The conventional banking system forces the emerging financing platforms to resemble its image. This includes Islamic banking system which is based on the principles of Islamic law.
Thus, the question one asks is, what are the differences between the two?
An average banking customer does not see any difference since the end result is the same. Admittedly, from outside the Islamic banking practices look like those made by conventional banks. That is the result of many regulatory and legal challenges facing Islamic banks.
But, Islamic banks differ in their operations since they uses Islamic contracts. It is critical to understand that conventional banks operate by charging interest (riba) to the customers. Allah forbids this in the Holy Qur’an. Severe warnings in various hadiths confirm its dangers.
Now, let us see some of the differences between the Islamic banks and the conventional banks.
Difference #1: Islamic bank earns a profit (ribh). They DO NOT charge interest (riba)
The most critical difference is that Islamic banks DO NOT charge “interest” (riba). Rather they earn “profit” known as “ribh” in Arabic. Failing to realize this distinction will only lead to confusions.
So, the question is that how is earning profit different than charging interest?
Consider the following scenarios.
Scenario 1: Interest
Let’s say A lends $100 to B. A tells B to return his capital ($100) + interest (say $20) at the end of the month. So, B will return $120 at the end of the month to A. This is riba (interest). Because B paid $20 extra to A for nothing.
Scenario 2: Profit
In this scenario, A wants to earn a lawful profit according to the injunctions of Islam. So, he goes to a wholesale market and buys a product worth $100. Notice that A is now putting physical efforts and travelling to the wholesale market in real time. A returns to his shop and displays the product on the shelf for $120. B visits A’s shop and buys that product for $120.
The $20 extra that A earned on the product is “profit” (ribh). This is NOT riba or interest. Because in scenario 1, A only extended a $100 bill to B and asked B to return $120 at the end of the month. A did not put any efforts. As such, charging $20 extra is unjust. This is interest.
In scenario 1, A treated money, i.e. the $100 bill, as commodity or product. Islam forbids treating money as commodity. Because money itself does not have any intrinsic value. Meaning, if someone is hungry they cannot eat money to fulfill their hunger. They must USE that MONEY to buy something to eat. If someone wants to travel, money itself cannot carry them. They must USE that MONEY to buy an airline, bus, or a train ticket to travel.
Thus, Islam treats money as only a MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE. It is not a commodity to buy and sell as the conventional banks do. Islamic banks buy and sell the commodity (e.g. a house, machinery, land etc.) not the money.
Extending a $100 bill and charging $20 extra is riba. Whereas buying a product worth $100 and selling it for $20 extra is profit. This is trade (bay’). They are not the same. Allah the Exalted says,
{But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest} (Al-Baqarah 2:275).
This distinction is of utmost importance so let it sink in.
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