FINANCE

Islamic finance may ease the cost of pilgrimage, but the Saudi kingdom's Nusuk system is likely to result in exclusion. MAHMOOD SANGLAY examines who benefits when Hajj and Umrah are reorganised around digital control and commercial gain, and who loses. Hajj is not an ordinary journey and...

Shariah compliance changes more than what a fund may own; it also reshapes risk, diversification and returns. IMTIAZ SULIMAN explains what discerning investors should examine before entrusting their capital to a Shariah-compliant portfolio. Shariah-compliant investing is usually introduced as an ethical framework first and an investment discipline...

A halal label is only the beginning of responsible investing. MOGAMAT ALI SALIE explains why affluent Muslim investors must demand deeper portfolio screening, credible Shariah governance and accountable stewardship of their wealth. In South Africa today, it is relatively easy to find products that describe themselves as...

Can cryptocurrency meet the ethical and legal requirements of Islamic finance? MOGAMAT ALI SALIE explains why Mufti Taqi Usmani rules that today’s digital assets fail key Shariah tests, even as scholarly debate continues worldwide. Digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and thousands of other crypto-assets have transformed...

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...