Evaluating Islamic Standards: Islamic Investing and its Evolution from Niche to Mainstream

Over the last four decades, mutual funds have proven to be an effective investment solution for Muslim investors: not only do mutual funds foster partnership in shared risk and reward (musharaka), but they also provide an ideal vehicle to diversify assets while avoiding haram industries. Though the $2.1 trillion invested according to Islamic principles globally represents a niche when compared to the total amount invested in global financial markets, it nonetheless affirms that products allowing investors to invest according to their values are a relevant component to the modern financial services industry. In this piece, we discuss the evolution of Islamic screening and step through various methodologies present in the market.

Islamic Moon Star

While the Quran encourages trade and investment – and provides guidance for how Muslims should approach these activities – formalized financial processes did not begin to develop until the mid-20th Century.  As the modern Western financial system grew, banks operating according to Islamic principles popped up as a way to avoid riba (interest), gharar (speculation), and investments in industries engaging in haram activities.  And though Islamic banking was first attempted in Pakistan in the 1950s, it was the success of the Mit Ghamr Savings Bank in Egypt, established in 1963, that paved the way for Islamic finance’s continued growth.1 Additional products and services spread steadily and globally, and “by 2009, there were over 300 banks and 250 mutual funds around the world complying with Islamic principles.”2 The first Islamic index, introduced by Dow Jones in 1997, introduced Islamic investing to a much wider audience; today, there are now a handful of Islamic indices including those offered by Standard & Poor's, FTSE, and MSCI.

ISLAMIC STANDARDS

ARE DYNAMIC AND

CANNOT BE STATIC

Along with financial products and indices, best practices and regulatory bodies have cropped up to serve this growing industry.  When the first Sharia-compliant mutual fund was launched in Malaysia in 1979, the guidelines for Sharia investing were far from standardized.  When the second Sharia-compliant fund was launched in the US – the Amana Income Fund in 1986 – there was still an absence of formal guidelines for investing practices. Then in 1990, several Islamic financial institutions from across the globe gathered to develop and issue industry standards.  It was from these meetings that the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) was born; AAOIFI currently has members from more than 45 nations working among several areas of finance.3

By 1991, the year that AAOIFI was formally established, the organization was already somewhat late to the game; investment vehicles across the globe had been operating successfully under a variety of guidelines for years.  Malaysia had emerged as a hub of Islamic finance and one difficulty practitioners faced was finding securities that met Islamic requirements (both in terms of screening for haram activities and finding companies with low levels of both cash and debt).  This led the Securities Commission Malaysia to initially set the bar quite low for Islamic standards.  Many of the financial institutions offering Islamic products had created their own boards – some more conservative than others – and were engaging in meaningful conversations about how best to invest according to Islamic principles using the Quran and Sunnah. In 2013, Securities Commission Malaysia revised their Islamic guidelines to be more rigorous, illustrating the iterative process required for maintaining such standards.  Despite the work it has done to reinforce Islamic finance worldwide, AAOIFI is one of many standards organizations and does not have a leading edge on any standards, or the most righteous answers.

The Amana Mutual Funds Trust was established in 1984 and launched its first fund, the Amana Income Fund, in 1986. The Funds' investment adviser, Saturna Capital, developed Islamic screening guidelines over years, building upon its expertise in the area with each iteration.

Islamic Indices Comparison

Scroll right to see more » »

Index

Qualitative

Quantitative

Additional Criteria

Focus

Prohibited Activities

Cash

Debt

Receivables

Impermissible income

AAOIFI / Philippines

Industry screen

Core business

(Cash + deposits + interest-bearing securities) / 12-month average market cap < 30%

Interest-based debt / 12-month average market cap < 30%

Accounts receivable, deposits and cash / total assets < 67%

Should not exceed 5% of total revenue (including interest income)

Preferred shares are considered to be non-compliant

Dow Jones Islamic Market (DJIM)

Sector-based screens

Partial involvement

Cash + interest-bearing securities / trailing 24-month average market cap < 33%

Total debt / trailing 24-month average market cap < 33%

Accounts receivable / trailing 24-month average market cap < 33%

Should not exceed 5% of total revenue (other than interest income)

 

FTSE Shariah

Industry screen

Core business

Cash and interest-bearing securities / total assets < 33%

Total debt / total assets < 33%

Accounts receivable and cash/ total assets < 50%

Total interest and non-compliant activities income should not exceed 5% of total revenue

 

Indonesia

Business activity

Core business

n/a

Interest-based debt / total assets < 45%

n/a

Should not exceed 10% of total revenue (including interest income)

 

MSCI Islamic

Industry screen

Core business

Cash and interest-bearing securities / total assets
< 33.33% (for current constituents)
< 30% (for new constituents)

Total debt / total assets
< 33.33% (for current constituents)

< 30% (for new constituents)

Accounts receivable and cash / total assets

< 33.33% (for current constituents)

<30% (for new constituents)

Should not exceed 5% of total revenue (including interest income)

 

MSCI Islamic M-Series

Industry screen

Core business

Cash and interest-bearing securities / market cap (36-month average)
< 33.33% (for current constituents)
< 30% (for new constituents)

Total debt / market cap (36-month average)

< 33.33% (for current constituents)

< 30% (for new constituents)

Accounts receivable and cash / market cap (36-month average)
< 49% (for current constituents)
< 46% for (for new constituents)

Should not exceed 5% of total revenue (including interest income)

 

Malaysia SC

Business activity

Partial involvement; taking into consideration

i) image of the company

ii) maslahah (necessity), 'umum balwa (common plight), 'uruf (custom)

Cash / total assets <33%

Debt / total assets <33%

n/a

5% – 25% of total revenue

 

S&P 500 Shariah

Industry screen

Core business

Cash + interest-bearing securities / market value of equity (3-month average) < 33%

Debt / market value of equity

(36-month average) < 33 %

Accounts receivable / market value of equity (36-month average) < 49 %

Should not exceed 5% of total revenue (other than interest income)

 

Scroll right to see more » »

Because interpretation of Islamic law as applied to business activities is nuanced, and halal investment guidelines can vary, it is best for financial institutions to rely on guidance from Islamic scholars to help determine whether an investment is halal.  That being said, there are some basic standards:

THESE THREE RULES

HAVE GONE THROUGH

MANY DECADES

OF EVALUATION AND

RE-EVALUATION

Thirty-Three Percent Debt (33%)

One goal of a Sharia-compliant portfolio is to have as little conventional debt as possible: the less conventional debt carried by the issuer, the better.  Islamic financiers originally looked for issuers with zero debt, but that limited the universe of investment options too severely. Criteria had to develop over time and a 33% debt to total assets or total market capitalization ratio opened up the greatest opportunities for investment, while still limiting potential downsides.

The stipulation for 33% or less debt within a portfolio was inspired by a conversation that the Prophet Muhammad had with Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqqas. When Sa’ad asked the Prophet whether he could give 33% of his inheritance away in charity, the Prophet stated, “Yes, but less is better” (paraphrased from Sahih Bukhari: 80:725). As for the denominator – total assets versus market capitalization – opinions on how to best value a company have differed over time.  Some analysts prefer using total assets and others prefer using market capitalization; the difference comes down to whether a company should be evaluated based on the value of its goods or based on the value another person is willing to pay. Most Sharia scholars have now agreed that a company’s value should be based on market capitalization.  While the conversation between Sa'ad and the Prophet is seemingly not directly related to debt, it is common practice in Islamic law to find similarities in anecdotes like this that can be applied in situations not directly addressed in the text.

Forty-Five Percent Cash (45%)

A final well-known standard for a Sharia-compliant portfolio is that investable companies must not have cash or accounts receivable of more than 45% of total assets. A large amount due in accounts receivable may trigger a company to cover their expenses through borrowing and debt. Islamic law clearly states that the characteristics which comprise the majority of an entity are assumed to be the characteristics of the entity as a whole, and that the minority should not impede the majority. A company holding 50% or more in accounts receivable would be considered a cash-based company and thus, by the rules concerning riba, could not be traded for a premium or discount.  Even 49% in cash or accounts receivable comes too close to the majority; ultimately scholars determined 45% to be a comfortable limit.

Five Percent Haram Revenue (5%)

This commonly accepted rule stipulates that any revenues a company receives from haram sources (selling alcoholic products, for example) must be limited to five percent or less of their total revenue.  The threshold was established in the belief that any percentage of business activities above 5% changes the character of the company.  When first determining this rule, scholars referred to the “smell test” that is used when making ablution.

If a Muslim encounters a pond during a walk through the forest, he or she must determine whether it is pure enough for ablution.  If the water has no detectable smell and no abnormal coloration or taste, it is enough to assume the pond is suitable. Although it is a somewhat arbitrary number, scholars settled on 5% of haram revenues as the way a company could also pass a “smell test.”

It is important to note that though 5% of revenue from haram sources is a commonly accepted limit, generally the intention of Sharia-compliant investment managers is to avoid haram revenues altogether.

THOUGH AAOIFI

HELPED FORMALIZE

THE TENETS OF

ISLAMIC FINANCE,

IT IS NOT THE ONLY

VOICE IN THE FIELD

These three rules have gone through many decades of evaluation and re-evaluation and illustrate how standards are recursive: they can evolve over time while maintaining allegiance to God’s intentions.  The Dow Jones Index originally proposed that a company’s debt be measured as a ratio to its assets, but this led to an investible universe that was too small; eventually they settled on the convention of comparing debt to market cap. Some criteria use cash and marketable securities as a percentage of market capitalization instead of the accounts receivable mentioned above. However, the intent is still the same.  Standards are dynamic and cannot be static; the complexity of financial markets must be discussed and explored in practice, rather than set in stone.

Though AAOIFI has helped to ground and formalize the tenets of Islamic finance, it is not the only voice in the field.  No one standard can claim to be the most authentic; Islam, after all, encourages difference in opinion. Muslims are taught that when scholars give an opinion, within the right answer there are two rewards – for attempting the answer and getting it right – and within a wrong answer, there is still one reward: the struggle to answer is a reward in itself. It’s time to move beyond the arguments concerning definitions and focus more on the investment vetting process. The critical issues for investors to evaluate when it comes to securities are whether an asset manager is using scholar-approved criteria, and whether there is an audit process; all other standards should be determined by the unique needs of the individual investor.

At Saturna Capital, we collaborated with the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) to develop and refine our investment screening guidelines, and our current Sharia Advisor is Amanie Advisors.  As one of the first Sharia-compliant asset managers in the US, we take great care to honor the principles of Islam within the context of modern finance.  Across the US, many Imams, Masjids, and faith-based non-profits – as well as many other non-Muslim but values-aligned individuals and organizations – have chosen to invest with the Amana funds.  Providing customers with quality products that allow them to invest according to their values is a driving force at Saturna Capital, allowing us to operate according to our own values.

SPOTLIGHT ON AMANA FUNDS' EQUITY SCREENS

Saturna Capital, the Amana Funds' investment adviser, screens more than 5,000 global securities monthly.  Roughly half are accepted (ranked A by analysts).  Marginal issues receive rankings of B, C & D.  About one-tenth are rejected outright (ranked F).

Business sector screens eliminate companies involved in:

  • interest (banking and insurance)
  • alcohol
  • gambling
  • pork
  • pornography

Financial screens eliminate companies with:

  • greater than 5% of their revenue coming from haram, or unacceptable, sources
    (such as those listed above)
  • greater than 33% total debt as compared to their market capitalization
    (trailing 12-month average)
  • greater than 45% accounts receivable as compared to their total assets
    (trailing 12-month average)

These screening guidelines help ensure that investments meet the requirements of the Islamic faith and were established by Saturna Capital in collaboration with the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA), a non-profit organization serving the Muslim community. To ensure that investments continue to meet the requirements of the Islamic faith, Saturna Capital engages Amanie Advisors Sdn Bhd, a leading consultant specializing in Islamic finance.

Learn more about Amana Funds

Glossary

Here are some handy definitions of terms we use throughout this document.

Gharar: Arabic term used to reference uncertainty, deception, and risk. 

Fiqh: Islamic jurisprudence; human understanding of Sharia.

Halal: Arabic term used to reference anything that is permitted according to Sharia, or Islamic law.

Haram: Arabic term used to reference anything that is unacceptable or forbidden according to Sharia, or Islamic law.

Market Capitalization or Market Cap: The total market value of a company's outstanding securities, excluding current liabilities.

Maslahah: Arabic term used to reference anything that is prohibited or permitted in the public interest or out of necessity. Generally, maslahah is invoked only in situations not covered in the Quran or Sunnah.

Musharaka: Arabic term used to reference a joint enterprise or partnership, especially in the context of shared risk.

Riba: Arabic term meaning usury, or excessive interest.

Sharia, Shariah, Shari'ah, or Syriah: Islamic law.

Sukuk: Arabic word translated as deed, instrument, or legal document.  Sukuk are financial certificates having characteristics similar to conventional bonds.

Total Assets: The total amount of assets, including real estate, cash, securities, and any other items of economic value, owned by a person or entity.

Total Debt: The total amount of liabilities or financial obligations a company or entity owes.

'Umum Balwa or 'Umum al-Balwa: Arabic term used to reference an unfavorable and widespread situation affecting most people which is difficult to avoid

'Uruf or 'Urf: Arabic word meaning customs; common practices or behaviors of a group of people.

 

Further Reading in Islamic Finance

Want to learn more about Islamic investing? Saturna Capital and the Amana Funds are a great place to start! Visit the Amana Funds to access content covering a variety of topics including what makes investments halal, investing and zakat, whitepapers on sukuk and other topics, videos, tax implications, and more. For even more in-depth information, Saturna Capital's executive vice president Monem Salam collaborated with Virginia Morris of Lightbulb Press to create A Muslim's Guide to Investing & Personal Finance and Amana Mutual Funds Trust board chairman M. Yaqub Mirza wrote Five Pillars of Prosperity, Essentials of Faith-Based Wealth Building.

A Muslim's Guide to Investing & Personal Finance

A Muslim's Guide to Investing & Personal Finance
by Virginia Morris in collaboration
with Monem Salam MBA

For a limited time, request this book for FREE!

(US Residents Only)

 

Important Disclaimers and Disclosures

This material is for general information only and is not a research report or commentary on any investment products offered by Saturna Capital.  This material should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be illegal.  To the extent that it includes references to securities, those references do not constitute a recommendation to buy, sell or hold such security, and the information may not be current. Accounts managed by Saturna Capital may or may not hold the securities discussed in this material.

We do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice to our clients, and all investors are advised to consult with their tax, accounting, or legal advisers regarding any potential investment. Investors should not assume that investments in the securities and/or sectors described were or will be profitable. This document is prepared based on information Saturna Capital deems reliable; however, Saturna Capital does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information. Investors should consult with a financial adviser prior to making an investment decision. The views and information discussed in this commentary are at a specific point in time, are subject to change, and may not reflect the views of the firm as a whole.

All material presented in this publication, unless specifically indicated otherwise, is under copyright to Saturna. No part of this publication  may be altered in any way, copied, or distributed without the prior express written permission of Saturna.

 

A Few Words About Risk

The Amana Funds limit the securities they purchase to those consistent with Islamic and sustainable principles.  This limits opportunities and may affect performance. Fund share prices, yields, and total returns will change with market fluctuations as well as the fortunes of the countries, industries, and companies in which it invests.  Foreign investing involves risks not normally associated with investing solely in US securities. These include fluctuations in currency exchange rates, less public information about securities, less governmental market supervision and the lack of uniform financial, social, and political standards.  Foreign investing heightens the risk of confiscatory taxation, seizure or nationalization of assets, establishment of currency controls, or adverse political or social developments that affect investments.

While diversification does not guarantee against a loss in a declining market, it can help minimize the risk of the decline of a single market.

 

Footnotes

1 Abdullah, M., Abidin, U.,  Mohamad, M. T., Mohamad, M. A. The Historical Development of Modern Islamic Banking: A Study in South-East Asia Countries, African Journal of Business Management, November 1, 2013.
https://umexpert.um.edu.my/file/publication/00008863_98913.pdf

2  Economist Editorial Staff. Sharia Calling, The Economist, November 12, 2009.
https://www.economist.com/europe/2009/11/12/sharia-calling

3  Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI).
http://aaoifi.com/about-aaoifi/?lang=en 

About the Authors

Monem Salam

Monem Salam MBA
Executive Vice President
Deputy Portfolio Manager Amana Income, Growth, & Developing World Funds

Stephanie Ashton

Stephanie Ashton
Business Analyst
Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility