Islamic Finance

South Africa’s two-pot retirement system offers relief in emergencies, but every withdrawal can erode future security. MOHAMED JAFFER explains why access to savings today must be weighed carefully against financial security in retirement. The real question is not whether you can withdraw money from your retirement fund....

Islamic finance entered 2026 with strong momentum, but war, disrupted trade and weaker Gulf growth now threaten its expansion. HANEEF MAHAMED discusses the S&P Global Ratings’ warning that resilience will be severely tested this year. The global Islamic finance industry is heading into a far more difficult...

New research suggests Israel is confronting an unprecedented wave of international isolation. MAHMOOD SANGLAY analyses four independent studies showing how financial markets, consumer behaviour, public opinion and diplomacy are reinforcing one another. From stock exchanges to supermarket shelves, and from diplomatic corridors to shifting public opinion, there...

Is artificial intelligence (AI) consistent with the ethical foundations of Islamic finance? MAHMOOD SANGLAY reports on new research arguing that AI should serve the higher objectives of the Shariah rather than commercial efficiency alone. These technologies are rapidly changing the way financial services are delivered, from approving...

Sustainable finance has mobilised trillions, but often fails to link capital to measurable outcomes. DR HAZIK MOHAMED argues that environmental risk-sharing can align returns, accountability and climate impact. The rapid growth of sustainable finance — spanning green bonds, environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds, and sustainability-linked instruments...

Arrested and charged for fraud, theft and money laundering of R45m MAHMOOD SANGLAY The arrest of former Amaanat Investment Holdings (AIH) chief executive Hussun Abdool Khalek Omar marks a new phase in one of South Africa's longest-running corporate disputes involving a Muslim community investment institution. Omar was...

MOGAMAT ALI SALIE For decades, Islamic finance was often described as a niche industry, serving primarily Muslim-majority countries and a relatively small segment of the global financial market. That narrative no longer reflects reality. A financial system approaching US$6 trillion in assets cannot reasonably be described as...

MOGAMAT ALI SALIE For a Muslim, estate planning is not just a financial necessity, it is a religious obligation. The laws of Faraid (Islamic inheritance) are divine, prescribed directly in the Qur'an to ensure wealth is distributed justly among heirs. Yet, for many South African Muslim families,...

As Islamic finance grows into a multi-trillion-dollar global industry, ethical accountability is becoming increasingly important. DR ISMAIL LAGARDIEN argues that Muslim investors should be confident that their savings and investments do not inadvertently support injustice. Global Islamic finance faces a stern test as key Muslim-led financial powerhouses...

FAMILY has a way of changing everything. Priorities shift. Responsibilities grow. And the decisions you make become about more than just today; they become about building a future rooted in care, stability and shared values.  For twenty years, Absa Islamic Banking has understood that family is not...