Operative Principles of Islamic Derivatives

Download or read book Operative Principles of Islamic Derivatives written by Andreas Jobst and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2012-03-01 with total page 33 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Derivatives are few and far between in countries where the compatibility of financial transactions with Islamic law requires the development of shari'ah-compliant structures. Islamic finance is governed by the shari'ah, which bans speculation and gambling, and stipulates that income must be derived as profits from the shared generation of goods and services between counterparties rather than interest or a guaranteed return. The paper explains the fundamental legal principles underpinning Islamic finance with a view towards developing a cohesive theory of derivatives subject to shari'ahprinciples. After critically reviewing accepted contracts and the scholastic debate surrounding existing financial innovation in this area, the paper offers an axiomatic perspective on a principle-based permissibility of derivatives under Islamic law.