A mathematical model of micro-finance investment using profit-loss sharing scheme are made and implemented to simulated data. Here profits from the venture will be shared in a portion between the investor and the entity running the business. The scheme can be classified as Musharaka type of investment in Sharia economy. The proposed model is theoretically implemented with data from small-scale traders at a local traditional market who have small turnover. They are common target of usurers who lend money with high interest rate and penalties. If the traders are in unfortunate conditions, they are potentially in poorer condition than before committing themselves to the usurer. In the conventional practices of the profit sharing scheme, the investor will get a fixed portion of the trader’s income, which is applied for all kind of small-scale traders. If the traders are diligent and hard worker and have very high turnover, then the investor will gain much more profit whether the contributed capital is small or large. In this paper, the scheme is implemented using Semi-Fuzzy Logic Approach so that the profit-loss sharing scheme can achieve its intended goal, which is to make a profitable investment not only for the investor but also for traders. The approach is not fully using Fuzzy Logic because some variables are still in crisp numbers and the optimization problem is regular in the form of crisp numbers. Based on the existing data, the results show that the optimal profit share is depended on the income of the traders. The higher the income coming from the venture, the lesser the profit share for the investor which is reasonable with the fixed initial contributed capital.

The main subject of this paper is to discuss some issues in Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis (FIH) and relate them with Islamic finance position in enhancing the stability of financial system. The methodology used in the paper is descriptive analysis. It describes a particular concept, namely the financial instability hypothesis and then analyses, applies and compares that concept with other concept, i.e. the Islamic finance concept. It is shown in the paper that Islamic finance, both in its commercial and social aspect, can play its role in stabilizing financial system. The significant contribution of the paper is by bringing together the hypothesis of Minsky with Islamic finance theory and practice. It should be stated here, however, that among the limitations of the paper is that the reference on Minsky’s point of view is mostly based on his brief article entitled “The Financial Instability Hypothesis” without referring to his vast writings on various topics directly or indirectly related to his notion of Financial Instability Hypothesis.

This paper examines the impact of monetary policy on bank lending in a dual banking system, i.e. Malaysia. Making use of an unbalanced panel data set of 38 Islamic and conventional banks covering mostly 2001-2014, we find evidence that variations in monetary policy affect lending growth of Islamic banks and, to some extent, conventional banks. The results further reveal that, in conformity with studies using aggregate Islamic financing data, the Islamic financing growth reacts more strongly to monetary policy changes. Moreover, we find no marked difference between full-fledged Islamic banks and Islamic bank subsidiaries in their responses to monetary policy. While we also document some evidence indicating the significant relations between bank-specific variables and lending growth, the bank-specific variables do not seem to have any role in impacting the potency of the bank lending channel. Finally, we find that lending growth is directly related to economic growth, suggesting procyclicality of bank lending/financing in Malaysia. These results have important implications for effective implementation of monetary policy and further development of Islamic banks in Malaysia.

Muslims in Malaysia had practiced ar-rahnu for fulfilling their financial need, especially for emergency purposes since early 1990s. The pioneer of ar-rahnu in Malaysia is Muassasah Gadaian Islam Terengganu (MGIT) in January 1992, followed by the Kelantan Capitalization Berhad (PKB) in March 1992. Both of these Islamic pawn centres are among the earliest exponents to the Islamic pawn scheme in Malaysia. Ar-rahnu is an increasingly popular financing option among micro-entrepreneurs in Malaysia, particularly women micro-entrepreneurs. Women micro-entrepreneurs play a vital role in the Malaysian economy and could be considered as the backbone of the industrial development in Malaysia. This study examines the role of ar-rahnu as a source of financial stability for women micro-entrepreneurs. 600 questionnaires were distributed at three states in Malaysia which are Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah. Then, this study used SPSS and SEM Amos to analyses the data for 600 respondents (women micro-entrepreneurs) in Malaysia. In essence, this study finds that shariah compliancy, locality, service charges, collateral and customer satisfaction has positive and significant impact towards the use of ar-rahnu. The study also found use of ar-rahnu has significant impact towards financial self-sufficiency for women micro-entrepreneurs.

The existence of the switching behavior among Islamic bank customers may affect to the survival of the Islamic banks of the country. Switching behavior is mostly as an outcome of the negative service experience that may be related to several factors. The purpose of the study is to provide an insight of the drivers that lead to a bank customer switching behavior from one Islamic bank to another bank. The study employed survey method through questionnaire instrument and distributed to Islamic banking customers in several areas of Banten Province, Indonesia. The result of statistical analysis shows that customer satisfaction, service quality, shariah compliance, prices and involuntary switching have their significant effect on customers’ switching behavior in the Islamic banks. However, service failure and advertisement are not statistically significant in driving bank switching. Therefore, the Islamic bank manager should shape their business model around customers’ needs and focuses operational improvements on customers’ most valued interactions.