products. Originality/value The novelty of this paper lies in its pioneering attempt of harmonizing all essential maqāṣid elements and using them as constituents to formulate a comprehensive framework that actualizes maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah in the Islamic finance industry.

Factors affecting sukuk market development: empirical evidence from sukuk issuing economies

Purpose Both developed and developing countries, Muslim and non-Muslim, have been showing keen interest in sukuk financing. This interest was because of the lesson learned by both Asian and non-Asian economies that having a developed capital market is very essential to enable an economy resilient to the financial crisis. Therefore, this study aims to produce theoretical relationships and identify empirical support for the determinants of sukuk market development. Design/methodology/approach By using panel data analysis, the study covers the period from 1993 until 2017, and includes 13 sukuk issuing economies as per the availability of data. Findings The findings of the study revealed that the stage of economic development, banking system, money supply and current account balance are positively associated with sukuk market. Interestingly, economic size and exports appear to be negatively associated with sukuk. Practical implications To flourish the domestic sukuk market, authorities need to strengthen the existing financial system and economic development. Originality/value The study contributes in a limited body of knowledge on determinants of sukuk market development by exploring novel determining factors of foreign capital inflows as well as macroeconomic and financial factors.

Religion vs ethics: hedge and safe haven properties of Sukuk and green bonds for stock markets pre- and during COVID-19

Purpose This study aims to examine the hedge and safe-haven properties of the Sukuk and green bond for the stock markets pre- and during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Design/methodology/approach To test the hedge and safe-haven characteristics of Sukuk and green bonds for stock markets, the study first uses the methodology proposed by Ratner and Chiu (2013). Next, the authors estimate the hedge ratios and hedge effectiveness of using Sukuk and green bonds in a portfolio with stock markets. Findings Strong safe-haven features of ethical (green) bonds reveal that adding green bonds into the investment portfolios brings considerable diversification avenues for the investors who tend to take fewer risks in periods of economic stress and turbulence. The hedge ratio and hedge effectiveness estimates reveal that green bonds provide sufficient evidence of the hedge effectiveness for various international stocks. Practical implications The study has significant implications for faith-based investors, ethical investors, policymakers and regulatory bodies. Religious investors can invest in Sukuk to relish low-risk and interest-free investments, whereas green investors can satisfy their socially responsible motives by investing in these investment streams. Policymakers can direct the businesses to include these diversifiers for portfolio and risk management. Originality/value The study provides novel insights in the testing hedge and safe-haven attributes of green bonds and Sukuk while using unique methodologies to identify multiple low-risk investors for investors following the uncertain COVID-19 pandemic.

Evolution of Islamic liquidity management in Turkey

Purpose There is not a comprehensive study which covers the evolution of the Turkish Islamic liquidity management landscape so far. The purpose of this study is to show how Turkish PBs have been gradually furnished with the needed liquidity management instruments by the Turkish Treasury, Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey and other related regulatory bodies and to analyze the repercussions of the evolution of Islamic liquidity management on balance sheets of participation banks (PBs) over time. This study also aims to come up with some humble policy recommendations that can improve Islamic liquidity management set up going forward. Design/methodology/approach The study acknowledges that at least two important elements of liquidity management should be in place on the way of improving the Islamic liquidity management environment. The first one is asset side liquidity or having an adequate amount of high-quality liquid assets. The second one is liability side liquidity, meaning that having access to funding liquidity, especially to central bank liquidity. Historical development of liquidity-related asset-side and liability-side balance sheet items between 2010 and 2020 are analyzed and visualized to demonstrate the progress in the Islamic liquidity management landscape in Turkey. Findings From 2010 to 2020, Turkish financial authorities made a great effort to get PBs to have more proper liquidity management tools. Turkish authorities have leveled the playing field for PBs via enriching liquidity management tools. Government sukuk issuances has filled the liquid asset gap, improved the liquidity profile of PBs and lessened overall liquidity risk while introduced central bank liquidity facilitates have reduced funding liquidity risk. Islamic liquidity management setup is much more advanced and participation banking system is more resilient than the past, but there are still some missing steps that can further ameliorate the Islamic liquidity management ecosystem in Turkey. Research limitations/implications This study is a visualized ratio analysis of PB’s improving liquidity profile in the past 10 years and fills an important gap in terms of displaying the overall Islamic liquidity management landscape in Turkey. Further studies and analysis can be built on this paper on Islamic liquidity management, banking and finance in the future. This paper can be a useful basement for researchers who intend to study on potential impacts of improving the liquidity of PBs on monetary transmission, banking profitability and overall banking system systemic risks. Practical implications Three different and interconnected areas should be further improved. These are enriching the diversity of government securities, providing central bank liquidity facilities under various available Islamic contracts and establishing an organized Islamic money market which will facilitate fund flows among various Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) and conventional financial institutions. Policymakers should act together, handle arising issues in a holistic manner, design and operationalize these incomplete parts of the puzzle to further optimize the playing field for the IFIs. Thus, there will be a more inclusive and competitive finance industry in which all risks are better managed and resources are more efficiently allocated. Originality/value Although various other studies are available on the Turkish Islamic banking industry, there is not such a specific study on Islamic liquidity management of Turkish PBs which makes this study a preliminary and different one. Apart from shedding light on the Turkish journey that has built a sound Islamic liquidity management infrastructure in the past 10 year, this study also shows an exemplary country experience in developing a more inclusive and robust financial ecosystem. This paper also contributes to financial development and inclusion literature as a policy paper.

Impacts of Sharīʿah supervision and corporate social responsibility on banks’ risk-taking behavior and profitability

Purpose This paper aims to examine the impacts of both Sharīʿah supervision and corporate social responsibility on banks’ risk-taking behavior and profitability. The analysis empirically uses dynamic and balanced panel data from 12 banks of Bangladesh for 2010–2019. Design/methodology/approach Dynamic panel generalized method of moments has been used primarily to examine the effects of Sharīʿah supervision and corporate social responsibility on risk-taking behavior and profitability. Later, the authors validate the core results using three-stage least squares and incorporates alternative risk and profitability measures in the baseline equation. Findings This study finds that Sharīʿah supervision heterogeneously derives benefits for Islamic banks and Islamic windows. Though there is no significant impact of female diversity on risk relying on board diversification, the bank can strengthen profitability. On the one hand, the annual changes in board composition reduce (increase) risk (financial and stability efficiency) but compromise profitability. Notably, socially responsible banks have been characterized as risk-averse and better stabilized (in terms of solvency and efficiency), more efficient and profitable. Originality/value Very few studies are available in the current literature which examine the impacts of Sharīʿah supervision and corporate social responsibility on either bank performance or risk-taking in the developing economy’s context.

Empathy or perceived credibility? An empirical study of Muslim donating behaviour through online charitable crowdfunding in Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to analyse the factors influencing Indonesian Muslims’ donation behaviour through online charitable donation-based crowdfunding. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the stimulus-organism-response framework, with technological characteristics, campaign characteristics and religiosity as the stimulus; empathy, perceived credibility and quality of relationship as the organism; and intention to donate as the response variables. In analysing the data, it used the structural equation modelling approach with the partial least squares method. The study involved 405 Muslim respondents who have donated through the largest online charitable crowdfunding platform in Indonesia. Findings The main findings suggest that empathy and perceived credibility are key determinants influencing the intention to donate through crowdfunding. Both factors are subsequently affected by initiator reputation, campaign popularity, content quality, transaction convenience and website quality. Such intention also goes hand in hand with the improved quality of relationships between the organisation and the donors, subsequently influenced by their religiosity. Practical implications The main findings imply that fundraising campaigns and technology’s characteristics play a significant role in the intention to donate. Such findings are expected to enhance understanding of individuals’ philanthropic behaviour in Indonesia and to suggest appropriate operational strategies to facilitate individuals’ donation behaviour in charitable crowdfunding. Originality/value Despite the high potential of charitable crowdfunding, studies regarding the factors influencing charitable donations made through such organisations remain scarce. This study contributes to the literature by taking the case of the largest online charitable crowdfunding platform in Indonesia.

Empirical evaluation of structure-conduct-performance paradigm as applied to the Iranian Islamic banking system

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of market structure and market share on the performance of the Islamic banks operating in the Iranian banking system based on the structure-conduct-performance (SCP) paradigm. Design/methodology/approach The Iranian Islamic banking system’s market structure is evaluated by using the econometrics method to test the validity of the traditional SCP paradigm. For this purpose, the authors estimate a simple regression model that is consisted of several independent variables, such as the market share, bank size, real gross domestic product, liquidity and Herfindahl-Hirschman index as a proxy variable for concentration and one dependent variable, namely, the profit as a proxy for performance. The panel data includes a data sample of 22 Islamic banks operating from 2006 to 2019. Data are extracted from the balance sheet of Islamic banks and the time-series database of the Central Bank of Iran and World Bank. Findings The study’s findings indicate that both concentration and market share have a positive impact on the performance of banks in the Iranian Islamic banking system. This result is contradicted with both traditional SCP and efficient structure hypotheses; however, it confirms the existence of oligopoly or cartel in the Iranian Islamic banking system that few banks try to gain the highest share of profit and maintain their market share by colluding with each other. This result is in contradiction with other research studies about the market structure in the Iranian banking system that claimed that banks in Iran operate under monopolistic competition. In addition, it shows that the privatization of some banks in Iran does not improve and help competition in the Iranian banking system. Originality/value This paper is a pioneer empirical study analyzing the market structure, concentration and collusion based on the SCP paradigm in Iranian Islamic banking. The results of the study support the existence of collusive behavior among the Islamic bank in Iran that is not aligned with Sharia. This study clearly shows the difference between ideal Islamic banking and Islamic banking in practice in Islamic countries. This clearly indicates that only prohibiting some operations like receiving interest, gambling and bearing excessive risk is not enough. In fact, the Islamic banking system should be based on the Sharia rule in all aspects and much more modification and study have to be done to achieve an appropriate Islamic banking system. These possible modifications to overcome the issues of cartel-like market structure and collusive behavior in the Iranian Islamic banking system include making the Iranian banking system more transparent, letting foreign banks enter the Iranian banking system and minimizing the government intervention in the Iranian banking system.

Human governance a pathway to integrity in counteracting corruption

Purpose Corruption is a global phenomenon. The 2016 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Report and the 2019 Malaysia National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) Report stated that the government sector most prone to corruption is procurement. The purpose of this study is to explore what drives the government procurement practitioners to commit corruption or uphold integrity. The novelty of this research is it focusses on the human aspect based on a human model which comprises both the physical and non-physical dimensions. It incorporated four theories which are the virtue theory, transaction cost theory (TCT), human governance (HG) philosophy and Al-Ghazali theory of the soul to design the research framework. Design/methodology/approach This approach to counteract corruption is through the inner “Self” (spirituality) and is not limited or bound to processes, procedures, rules, regulations, systems and structures. Findings The findings obtained through the phenomenological method suggest that the Inciting Soul is the driver behind corruption. This happens when intellect (‘Aql) becomes submissive to appetition (Shahwa) and self-assertion (Ghadab) resulting in vice characters. In upholding integrity, Soul-at-Peace is the driver where intellect dominates appetition and self-assertion leading to virtue characters. The HG philosophy is what encapsulates the taxonomy of virtue character. Research limitations/implications This research concentrates only on understanding why corruption happens among those with authority. Nevertheless, this research did not delve into the inculcation of HG. Therefore, the authors would suggest for future research is to explore techniques to inculcate the ability of an individual to exercise all the necessary inner “Self” functions (to curb corruption) without having intervention from an external authority. Practical implications Corruption is a global phenomenon. The 2016 OECD Report and the 2019 Malaysia NACP Report found that procurement is the government sector most prone to corruption. Originality/value The novelty of this research is its focus on the human aspect based on the model of a human comprising both the physical and non-physical dimensions. The theoretical framework integrates the virtue theory, TCT, HG philosophy and Al-Ghazali theory of the Soul.

Developing a Shari’ah based FinTech money creation free [SFMCF] model for Islamic banking

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop and thereafter validate a Sharīʿah-based FinTech Money Creation Free [SFMCF] model for Islamic banking. Design/methodology/approach The study has adopted a qualitative research methodology, using three approaches, namely, a survey of the literature to identify the research gap and the variables needed for developing the model, content analysis to construct the variables into a model and semi-structured interview with 10 experts in banking, Sharīʿah and Financial Technology (FinTech) to validate the SFMCF model. Findings The major findings of the study lie in developing the SFMCF model for Islamic banking, empirical validation of the model’s viability and acceptability and the implications for the main stakeholders of Islamic banks. Research limitations/implications The SFMCF model is specific to Islamic banking and its validation is based on the views of 10 experts. Practical implications The SFMCF would necessitate changes to the central bank regulatory framework, convince Islamic banks to forego their powers and advantages of creating money and enhance their abilities to fully adopt Sharīʿah-compliant FinTech. Social implications The proposed model if implemented would change positively the perception of the society particularly the stakeholders of Islamic banks and restore their trust and confidence about the direction of the institution toward achieving the Sharīʿah objectives. Originality/value The novelty of this work lies in developing and validating the viability and acceptability of the SFMCF model for Islamic banking.

Allocation discretion, price discounts and returns in Turkish initial public offerings

Purpose This study aims to investigate whether underwriters exercise their allocation discretion to offer favorable discounts to institutional investors. Design/methodology/approach The research covers 173 offerings at Borsa Istanbul between 2010 and September 2021. Two hypotheses related to allocation discretion are developed and tested by means of probit, ordinary least squares and two-stage least squares regressions. Heckman selection regressions are used for robustness tests. Findings Allocation discretion is catered toward institutional investors who account for more than 56% of all initial allocations adjusted by gross proceeds. Close to 84% of all gross proceeds come from offerings that allocation discretion is exercised. These discretionary offerings are sold with larger price discounts, yet provide lower initial returns, while evidence points to reallocation to retail investors due to weak demand from institutional investors. Research limitations/implications Despite using the population of firms in the research period, the sample size is small relative to more developed markets. The research period cannot be extended because allocation discretion is allowed in 2010. Practical implications The research highlights the importance of institutional and foreign investors to the equity markets. This issue is relevant due to the ongoing flight of foreign investors from emerging economies and the increasing participation of small investors in the stock markets. Social implications The study cautions retail investors against greater (re)allocations by underwriters who may seek to compensate for the loss of their foreign investor base and urges policymakers to regain foreign investors. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research paper to use actual discounts disclosed in the prospectus to test the predictions related to allocation discretion. The study also contributes to the emerging markets literature by documenting allocation practices of the Turkish underwriters for the first time.