Current Issues in Islamic Banking & Finance

About the Book

Islamic finance with social responsibility (IFSR) is the new theme of this book. It has been introduced to the general public and is now being promoted by the author through his own writing on Islamic Finance News. I am thankful to its chairman who encourages me to continue writing so those in power in Islamic finance institutions can benefit from my expertise and knowledge in this field. I hope some of my innovative business ideas that I promote in this book will be implemented in order to give hopes to young generation that IFSR is the new vehicle for change for the betterment of mankind in this universe. The main purpose behind introducing the new concept (IFSR) is the food crisis that hurts the poor and needy badly and has now started to adversely affect a wider segment of societies in Asia, Africa, and Middle East due to soaring food costs and the rise of inflation that may trigger civil unrest in many parts of the Muslim world (MW). The cause’s of the surge in food crisis is the massive production of biofuels, which is “a crime against humanity” according to a UN official because of its impact on global food prices that has completely ruined agriculture and will starve millions of people.

About the Author

Dr. Saad Al-H arran is a Senior Lecturer in the Islamic Microfinance Project at the Centre for Islamic Banking, Finance and Management (CIBFM), Universiti Brunei Darussalam. As a specialist in Islamic Finance, Venture Capital and Youth Entrepreneurs he was the International Business Consultant in New Zealand from 1996 - 2006. He was Assistant Professor in Islamic Banking and Finance in the Faculty of Economics and Management, International Islamic University Malaysia from 1991 - 1996 and an Operations Officer at the Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He is an author of the ‘Islamic Microfinance Project Enterprise: Managing the Challenges’ article www.islamicfinancenews.com 2008 as well as book author and journal editor of Arab Law Quarterly ‘Special Issue: Islamic Partnership Financing: Concepts and Case Studies’ 1999, Kluwer Law International, the Netherlands, ‘Leading Issues in Islamic Banking and Finance’ 1995, Pelanduk Publications, Malaysia, ‘Islamic Marketing Strategy: Eradicating Rural Poverty in Malaysia’ 1994 and ‘Islamic Finance: Partnership Financing’ 1993. Alfred Yong Foh Sen is a qualified Chartered Biologist specializing in Crop Production Sciences and has been working, at the senior management level, in the banking and finance business for more than 20 years. Presently, he is running his own business focusing on management consultancy and business development. Sri Anne Haji Masri is a Business Consultant and is currently a Masters student in the Centre for Islamic Banking, Finance and Management (CIBFM), Universiti Brunei Darussalam.