Islamic microfinance as an alternative to conventional financing practices : The need to address the poverty in Pakistan

Microfinance has been identified as an important tool that can reduce poverty in developing countries. However, current practices are similar to conventional financing which are traditionally based on debt and price against interest rate. These practices do not effectively alleviate poverty as the m...

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Main Authors: Abdul Razak, Dzuljastri, Abbas, Kausar
Format: Proceeding Paper
Language:English
English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/25895/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/25895/1/%28_C_-_8%29_INCIEB_2012_-_FULL_PAPER_195_%28R%29-4.pdf
http://irep.iium.edu.my/25895/4/Dr_Dzuljastri_session.pdf
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author Abdul Razak, Dzuljastri
Abbas, Kausar
author_facet Abdul Razak, Dzuljastri
Abbas, Kausar
author_sort Abdul Razak, Dzuljastri
building IIUM Repository
collection Online Access
description Microfinance has been identified as an important tool that can reduce poverty in developing countries. However, current practices are similar to conventional financing which are traditionally based on debt and price against interest rate. These practices do not effectively alleviate poverty as the micro entrepreneurs remain indebted throughout the period of financing. Hence, this paper explores the feasibility of Islamic microfinance as an alternative means to help the poor in line with the Shariah principles where the use of riba (usury) is prohibited due to unfairness and injustice. It begins with an overview of poverty, microfinance and its characteristics. This is followed by comparing the differences between conventional financing and Islamic microfinance and various models used. Then its application is discussed in the context of Pakistan. The study is an attempt to explore the emerging area of Islamic microfinance as a means to address the financial hardship facing micro entrepreneurs in order to improve their standard of living. Key words: Debt, Islamic microfinance, riba, poverty, Pakistan.
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institution International Islamic University Malaysia
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language English
English
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publishDate 2012
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spelling iium-258952013-11-26T06:14:51Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/25895/ Islamic microfinance as an alternative to conventional financing practices : The need to address the poverty in Pakistan Abdul Razak, Dzuljastri Abbas, Kausar HG Finance Microfinance has been identified as an important tool that can reduce poverty in developing countries. However, current practices are similar to conventional financing which are traditionally based on debt and price against interest rate. These practices do not effectively alleviate poverty as the micro entrepreneurs remain indebted throughout the period of financing. Hence, this paper explores the feasibility of Islamic microfinance as an alternative means to help the poor in line with the Shariah principles where the use of riba (usury) is prohibited due to unfairness and injustice. It begins with an overview of poverty, microfinance and its characteristics. This is followed by comparing the differences between conventional financing and Islamic microfinance and various models used. Then its application is discussed in the context of Pakistan. The study is an attempt to explore the emerging area of Islamic microfinance as a means to address the financial hardship facing micro entrepreneurs in order to improve their standard of living. Key words: Debt, Islamic microfinance, riba, poverty, Pakistan. 2012-06-29 Proceeding Paper PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/25895/1/%28_C_-_8%29_INCIEB_2012_-_FULL_PAPER_195_%28R%29-4.pdf application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/25895/4/Dr_Dzuljastri_session.pdf Abdul Razak, Dzuljastri and Abbas, Kausar (2012) Islamic microfinance as an alternative to conventional financing practices : The need to address the poverty in Pakistan. In: International Conference On Islamic Economics and Business (ICIEB 2012), 29 June - 1 July 2012, A' Famosa Resort Hotel, Malacca. (Unpublished)
spellingShingle HG Finance
Abdul Razak, Dzuljastri
Abbas, Kausar
Islamic microfinance as an alternative to conventional financing practices : The need to address the poverty in Pakistan
title Islamic microfinance as an alternative to conventional financing practices : The need to address the poverty in Pakistan
title_full Islamic microfinance as an alternative to conventional financing practices : The need to address the poverty in Pakistan
title_fullStr Islamic microfinance as an alternative to conventional financing practices : The need to address the poverty in Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Islamic microfinance as an alternative to conventional financing practices : The need to address the poverty in Pakistan
title_short Islamic microfinance as an alternative to conventional financing practices : The need to address the poverty in Pakistan
title_sort islamic microfinance as an alternative to conventional financing practices : the need to address the poverty in pakistan
topic HG Finance
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/25895/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/25895/1/%28_C_-_8%29_INCIEB_2012_-_FULL_PAPER_195_%28R%29-4.pdf
http://irep.iium.edu.my/25895/4/Dr_Dzuljastri_session.pdf