Words of Wisdom - the Editor

Peace.
Got busy with a new project. So couldn’t add more news. Although I came across a fine article by a brother on the history and future of Islamic Banking. I was surprised to know that Islamic banking had beginnings in 1975. Wow. That’s almost as early as my birth. And I guess if there are enough like minded people any idea is bound to grow. I too used to wonder if I can invest without plunging into interest based transactions.

UK I noticed is taking some fine initiatives to promote Shariah Finance. Also came across a western brother or atleast who calls Muslims his brothers and sisters but laughs cynically at the DOW Islamic index as 'bending backwards' to accommodate those guys who have four wives and cut of peoples hands. O well some people just don't get it, do they?

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Workshop on Islamic microfinance held in Delhi

New Delhi: An international training program and workshop to discuss the nuances of Islamic microfinance was recently held in New Delhi under the aegis of Islamic Business and Finance Network (IBF Net) and its Institute of Microfinance and Development in association with Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Organizers of the programme are of the view that provision of appropriate microfinance products and services to the poor in a sustained manner helps bring down poverty levels. The needs of the poor in Islamic countries are no different from that of the poor in other societies. However, the poor in Muslim societies also demand that the provision of microfinance must not violate their basic beliefs and cultures, they say and this has resulted in the birth of the Islamic or Shariah-compliant microfinance industry.

IBF Net (www.ibfnet.in) is an India-based global network with over five thousand members from academia and the Islamic financial services industry. It offers professional certification programs in the field of Islamic finance through its online academy, International Institute of Islamic Business and Finance (www.iiibf.org).

The sessions in the workshop covered major norms and models of Islamic microfinance supplemented with practical insights from case studies.

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