Heaven's bankers : [inside the hidden world of Islamic finance

A trillion dollar financial industry is revolutionizing the global economy. Governments and corporations across the Islamic world are increasingly turning to finance that complies with Shari‘a law in order to fund economic growth. Even in the West, Islamic finance is rapidly becoming an important al­ternative source of funding at a time when the conventional finance industry is reeling from the effects of the financial crisis. From its origins in the seventh century, Islamic finance has sought to develop core ethical principles that are based in the foundations of Islam and Shari‘a. By engaging critically with the complexities of international finance, it has evolved and adapted into a world emerging from the economic and moral aftermath of a global financial crisis. But with an increasing Western interest, is it able to remain true to the principles of its faith? Can it maintain its ideals of social jus­tice? Or is Islamic finance guilty of the very dangers it seeks to avoid? In Heaven’s Bankers, Harris Irfan, one of the world’s leading Islamic finance bankers, gives unparalleled insight into the heart of this secretive industry. From his personal ex­perience of working with leading bankers, scholars and law­yers, he debunks the myths of Islamic banking, analyzes its greatest deals and looks to the future of a system that has reprioritized the very nature of money itself. A Trillion Dollar Financial Industry Is Revolutionising The Global Economy. Governments And Corporations Across The Islamic World Are Increasingly Turning To Finance That Complies With Sharia Law In Order To Fund Economic Growth. Even In The West, Islamic Finance Is Rapidly Becoming An Important Alternative Source Of Funding At A Time When The Conventional Finance Industry Is Reeling From The Effects Of The Financial Crisis. From Its Origins In The Seventh Century, Islamic Finance Has Sought To Develop Core Ethical Principles That Are Based In The Foundations Of Islam And Shari'a. By Engaging Critically With The Complexities Of International Finance, It Has Evolved And Adapted Into A World Emerging From The Economic And Moral Aftermath Of A Global Financial Crisis. But With An Increasing Western Interest, Is It Able To Remain True To The Principles Of Its Faith? Can It Maintain Its Ideals Of Social Justice? Or Is Islamic Finance Guilty Of The Very Dangers It Seeks To Avoid? In Heaven's Bankers, Harris Irfan, One Of The World's Leading Islamic Finance Bankers, Gives Unparalleled Insight Into The Heart Of This Secretive Industry. From His Personal Experience Of Working With Leading Bankers, Scholars And Lawyers, He Debunks The Myths Of Islamic Banking, Analyses Its Greatest Deals And Looks To The Future Of A System That Has Reprioritised The Very Nature Of Money Itself. "Islamic finance today is a trillion-dollar industry. It is fast becoming the main way in which large projects get funded globally - such as buildings, aircraft, shipping - and many financial analysts expect Islamic banking assets worldwide to double within five years. In Heaven's Bankers, Harris Irfan provides an authoritative yet entertaining account of how a system of finance invented in the seventh-century Middle East is fast taking over the world of modern banking. The book draws on his first-hand relationships with some of the world's leading bankers, scholars and lawyers, many of whom attend a single mosque in Dubai - the Masjid Al-Samad - the epicentre of today's Islamic finance revolution. It provides a warts-and-all description of the industry; debunks some myths about Islamic finance - such as its perceived relationship with the financing of terrorist activity or its incompatibility with Western values; and asks whether today's Islamic finance industry is true to the fundamental principles of a faith committed to social justice"--Publisher's description. Prologue Note on Transliteration 1. The Quiet Revolutionaries of Masjid Al-Samad 2. The Nature of Money 3. The Gentler Face of Londonistan 4. The Rocket Scientists of Deutsche Bank and the Billion-Dollar Scholar 5. The Skunk Works Specialists 6. The Doomsday Fatwa 7. Standardizing the Industry: Accelerating Chaos or Bringing Order? 8. The Credit Crisis and Islamic Finance 9. When Sukuk Go Bad 10. The Regulator Strikes Back 11. Arbitraging Islam: The Great Vampire Squid Arrives 12. The Future of Islamic Finance Acknowledgements Glossary Notes Index A journey inside the hidden world of Islamic finance, from one of the world's leading Islamic finance bankers.