MUHAMMAD AYUB is Director Training, Development and Shari'ah Aspects at IIBI, London. Formerly, he was with the State Bank of Pakistan (central bank) where he headed the Islamic Economics Division and Shari'ah Compliance Division as Senior Joint Director in the Research and Islamic Banking Departments. He also served as Head of Islamic Banking at NIBAF, the training wing of SBP. Besides contributing a large amount of material, he has been serving as Master Trainer on theory and practice of Islamic finance.
For last two decades, he has been involved in R&D for facilitating I.B. Industry, Products Development, IB Prudential regulations, Risk management and Shari'ah related controls and audit of Islamic banking institutions. This, along with his association with various Commissions set up from time to time on application of Islamic banking system, has lent him a pragmatic and balanced approach, a prerequisite for presenting such a book.

In Understanding Islamic Finance Muhammad Ayub introduces all the essential elements of this growing market by providing an in-depth background to the subject and clear descriptions of all the major products and processes associated with Islamic finance.
Key features include:
* Discussion of the principles of Islamic finance;
* Introduction to the key products and procedures that International Financial Institutions are using or may adopt to fund a variety of clients ensuring Shar+¿ah compliance;
* Discussion of the role Islamic finance can play in the development of the financial system and of economies;
* Practical and operational examples that cover deposit and fund management by banks involving financing of various sectors of the economy, risk management, accounting treatment, and working of Islamic financial markets and instruments.
This book is not only an important text for all banks and financial institutions entering this particular market with a commitment to building Islamic financial solutions, but is also essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Islamic finance.

List of Boxes and Figures.
Foreword.
Preface.
Acknowledgements.
PART I FUNDAMENTALS.
1 Introduction.
2 Distinguishing Features of the Islamic Economic System.
3 The Main Prohibitions and Business Ethics in Islamic Economics and Finance.
4 The Philosophy and Features of Islamic Finance.
PART II CONTRACTUAL BASES IN ISLAMIC FINANCE.
5 Islamic Law of Contracts and Business Transactions.
6 Trading in Islamic Commercial Law.
7 Loan and Debt in Islamic Commercial Law.
PART III ISLAMIC FINANCE - PRODUCTS AND PROCEDURES.
8 Overview of Financial Institutions and Products: Conventional and Islamic.
9 Murabaha and Musawamah.
10 Forward Sales: Salam and Istisna'a.
11 Ijarah - Leasing 279.
12 Participatory Modes: Shirkah and its Variants.
13 Some Accessory Contracts.
14 Application of the System: Financing Principles and Practices.
Appendix: The Major Functions of a Shar+¿ah Supervisory Board in the Light of the AAOIFI'S Shar¿ah Standard.
15 Sukuk and Securitization: Vital Issues in Islamic Capital Markets.
16 Takaful: An Alternative to Conventional Insurance.
Appendix: Fatwa (Juristic Opinions) on Different Aspects of Insurance.
17 An Appraisal of Common Criticism of Islamic Banking and Finance.
18 The Way Forward.
Acronyms.
Glossary.
References.
Arabic/Urdu References.
Suggested Further Reading.
Index.