How Islamic is the diminishing musharakah model used for home financing?

Hasan, Zubair (2016): How Islamic is the diminishing musharakah model used for home financing?

Abstract

For financing consumer durables like houses, cars or computers, conventional banks use what are called the equated monthly installment (EMI) models. EMI is the fixed payment a borrower makes to a lender to pay off both interest and principal each month so that over a specified number of years, the loan is cleared off in full. Islamic banks have followed suit using EMI on diminishing musharakah partnership basis. The model is popularly known as the MMP abbreviating its Arabic nomenclature. The defining character of this model is increasing amortization of capital through a customer buy back provision in the agreement. I have shown more than once that models of the sort invariably involve compounding of return on capital and pass the ownership of property to the client at a lower rate than the rate of capital amortization until the contract is concluded. This paper provides additional evidence and documentation to reinforce the contention that on both counts the MMP violates Shari’ah requirements and may be replaced with the model we propose to escape the non-compliance; there are additional advantages as well.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Home financing, law and economics; Islamic baking, Shari’ah permissibility Home financing, law and economics; Islamic baking, Shari’ah permissibility Home financing, law and economics; Islamic baking, Shari’ah permissibility Home financing, law and economics; Islamic baking, Shari’ah permissibility Home financing, law and economics; Islamic baking, Shari’ah permissibility hOME FINANCING; Law and economics, Islamic banks, Shari'ah admissibility; constructive possession
• Subjects: G - Financial Economics > G2 - Financial Institutions and Services; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M2 - Business Economics > M21 - Business Economics

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