الحكومة تنهي مشروع "الأبناك الإسلامية" وتربطه بأحكام الشريعة

هسبريس- محمد بن الطيب

الخميس 20 شتنبر 2012 - 23:59

أنهت الحكومة مسودة مشروع قانون مؤسسات الإئتمان والهيآت المعتبرة في حكمها، تحت رقم 34-03، مخصصة فصلا كاملا للأبناك التشاركية، أو الأبناك الإسلامية كما هو متعارف عليها، والتي عرفتها بأن معاملاتها "لا تتعارض مع أحكام الشريعة"، مضيفة أنه "تؤهل البنوك التشاركية لتلقي الودائع الإستثمارية من الجمهور التي ترتبط جازيتها بناتج الاستثمارات المتفق عليها مع العملاء".

ويضم المشروع الذي خصص فصله الثالث لهذه الأبناك التشاركية مقتضيات التأسيس والمبادئ والترخيص والمنتوجات والهيئة الشرعية، مؤكدا "أن اعتماد هذه التمويلات يمكن أن يدعم بشكل كبير الإدخار بالمغرب، وأن تبني إطار تشريعي للتمويلات التشاركية بات أمرا ضروريا".

هذا ويؤكد المشروع أنه يعهد للجنة الشريعة للمالية البث حول مطابقة العمليات والمنتوجات المقدمة للجمهور للشريعة، وذلك عن طريق الرد على استشارات البنوك، وابداء رأي مسبق حول محتوى الحملات الدعائية لمؤسسات الإئتمان التي تزاول نشاطها إضافة إلى اقتراح أي تدبير من شأنه الإسهام في تنمية أي منتوج أو خدمة مالية مطابقة للشريعة.

ويشير المشروع إلى أن هناك ضرورة لتوفير هذه التمويلات ليس للمواطنين المغاربة داخل الوطن فقط، بل للجالية المغربية المقيمة بالخارج حيث توفر البلدان المستقبلة مثل هذه التمويلات، مشيرا أنه يجوز للبنوك التشاركية أن تمول عملائها بواسطة أي منتوج أخر لا يتعارض مع أحكام الشريعة.

هذا ويمكن لهذه البنوك أن تمول العملاء بواسطة عدد من المنتوجات أولها صيغة المرابحة، والتي تعرف بأنها عقد يقتني بموجبه بنك تشاركي، منقولا أو عقارا من أجل إعادة بيعه لعميله بتكلفة اقتنائه مضاف إليها هامش ربح متفق عليه مسبقا، ويتم الأداء من طرف العميل تبعا للكيفيات المتفق عليها بين الأطراف.

أما الصيغة الثانية من هذه المنتوجات فهي الإجارة والتي هي كل عقد يضع بموجبه بنك تشاركي عن طريق الإجار، منقولا أو عقارا محددا و معرفا عليه ومملوكا لهذا البنك تحت تصرف عميل قصد استعمال مسموح به قانونا.

وتكتسي الإجارة شكلين إما تشغيلية عندما يتعلق الأمر بإيجار بسيط، أو إجارة واقتناء عندما تكون الإجارة مصحوبة بالتزام قاطع من المستأجر باقتناء المنقول أو العقار المستأجر بعد انقضاء مدة متفق عليها مسبقا.

أما الصيغة الثالثة فتتعلق بالمشاركة التي تعرف بأنها عقد يكون الغرض منه مشاركة بنك تشاركي في مشروع قصد تحقيق ربح، ويشارك الطرفان في تحمل الخسائر في حدود مساهمتهما وفي الأرباح حسب نسب محددة مسبقا بينهما، وتكتسي المشاركة حسب المسودة دائماً، شكلين إما ثابتة حيث يبقى الطرفان شريكين إلى حين انقضاء العقد الرابط بينهما، أو المتناقصة، والتي ينسحب البنك تدريجيا من المشروع وفق مقتضيات العقد.

أما آخر صيغ هذه المنتجات فهي المضاربة والتي تعرف بأنها كل عقد يربط بنكا تشاركيا وهو رب المال الذي يقدم الأموال كمقاول، والمضارب الذي يقدم عمله قصد إنجاز مشروع، يتحمل فيه المقاول المسؤولية الكاملة في إدارته، ويقتسم الطرفان الأرباح حسب نسب محددة ويتحمل رب المال وحده الخسائر، باستثناء حالة غش من طرف المضارب.

Muslim network Salamworld aims to be Facebook rival

By Jennifer PakBBC News, Kuala Lumpur

The new network aims to unite Muslims around the world

Continue reading the main story

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At the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), in the country's capital Kuala Lumpur, Russian student Jeyhun Jaafar posts a video on a social network.

A comment pops up in Turkish - a language Mr Jaafar does not speak. But he is able to respond with the help of a translate button on the page.

This is one of the ways the new social network, called Salamworld, hopes to make it easier to connect Muslims around the world.

In Malaysia, Muslims make up the majority of the population of 29 million people, about 60% of whom are internet users.

Besides this South East Asian country, a trial version of Salamworld is currently being tested by about 1,000 users in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Turkey, Egypt and Indonesia.

The company aims to launch globally by November.

At first glance, Salamworld may not seem much different from other social networks.

With a blue and white layout and features such as a wall to post comments, photos and videos, it is similar to what networking giant Facebook used to look like when it first launched.

About 1,000 Muslims around the world are testing Salamworld

But supporters of the multilingual and multicultural project say one thing will be different - content.

Salamworld aims to create a safe space for Muslims - free from things such as pornography, gambling and anything else that may be against Islamic principles.

For instance, Prof Nuraihan Mat Daud of IIUM, who uses Western social networking sites as a teaching tool, says she is uncomfortable with advertisements that show women in revealing clothing.

Although Facebook is tough on pornography, it sports a number of gambling apps - including one called Bingo Friendzy that allows UK users aged 18 and over to play games for real-money prizes.

Local rules

It is not the first attempt to create a Muslim-tailored social network, but so far none has become popular on a large scale.

Finland-based Muxlim.com came out in 2006, but is currently shut down. Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood launched Ikhwanbook.com in 2010 but the site is also currently offline.

Critics say that these networks tended to appeal only to their respective regions.

Salamworld, based in Turkey but with advisers from more than a dozen countries, hopes to be different.

One way it aims to achieve the goal of uniting Muslims globally is by using a three-level content-filtering feature.

It will allow authorities to set content guidelines based on different interpretations of Islam, which vary from country to country. For example, a picture of a Muslim woman who is not wearing a hijab may be fine in secular Indonesia but not acceptable in Saudi Arabia.

Salamworld wants to rival Facebook and other Western social networks

It is not clear how internet users will react to such censorship - in Malaysia, for instance, attempts to control the web have been met with fierce opposition.

Earlier this month, politicians and activists staged an internet blackout day to protest against changes in the law they say aimed to stifle free speech online.

Some Malaysians, however, say they will tolerate a certain degree of censorship, such as filtering out photos of skimpy outfits or alcohol ads, which are against Islamic values.

"But if they are censoring things for political reasons, like to prevent us from seeing the real situation in Syria or the violence committed against Muslims in Burma, then that is not OK," says another student, Abdul Hadi bin Haji.

'Alternative needed'

Even if Muslims around the world do start using Salamworld en masse, it may still be tricky to rival Facebook, say analysts.

According to internet information company Alexa, the social networking giant is the most popular site in all the countries where Salamworld is conducting its trials.

In Malaysia, for example, many say it is at times easier to connect with friends through Facebook than by calling them.

It doesn't worry Salamworld's head of Asia-Pacific operations Salam Suleymanov, who strongly believes in a need for an alternative.

"When we talk about 1.5 billion Muslims, maybe those who support my view make up a very small percentage - but it's still a big number," he says.

Finding strategies to market goods and services to the world’s highly diverse Muslim consumers

Finding strategies to market goods and services to the world’s highly diverse Muslim consumers

Although an estimated 23% of the world’s population is Muslim, creating brands and marketing strategies that resonate among Muslims is tricky business. Living in more than 200 countries with a wide range of cultural traditions, ethnic backgrounds and standards of living, Muslims hardly constitute a homogenous single market.

Yet, as Paul Temporal points out in his book Islamic Branding and Marketing: Creating a Global Islamic Business, there are shared Islamic values that non-Muslim companies can tap into to reach Muslim consumers, and that Muslim companies can better leverage to go global. While few Muslim companies have built brands extending beyond their nation’s borders (and those few mostly in the oil and gas industry), Temporal offers international companies straightforward advice on integrating themselves into Muslim markets.

The demand for halal products and services (the word halal means “lawful”) is one commonality of Muslim life from Muslim-majority countries like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia to Muslim-minority countries like France, Germany and the U.S. “The term is most frequently linked to food that is permissible according to Islamic law, but in fact it applies to all categories of products and services used in Muslim life,” writes Temporal, who is an associate fellow at the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford in the U.K. “Conforming strictly to Islamic law means that everything a Muslim does must be halal. In reality, however… there are different degrees of religiosity practised, from orthodox to liberal.” Halal products not only meet the requirements of Shariah law, which is drawn from a variety of sources including the Qur’an, they are also a mark of purity and quality. Interestingly, one study suggests that 16% of U.S. Muslims buy kosher food when they are not able to gain access to halal products.

Sectors where halal is especially important include food and beverage; education; tourism and hospitality; medical and pharmaceutical products and services; entertainment; financial products and services; cosmetics and personal care; and Internet and digital products and services. The Noor Global Brand Index, a 2010 study of consumer perceptions of halal status, ranks Europe-based brands like Lipton and Nestlé at the top, showing that country of origin matters less than a well-executed commitment to halal principles.

Globalization and rising incomes in many emerging economies have, perhaps unexpectedly, made halal increasingly important to Muslim identity. In a case study of OnePure, a cosmetics company founded in 2007 by Canadian-born Muslim Layla Mandi, the marketing strategy targets affluent Muslim women who appreciate global brands like Clinique, Lancôme and Chanel, but see an added value in halal-certified products. Designed and formulated in Canada, OnePure uses financial products and services from Emirates Islamic Bank (which follow Shariah principles, including not charging interest), sources halal raw materials, ensures products don’t come in contact with non-halal products or processes, such as machinery cleaned with substances containing alcohol, uses halal-compliant transportation and storage throughout its supply chain and ensures that its female sales personnel wear abayas, loose dresses meant to protect their modesty.

“This enterprise shows that, with determination, Islamic brands can penetrate every market and attract non-Muslim consumers as well—for example, people who are interested in organic, eco-friendly, ethical and authentic beauty products,” writes Temporal.

Attaining halal accreditation is not straightforward, since different regions, countries and communities have different standards. Brunei Darussalam, a Muslim country with a population of about 381,000, is trying to overcome these hurdles to become a major player in the global halal industry. In 2009, the government launched the Brunei Halal Brand which, although not necessarily universally accepted, sets a high benchmark for its certification processes. “Having obtained certification in Brunei, products can generally be expected to pass audits undertaken by other countries,” writes Temporal.

Reaching Muslim women remains a challenge. Tougher still is reaching Muslims in emerging markets in regions such as North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, the Mideast and Asia-Pacific, though increased penetration of mobile communication technology is making that easier.

“The use of digital channels by brands also allows marketers to carefully target Muslim consumers without over-using their ‘religious’ identity to attract their attention,” writes Temporal.

At the top end of the market, increasing incomes in countries such as Malaysia, India and Indonesia mean an appetite for luxury products. Closer to home, the number of Muslims in Canada are expected to nearly triple in the next 20 years, from about 940,000 in 2010 to nearly 2.7 million in 2030. Unlike Muslim minorities in much of Western Europe, who tend to be much poorer than average, North American Muslims are more likely to have incomes comparable to their non-Muslim peers.

“However one slices and dices the numbers, there is no escaping the fact that the Muslim population is not only huge, it is growing,” writes Temporal.

الكتاني: البنوك "الإسلامية" ستُصبح "علمانية" بسبب وصاية الدولة

هسبريس - طارق بنهدا

الأحد 12 غشت 2012 - 02:04

قال الخبير الاقتصادي عمر الكتاني، إن مستقبل البنوك الإسلامية بالمغرب بيد من كانوا معارضين لها أساسا "ليتحولوا بين عشية وضحاها إلى مؤطرين للمشروع"، في إشارة إلى بنك المغرب. وهو ما يجعل العملية، حسب رأيه، غير مستقلة "لأنها في الحضانة الكاملة لبنك المغرب الذي يهيمن على المشروع، حتى في الرقابة الشرعية التي ستكون تابعة للمجالس العلمية ووزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية".

وعبر الكتاني، في تصريح لـ"هسبريس" عقب ندوة في موضوع "مشروع البنوك الاسلامية بالمغرب ودوره في التنمية الاقتصادية" مساء أمس السبت بالرباط، عن تحفظه من تدخل الدولة ووصايتها على البنوك الإسلامية التي ستنطلق شتنبر المقبل، قائلا: "استقلالية البنوك الإسلامية عنصر أساسي في نجاح الفكرة كمشروع حضاري.. لذلك لا أضمنها، لكون هاته المؤسسات ستكون تحت وصاية الدولة في التأطير والرقابة"، مضيفا أن سيادة الدولة على هاته البنوك من شأنها أن تجعل منها بنوكا "إسلامية-علمانية" ومؤسسات "تقنية ظاهرها إسلامي وباطنها مشكوك في إسلاميته".

وعن مؤسسة "دار الصفاء"، قال الكتاني، عضو الجمعية المغربية للدراسات والبحوث في الاقتصاد الاسلامي ورئيسها السابق، إنها تُشعر المواطن البسيط على أنها بنك إسلامي، "في حين أنها غير إسلامية.. رغم استعمالها لمصطلحات اقتصادية دينية"، مؤكدا أنها تصرح بكونها "مؤسسة بنكية ذات معاملات بديلة فقط". وأضاف المتحدث أن مدير "دار الصفاء" بنفسه لا يستطيع أن يدعي أن مؤسسته إسلامية "لأنه لو ادعاها لكنا له بالمرصاد".

ولخص الخبير الاقتصادي أسباب اعتبار "دار الصفاء" مؤسسة بنكية "غير إسلامية" فيما سماه "الغلاء الفاحش" الذي يطبع معاملاتها، وهو في رأي الكتاني "حرام شرعا" وينطبق على وضعية "الاحتكار". إضافة إلى فرض المؤسسة لـ"ذعيرة" في حالة تأخر الأداء بالأقساط وهو "حرام ومرفوض" أيضا.. زيادة على "غياب الرقابة الشرعية في العقدة وتتبعها وكذا الإبهام الذي يطبع انتقال الملكية في حالة الوفاة"، يوضح أستاذ الاقتصاد بجامعة محمد الخامس بالرباط.

من جهته قال عبد السلام بلاجي، البرلماني ورئيس الجمعية المغربية للدراسات والبحوث في الاقتصاد الاسلامي المنظمة للندوة، أنه وطوال 30 سنة كانت هناك محاولات من بنوك إسلامية عربية لفتح فروع لها بالمغرب "قبل أن يتم رفضها بعد عرضها على أعلى مستوى في البلاد"، وهو الأمر الذي جعل العديد من الخبراء المغاربة في مجال الاقتصاد الاسلامي، يضيف بلاجي، يتوجهون لاستثمار خبرتهم في البنوك والمصاريف الاسلامية لدى دول عربية وأجنبية، "دون أن يستفيد منهم المغرب".

وأوضح المتدخل أن تحقق إنجاز البنوك الاسلامي بالمغرب جاء متأخرا كثيرا، وذلك "بعد ضغوط الشارع من جهة وضغوط بعض الأساتذة والخبراء وكذا البرلمانيين الإسلاميين، ثلاث منهم صاروا وزراء في الحكومة الحالية". مشيرا إلى أن أكبر تحدي ينتظر البنوك الإسلامية بالمغرب هو تحدي الأطر والموارد البشرية، "حيث ستعمل الجمعية على رفع هذا التحدي بتكثيف التكوين والدورات التدريبية خاصة بالأطر العاملة في البنوك التقيلدية"، مؤكدا أن الجمعية تبحث إمكانية تأسيس معهد للدارسات والأبحاث في العلوم الاقتصادية الإسلامية.

يشار إلى أن الندوة عرفت حضور محمد أحمين، الإطار المغربي الذي يعمل مراقبا شرعيا بأحد المصارف الإسلامية بقطر، والذي تحدث عن التجربة القطرية في البنوك الإسلامية وعن أكبر التحديات الشرعية والقانونية والمالية التي يمكن أن تعترض التجربة المغربية.

بنكيران يستعد للترخيص لكويتيين بإنشاء أول بنك إسلامي في المغرب

بنكيران يستعد للترخيص لكويتيين بإنشاء أول بنك إسلامي في المغرب

عبد الرحيم ندير

كشفت مصادر مطلعة أن رئيس الحكومة عبد الإله بنكيران استقبل، يوم الاثنين الأخير، مسؤولا كبيرا في شركة بيت الاستثمار الكويتي القابضة وتوصل منه بطلب ترخيص رسمي بإنشاء أول بنك إسلامي في المغرب.

وقالت المصادر ذاتها لـ«المساء» إن الطلب تضمن اقتراحا يقضي بإنشاء البنك الإسلامي بشراكة مع مؤسسات بنكية مغربية، كما عبر عن التزام الشركة بجميع القوانين المنظمة للقطاع، والتي سيعلن عنها بنك المغرب لاحقا؛ مشيرة إلى أن بيت الاستثمار الكويتي سبق له أن تقدم منذ سنوات بطلب لإقامة بنك إسلامي في المغرب، غير أن الظروف لم تكن مواتية للموافقة على المشروع.
وأوضحت المصادر أن بنكيران أكد، خلال اللقاء الذي جمعه بالمسؤول في بيت الاستثمار الكويتي، أن المغرب سيمنح ما بين رخصتين وثلاث رخص من أجل إقامة بنوك إسلامية ابتداء من شهر شتنبر المقبل؛ مؤكدة أن بيت الاستثمار سيكون، لا محالة، من الشركات المستفيدة من إحدى هذه الرخص.
وحسب مصادر «المساء»، فإن المسؤول في بيت الاستثمار الكويتي استعرض أمام رئيس الحكومة عبد الإله بنكيران مشروعا متكاملا لأول بنك إسلامي في المغرب، كما اقترح انضمام خبراء البنك إلى اللجنة التي تقوم حاليا بإعداد القوانين المنظمة للقطاع.
وتعتبر شركة بيت الاستثمار الكويتي القابضة من أبرز الشركات الاستثمارية في الكويت والخارج، وتعود ملكيتها بالكامل إلى محمد صالح الخنة، وهو رجل أعمال بارز في الكويت وذو خبرة واسعة في المصارف والاستثمار والعقار وتجارة المجوهرات.
ومن المرتقب أن يستفيد من إحدى الرخص الأخرى، حسب المصادر نفسها، بنك «فيصل الإسلامي»، وهو ما أكدته بعض الأنباء التي تحدثت عن زيارة قام بها مسؤولو البنك إلى المغرب ما بين 4 و6 يوليوز الجاري.
ومن المرجح أن يكون المسؤولون عن البنك السعودي التقوا بإدريس الأزمي الإدريسي، الوزير المنتدب لدى وزير الاقتصاد والمالية المكلف بالميزانية، وعبد اللطيف الجواهري، والي بنك المغرب.
وكان الجواهري قد أعلن أن القانون البنكي، الذي سيناقش في البرلمان ابتداء من شهر شتنبر المقبل، يتضمن فصلا كاملا حول البنوك الإسلامية، وطريقة اشتغالها. وأوضح الجواهري أن هذا القانون يتضمن إحداث لجنة وطنية مكونة من العلماء لمراقبة شرعية المعاملات البنكية.
وتوقع خبراء أن يتحول المغرب إلى قطب مالي إسلامي على المستوى العربي، في حال ما إذا تم إعداد القانون البنكي الجديد الذي يضم في طياته البنوك الإسلامية، انطلاقا من أن أزيد من 400 مليار دولار في دول الخليج تبحث عن أماكن آمنة للاستثمار، ولن تجد أفضل من المغرب لهذه الغاية.

Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think (Full Documentary)

Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think (Full Documentary)

Dutch upper house rejects ban on ritual slaughter

Reuters) – The Dutch upper house, the Senate, on Tuesday rejected a bill that would have banned the ritual slaughter of animals and had been criticized by both Muslim and Jewish groups.

The bill, proposed by the small Party for the Animals, stipulates that livestock must be stunned before being slaughtered, contrary to Muslim halal and Jewish kosher laws, which require animals to be conscious.

The lower house of parliament passed the bill a year ago, leaving a loophole saying religious groups could continue ritual slaughter if they proved it was no more painful than other methods of slaughter.

But the Senate rejected the bill on Tuesday by 51 votes to 21, meaning it cannot become law.

Dutch Muslims, mostly of Turkish and Moroccan origin, had complained they felt stigmatized by the measure.

European Union regulations require animals to be stunned before slaughter but allow exceptions for ritual slaughter, which the European Court of Human Rights has ruled is a religious right.

الجواهري: البنوك الإسلامية في المغرب بداية من شتنبر المقبل

الجواهري: البنوك الإسلامية في المغرب بداية من شتنبر المقبل

الرباط- محمد بن الطيب (عدسة: منير امحيمدات)

الثلاثاء 19 يونيو 2012 - 20:51

أعلن عبد اللطيف الجواهري والي بنك المغرب، أن القانون البنكي الذي سيناقش في البرلمان المغربي بداية من شتنبر المقبل، يتضمن فصلا كاملا حول البنوك الإسلامية، وطريقة اشتغالها.

وأوضح الجواهري، في ندوة صحفية عشية اليوم الثلاثاء في الرباط، أن هذا القانون يتضمن إحداث لجنة وطنية مكونة من العلماء لمراقبة شرعية المعاملات البنكية، مشيرا في هذا الصدد إلى تلقي بنك المغرب لطلبين من الخارج بخصوص إنشاء هذه البنوك، مؤكدا أنه سيعقد لقاءات مع أصحاب الطلبات في القادم من الأيام.

وفي موضوع النمو الاقتصادي، توقع البنك المركزي نموا اقتصاديا أقل من 3 في المائة في العام الجاري، مرجعا ذلك إلى الأزمة الاقتصادية التي تعاني منها أوربا، التي تعتبر الشريك التجاري الرئيس للمغرب، يقول الجواهري.

وركز والي بنك المغرب ضمن ذات الندوة على أن هذه النسبة التي لن تتجاوز 3 في المائة، تعود كذلك إلى ضعف إنتاج الحبوب هذا العام حيث لم يتجاوز المحصول 48 مليون قنطار مقابل 88 مليون قنطار في العام الماضي.

ونبه نفس المتحدث إلى تباطئ نمو تحويلات المغاربة بالخارج حيث انتقلت من 2,8 الى 2 في المائة مقارنة مع نفس الفترة من السنة الماضية.

Moscow Halal Expo 2012 - Arabic Version

Getting Ready for Ramadan

In today's HuffPost Jummah, I would like to briefly discuss a very timely matter with you. In a few days a very special guest, a guest of God to Muslims will start. Holiest of the holy period in Islamic calendar will start with the start of the month of Rajab, followed by the month of Shaban and the grand finale with the month of Ramadan in eight-weeks time. Many mosques around the world will mark the start of this holy season and invite believers to start preparing themselves for the Islam's holiest month: Ramadan. As every other important thing 

in life, Ramadan's success also significantly depends on our ability to do what we need to do as pre-work before Ramadan.

Ramadan requires serious preparations individually and collectively in order to get the best out of this spiritual feast. How can we proactively prepare ourselves for this holy month of Islam in these coming eight weeks? How can we bring ourselves to be in a state of mind and heart that is ready to receive the very many rich blessings of this sacred time?

God is beyond time and space. God is Semi and Basir as God Almighty tells us in Holy Quran. God is all hearing and seeing in all times. God Almighty says in Holy Quran (40:60) "Call me with your duas and supplications. I will respond to them, I will answer them," any time and anywhere. However, God also says in the clearest terms, and the prophet of Islam beautifully exemplifies this, that God made this month of Ramadan, this specific time, Holy, and God pays very special attention to what God's servants do or say in this month. God grants special blessings and spiritual opportunities for this month. The worship and good work are rewarded so many times more than the very same act some other time of the year. In the words of Prophet Muhammad: "The gates of Haven open in Ramadan and the gates of hell are closed and the satans are chained." The moment the month of Shaban ends and the month of Ramadan starts very special types and kinds of Mercy and blessings start pouring down on the earth for those who are able to receive them. To be able to receive the special treasures of Ramadan requires serious preparation. It requires enabling our hearts and minds to receive what Ramadan could offer.

In what ways can we prepare ourselves to Ramadan? I think we can put these preparations into two categories. First: physical, technical and logistic preparations. Second, and more importantly: internal, mental, intellectual, emotional and spiritual preparations. Ramadan is all about our internal growth, our ability to feel the presence of God in our lives and improving ourselves in upholding the ethical and moral ideals of Islam and all the dos and do nots of Ramadan and physical preparations are there to enhance and expediate that expected internal growth.

In the first category of preparations, we will have to start training our bodies for the types of spiritual disciplines and worship practices that we are asked to do during Ramadan. Gradually introduce the type of discipline that our bodies need for less eating, less drinking, less sleeping, etc. So that when Ramadan starts, we will not waste anytime for adjustment and avoid certain health challenges which may prevent us enjoy the spiritual pleasures of Ramadan. Prophet Muhammad fasted during the month of Rajab and Shaban very frequently and advised us to do the same. Even if we cant fast for the whole days, gradually reducing the amount of food and water we take daily might be a very wise thing to do and since you do that with the intention of preparing yourself to the Holy Month of Ramadan, these mundane acts will be also recognized as acts of worship. 

Again in this first category of preparations there are some technical things that we believers can do to enhance our Ramadan experience. Observing Ramadan requires dedicating significant amount of quality time for Ramadan activities. Making that time is another important technical preparations as pre-work for Ramadan. One of the beauties' of living in American society, at least in its ideal, you are encouraged to live an organized life. You don't live your life on a day-to-day basis. We all have schedules and plan things in advance. So let's make sure Ramadan will gets its lion share in our calendar from July 20 to August 20. Let's do some serious work on our schedules for those dates. If there are some tasks, assignments and projects that we can finish up, if there are travels that we can do before then, if there are social responsibilities that we can fulfill in these short eight weeks prior to Ramadan, let's do it so that we will have less distractions during those sacred and holy days. 

Let us strive and pray and be creative with our external preparations for Ramadan. However, the real preparation needs to be done internally in order for Ramadan to yield a major internal, spiritual, ethical and moral growth every year. All the practices and external disciplines that we put ourselves into is to enable such growth. Ramadan is many things but clearly it is not just being hungry and thirsty for number of hours. As it has been beautifully exemplified in the practice of Prophet Muhammad, Ramadan is the month of self-auditing. Reviewing our lives annually and we where we are in our relationship with God and with God's creation. What are our pluses, minuses? If we die today, what kind of book should we expect to receive from the scribing angels? 

When our supervisor, academic adviser or boss calls and says, "Let's meet in eight weeks time and review what you have done so far," no reasonable soul responds, "Sure, see you then," and does nothing in those eight weeks. All of us would go and seriously reflect on the work that we have done, try to improve it as much as we can. We would identify the areas of strength and find out the areas weaknesses and the areas that need significant improvement. We should do the same in our preparations for Ramadan. Let us use these eight weeks in front of us to prepare ourselves for this audit and review as best as we can.

To me, there are three main areas in this required deep internal reflection on our lives which all again requires serious mental preparation before Ramadan:

The first area is thanksgiving and gratitude (shukr and hamd). Ramadan is a time when we thank God from the bottom of our hearts for the countless blessings that God has given us. And glorify God's names as God deserves. In order to do that we should deeply reflect on what are the things for which we are grateful to God. Going through the list of blessings that God grants us --health, wealth, success -- without feeling bad about them. There is nothing wrong to be healthy, wealthy and live in peace as long as we are in a constant state of gratitude toward God.

God says in the Holy Quran: "Thank me and I will increase my blessings onto you." The continuation of these blessings partially depend on we being grateful and thankful in response. The criterion in Islam whether or not you are thankful to God is easy. As again Prophet Muhammad says: "People who are not thankful to their fellow human beings, cannot be thankful to their Lord." We have eight weeks to bring ourselves to be in a state of gratitude and thanks to God Almighty. 

The second area is asking forgiveness and repentance (afv and maghfirah). Ramadan is the time when we seek forgiveness from God more intensely than ever for the sins and mistakes that we have committed in the past. It is a great opportunity to purify ourselves through our repentance (tawba) . Ramadan is a season of tawba. In the Quran God says, "Repent, ask forgiveness from God with the tawba of nasuh." When Prophet Muhammad explains to his companions what this tawba-i nasuh is, he says it has three major qualities: 1) feeling really sorry, remorse in your heart for the mistake that we do 2) doing something to correct that mistake and 3) develop a sense of discipline not to repeat the same mistake again. Who doesn't want his all sins to be cleaned away with such tawba-i nasuh in this coming month of Ramdan, when every dua and appeal for afw and magfirah (forgiveness) receives very special attention from God. So we have eight weeks to prepare such powerful repentance. To mature those tawbahs into a required level before the season of forgiveness starts. 

The last area is asking help and guidance (inayah and hidayah). When you get the special attention of someone of huge importance for a limited amount of time, what do you do? You share the most important and pressing issues with him or her. Ramadan is a time when you are expected to hammer out important issues for yourself. Looking back to your life finding out patterns of failures, soft spots growing edges. Who doesn't have the long list of things that we should do but we do not do and sometimes even a longer list of things that we shouldn't do but we end up doing over and over. These are the times our will fails us or not strong enough to do what needs to be done. Ramadan is the time to built those necessary ethical, moral and spiritual muscles in order to strive to do the ideal in life. It is a month-long lab where you can correct and fix things for yourself. For example if it is lying, money, fame, jealousy, doing enough charity, etc., do you see yourself keep failing over and over? How can I built the required strength against these universally condemned mistakes? 

May we all have a blessed and rewarding Ramadan in eight weeks. May we use these remaining time as best as we can to be ready to receive God's numuerous blessings in this months of mercy, compassion and forgiveness. Amin.

Beautyworld Middle East Grows By 21% Reflecting Upbeat Industry Trends

Press release from: BIZ COM

Key figures indicate that the Middle East region will remain a high focus area for global beauty majors, as demand continues to grow at a considerable rate. This was revealed by Epoc Messe Frankfurt at a press conference held to announce the upcoming Beautyworld Middle East, which will run from May 29th to 31st at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Trends revealed by Euromonitor International, Knowledge Partner for Beautyworld Middle East and leading independent global strategic intelligence provider indicate strong growth for colour cosmetics with an increase in spend on premium fragrances, and a shift in consumer attitude to men’s grooming.




Reflecting the rapidly developing beauty and wellness market in the Middle East region for the last decade, Beau-tyworld Middle East has grown to become the leading international trade show and conference for the industry. With available space fully sold out, the 2012 edition is 21% larger than last year. Bringing together 816 exhibitors from 51 countries, the event attracts the who’s-who of the industry.
Natural and Organic Cosmetics and the growing demand for Halal Products are becoming key areas of interest to leading international manufacturers and suppliers. The increasing preference for natural and organic products in the Middle East has seen this sector grow by 20% in 2011*. This year Beautyworld Middle East features 39 exhibitors showcasing green products including: Fridda Dorsch, Pomone, Al Mawared Natural Beauty Products, Beauty Se-crets, Natural from the Dead Sea and Ziaga Ltd.

As consumers around the region increasingly opt for halal cosmetics and beauty products, figures indicate that the market for such products has grown to around US$500 million**. 22 companies will be featuring their halal product lines at Beautyworld Middle East including: Asia Forestry, Elly Jones Beauty Co., Trend International, Icare General Trading, European Flavours & Fragrances and Proveda Herbals. Other areas of keen interest for trade visitors are expected to be fragrances, hair and cosmetics.

“The business of beauty continues to be on the upswing especially in the Middle East region, which is reflected by the growth of Beautyworld Middle East and the increasing interest from leading players worldwide,” said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Epoc Messe Frankfurt. “Apart from presenting the foremost networking platform for the regional industry, we are glad to be able to herald transformational international trends to the local market and additionally serve as a sounding board for the exchange of innovative ideas,” he added.

“Luxury continues to drive market growth in the GCC and the focus on oriental fragrances emphasises a trend for localisation,” said Sana Toukan, Research Manager of Euromonitor International. 

Given the known regional preference for fine fragrances Beautyworld Middle East also puts a strong focus on this segment. With 153 exhibitors showcasing their latest range of fragrances, this has continued to be one of the better performing segments of the trade show, having grown by 140% since 2008. Figures from Euromonitor International indicate that the market for premium fragrances in the UAE is set to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% to reach AED 334.5 million in 2014.

Beautyworld Middle East 2012 will also feature the Spa and Salon Management Summit, a series of conferences and workshops for Spa & Salon Owners and Beauty Therapists. Other key features taking place during the trade show, which traditionally attract considerable attention include: 

The Walk of Beauty – organised in association with Madi International, is back for the 7th consecutive year. It will feature top hairdressers and make-up artists from the GCC showcasing their skills live on stage.

Nail It! By OPI is the definitive nail competition in the region open to a wide range of skill levels.

New to this year’s edition is Face It! by Eva Garden, which will award leading make-up artists for their outstanding talent.

The Fragrance Station is a popular area where visitors can sample the various fragrances on display at one convenient location.

Hair Education which is organised in conjunction with Salon Educators and MyHairdressers.com is a series of hair demonstrations introducing the best in cutting and colouring education and styles from the UK. It features live demos daily for the duration of Beautyworld Middle East.

فايسبوكيون مغاربة يطالبون بإحداث بنك إسلامي في المغرب

فايسبوكيون مغاربة يطالبون بإحداث بنك إسلامي في المغرب

الرباط – ماجدة أيت لكتاوي

الجمعة 11 ماي 2012 - 12:46

ضمت صفحة بموقع التواصل الاجتماعي "فايس بوك" تحمل اسم " الحملة الوطنية للمطالبة بالبنك الإسلامي بالمغرب"، أزيد من 14 ألف عضو وعضوة، ساعين بذلك إلى تشكيل قوة ضاغطة ومسموعة.

وتتمحور مطالب هذه الصفحة حول إقرار منظومة مالية إسلامية بالمملكة المغربية، حيث تعتمد على نهج وأسلوب التوعية العامة بمخاطر الربا تعاملا وشرعا.

ويَعتبر الشباب القائمون على الصفحة أن مسألة الربا وأحكامها الشرعية مازالت غامضة عند فئة عريضة من الناس، آخذين على عواتقهم مسؤولية التعريف بالمنظومة المالية الإسلامية والإحاطة بجميع جوانبها وأركانها المختلفة.

والملاحظ أن تعليقات الزوار يطغى عليها طابع الرفض الكلي للربا. كما وأنها تسير في اتجاه ضرورة إحداث بنوك إسلامية بالمغرب.

ويطالب العديد من الشباب بضرورة عرض إحداث هذه الأبناك أمام مجلس النواب المغربي، مؤكدين على أنهم ينتظرون إحداثها بفارغ الصبر. فيما يطالب آخرون بالنزول إلى الشارع وتخطي العمل في العالم الإفتراضي.

في ذات السياق، قال حوالي 93 % من مجموع المشاركين في استطلاع للرأي أجراه موقع "هسبريس" أخيرا حول البنوك الإسلامية، إن الحاجة مُلحّة في المغرب للترخيص لبنوك إسلامية، وأجاب 54471 من أصل 58402 مشاركا في الاستطلاع بـ"نعم" على سؤال الاستطلاع، في حين لم ير3157 الممثلون لنسبة 5.41 % أن الحاجة ملحة لبنوك إسلامية، واعتبر 1.33 % من المشاركين أن الموضوع لا يعنيهم.

Kuwait Finance House Report

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) 

1. The Sharia-conscious consumer is an increasingly important segment across the world.
2. There are a collection of issues helping to promote growth in the Sharia marketplace.
3. Three categories of regions are propelling demand: the “Muslim heartland” or Muslim majority countries; “mixed culture” countries such as those in South-east Asia; and non-Muslim countries such as those in North America and Western Europe.
4. Although areas such as halal-friendly tourism and Islamic fashion are growing in demand, halal food and Islamic finance are still the mainstays of the broader sector
5. Barriers to growth in the industry do exist
6. There is no question that Islamic finance is seen as a vitally important enabler of the broader industry.
7. Demand for Islamic bonds (or sukuk) is expected to grow
8. In the future, firms will have to show that they share the values of integrity and community to which 
9. Muslims aspire if they are to build a brand which endures. 

مؤتمر عالمي لتجديد الفقه السياسي الإسلامي

مؤتمر عالمي لتجديد الفقه السياسي الإسلامي
تتواصل أعمال المؤتمر العالمي لتجديد الفقه السياسي في الإسلام الذي يعقد بشراكة بين الاتحاد العالمي لعلماء المسلمين وجامعة الزيتونة. ويهدف هذا المؤتمر إلى بحث قضايا الفقه السياسي الإسلامي في ظل صعود عدد من الحركات الإسلامية إلى السلطة. وبحسب رئيس الاتحاد العالمي لعلماء المسلمين الشيخ يوسف القرضاوي، "نحن بحاجة اليوم إلى أن نجدد الفقه السياسي بأن نجمع كل ما كتب، ثم علينا أن نستفيد من الدراسات العالمية في الجانب السياسي". من ناحيته رئيس حركة النهضة الشيخ راشد الغنوشي اعتبر أن "الحركة الإسلامية تنتقل اليوم من فقه الدعوة الذي انشغلت به لعشرات السنين إلى فقه الدولة.. إلى فقه الحكم". وأضاف الغنوشي "هذا الفقه (فقه الحكم) في تاريخنا ليس ناميا، حيث هذا كان الفقه في معظمه تأصيلا لفقه الفرد ولفقه العائلة الحاكمة، وليس تأصيلا لفقه الأمة أي لقيمة الشورى". وكان الغنوشي قد استقبل الشيخ القرضاوي في مطار تونس لدى وصوله ووصفه بأنه "شيخ الثوريين"، وقال إنه الداعم الأكبر للثورات العربية.

slamic fashion returns to Tunisia

Islamic fashion returns to Tunisia

Monia Ghanmi for Magharebia in Tunis – 07/02/12

[Monia Ghanmi] With the ban lifted on religious dress, more and more Tunisian women are choosing to adopt traditional Islamic attire.

Islamic fashion is on the rise on the streets of Tunisia, in the latest sign of a growing religious consciousness in the country.

After the ban on Islamic dress was lifted in the wake of Ben Ali's downfall, trade in the conservative garments took off. Shops began devoting a larger share of their windows to displaying the products, including the headscarf, the niqab and their supplies, from the robe to coverings for the head and face, eyes and also the hands.

Stores specialising in the fashions proliferated in many Tunisian cities, with young women coming to buy accessories for the veil, along with men to purchase religious clothing. For merchants, this was an opportunity to revive their trade and to offer the country new economic and cultural dynamism.

Shop owner Moez Bouabane told Magharebia that turnout was increasing little by little, especially among women. He expects that conservative clothing will have a big future in light of the expanding religiosity of Tunisians.

"The former regime was imposing control over the import of Islamic fashion and preventing the creation of specialised institutions for the manufacture of this type of clothing, but after the revolution and the success achieved by the Islamists in the elections, I expect this fashion to impose its presence in Tunisian markets in the period ahead," Bouabane said.

But he also noted the tendency of many Tunisians to wear headscarves and long, concealing clothing was not necessarily a sign of piety or evidence of religiosity, pointing out that Islamic fashion need not be linked to the conservative way of life or reduced freedoms.

"What we observe in Tunisia is that despite the increasing number of those wearing Islamic fashions, it has not and will not prevent them from exercising their rights and freedoms, and it will not separate them from their social life as happens with some Arab countries that still impose a certain dress on people, simply because there is awareness in society that religiosity is in the end a personal freedom," he added.

Farah Sellini had similar feelings, saying she tended to wear Islamic clothing only on certain occasions, such as religious holidays, family visits, or shopping, because she finds it more modest and dignified while also protecting her from the heat of the sun and the cold weather.

"At my age I am no longer allowed to wear modern, trendy clothes, thus I find this concealing fashion the most suitable for my age and current social status," commented Azza Rkik.

In addition, shops selling Islamic fashions have spread near mosques, as Salafist groups promote jalabiyas, robes and niqab accessories, as well as perfumes, musk, skullcaps and many products specific to Muslim men and women.

Although the phenomenon of the niqab is still a matter of extensive debate in Tunisian circles, merchant Sami Ghorbel told Magharebia that demand was increasing day after day.

Ghorbel explained that because of the lack of factories specialising in manufacture of this type of fashion, the clothes are imported – usually from Algeria and to a lesser extent from some of the Gulf and Levant countries – to be distributed at various shops located in Tunisian cities where they are marketed and sold.

"The next government must take the initiative to concentrate on establishments specialised in manufacturing Islamic fashions, because such projects will benefit the country, especially in creating new jobs for young people – particularly given that all projections indicate that this trade will have a great future," Ghorbel said.

He also called for an annual festival for Islamic dress to offer fashion shows featuring the latest innovations, with profits going to charities.

Marrakech-Menara Airport, Terminal 1

Marrakech-Menara Airport, Terminal 1

Marrakech, Morocco

Where traditional Islamic design meets sleek ultra-modern architecture you’ll find Terminal 1, a beautiful study in the confluence of cultures and artistic sensibilities. Architects at the Casablanca-based firm of E2A Architecture probably stole a page from the playbook of many runway designers when they softened the edge of the building’s starkly geometric exterior structure by layering it with delicate-looking arabesque screens. The sun shining through the scrolling patterns creates a beautiful play of light and shadow throughout the terminal.

Shariah banking should be standardised, FNC says

ABU DHABI // The different Sharia systems followed by Islamic banks in the Emirates have left many customers confused.

And with nearly a fifth of the population doing business at the country's eight Islamic banks - and with services that one bank allows being forbidden at another - some members of the FNC are pressing for a committee to be created to bring standards to the sector.

To their surprise, the members discovered that their idea was not new. The FNC member Ali Al Nuaimi from Ajman found that in 1985, a law was passed, by Cabinet and presidential decree, for such a committee to act as a monitor.

Twenty-seven years later, the law is still waiting to be enacted.

"This has left the end user confused over which standard should be followed and which bank follows Sharia," Mr Al Nuaimi said. "They all do - but there are different services in all of them."

The 1985 law stated that it was the responsibility of the Ministry of Islamic affairs to oversee the committee's work - but shortly after the law's passage, the law foundered as the ministry was turned into the General Authority of Islamic Affairs.

That change, Mr Al Nuaimi said, left the execution and responsibility of the law lost at the federal level, prompting him to start with the Ministry of Finance and ask them who will take the responsibility of the new committee.

The Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Al Tayer, passed the question to the Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry of Justice referred the question to Cabinet, which referred it to the Central Bank, which referred it back to the Ministry of Justice, which referred it back to Cabinet, which verbally told the FNC to pass the question back to Mr Al Tayer.

He, as well as the governor of the Central Bank, Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidi, both attended last week's FNC session.

While Mr Al Tayer continued to state that the new committee was not his ministry's responsibility, Mr Al Suwaidi stressed that the committee was needed.

"We agree, and we see importance for the execution of this law," Mr Al Suwaidi said. "[Especially] in the light of the difference in practice of the banks, and the difference in their customer relations."

He said the Central Bank does not have to monitor bank operations, and another entity is needed to take on this role.

Mr Al Nuaimi cited the constitution to defend his argument that the Central Bank was the one that should be in charge of the new committee.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and FNC Affairs, then said responsibility will be distributed between more than one entity.

"We want this to be established soon," Mr Al Nuaimi stressed again.

Mr Al Tayer said the ministry has formed a committee, headed by the minister of finance, to look over all laws passed in the 1980s and not yet executed. He said that in light of the economic crisis, many laws required follow-up.

Mohamed Al Murr, a Dubai member who is the speaker of the FNC, told Mr Al Tayer that he hoped the ministry would follow through on these laws as "they are important to Emiratis and the financial sector".

But as the debate ended there, the problem was left unresolved.

Mr Al Nuaimi said that at the FNC's next session, on April 17, he will ask the council to vote on raising a recommendation to Cabinet that the Central Bank take ownership and execute the law - "especially since the governor is in support of this committee".

The consequence of a lack of regulation is that many consumers are reluctant to employ Sharia banking.

Bassma Mohamed, a 25-year-old Muslim in Abu Dhabi, has refused to open an account with an Islamic bank.

"I studied banking at UAE University, and the system followed by the Islamic bank is not much different than other commercial banks," she said. "I don't trust that they are Sharia-compliant, seeing that they are all different."