Sukuk: Issues and the Way Forward
Sukuk represents a new development in global capital market. It is one of the
fastest growing sectors in Islamic finance and is considered by many as the most
innovative product of Islamic finance.
As a relatively young asset class in the global capital market, the sukuk market
inevitably faces problems typical of its early stage of development. In this relation, some Muslim scholars have questioned its level of compliance with the Shariah law, particularly on how they are structured. The main criticism was from Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani1, a prominent scholar who has taken the view that 85% of the current structures of Gulf sukuk do not comply with Islamic law2, in particular Sukuk Al Musharaka, Sukuk Al Mudaraba and Sukuk Al Istithmar.
Following that, the Shariah Board of Accounting and Auditing Organization for
Islamic Financial Institutions (“AAOIFI”) had studied the subject of the issuance of sukuk in three sessions between 2007 and 2008. After considering the deliberations in these meetings and reviewing of the papers and studies presented therein, the Shariah Board of AAOIFI issued its resolutions in February 2008 to highlight the various areas in sukuk which were found to be non-Shariah compliant. Accordingly, Islamic financial institutions had been advised to adhere to the principles set out in the relevant AAOIFI Standards in sukuk issuance.
This paper attempts to explore the controversies or issues surrounding sukuk, in particular the observations and resolutions issued by the Shariah Board of AAOIFI.
Read the rest here:
Islamic Finance Resource 