
Sharia-compliant funds are investment funds that adhere to the principles of Islamic law and are governed by the requirements of Shariah law. These funds are considered a type of socially responsible investing and are not restricted to only Muslim investors. Shariah-compliant funds have specific limitations on the types of companies they can invest in, such as excluding companies involved in alcohol, gambling, and pork production. They also prohibit investing in companies with excessive debt and usury (riba). With the increasing popularity of Shariah-compliant funds, Muslims can now explore investment options that align with their religious beliefs, including index funds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of fund | Socially responsible investment fund |
| Governing law | Shariah law, or Islamic law |
| Suitability | For those seeking long-term capital growth, and interested in investing in equity and equity securities |
| Prohibited investments | Interest, companies that harm people or the environment, weapons, alcohol, gambling, conventional interest-based financial services, pork and pork products, and pornography |
| Popular categories | Real estate, exchange-traded funds, private equity, technology, healthcare, industrials, consumer defensive, and consumer cyclical |
| Advantages | Broad market exposure, very low operating costs and risk, conservative approach that appeals to risk-averse investors |
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What You'll Learn

Sharia-compliant funds
Muslims have specific limitations on the types of funds they can invest in according to Islamic law. Sharia-compliant funds allow them to invest within these boundaries. For example, under Sharia law, money is considered merely a medium of exchange with no intrinsic value, so it cannot be used to generate more money. Therefore, interest is prohibited in all transactions, and any interest earned from disinvestments must be returned to clients.
Sharia supervisory boards, composed of Islamic scholars of finance, have the power to verify if portfolio holdings are Sharia-compliant. These boards also interpret and implement Islamic law, which can be time-consuming due to the varying interpretations of the scholars.
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What Muslims can invest in
Sharia-compliant funds are investment funds that adhere to the requirements of Islamic law and the principles of the Islamic religion. Muslims who want to invest are limited by their religion in the types of funds they can put their money in. Sharia-compliant funds are considered a form of socially responsible investment.
Sharia-compliant mutual funds are a type of investment fund that adheres to the moral code of Islam. These funds enable Muslim investors to participate in the market while also strictly adhering to the principles of Sharia law. Sharia-compliant mutual funds prohibit investing in companies that manufacture or sell products that are harmful to others, such as weapons, tobacco, alcohol, and pork. They also cannot invest in companies that are harmful to the environment or promote explicit content, betting, or related military goods.
Muslims are also not allowed to invest in companies that deal with Riba, which is considered a direct war against God according to the Quran. As a result, Sharia-compliant funds prohibit all forms of interest. Sharia boards, composed of Islamic scholars, avoid forbidden sources of income by distributing them to charity.
Some examples of Sharia-compliant mutual funds include the Nippon India ETF, which allocates funds to securities from the Nifty50 Sharia Index, and the Taurus Ethical Fund, which invests in equity and equity-related instruments in accordance with Sharia law. These funds are suitable for investors seeking long-term capital growth while adhering to Islamic investment principles.
In addition to mutual funds, Muslims can also invest in real estate, private equity, and exchange-traded funds while adhering to Sharia law.
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What they can't invest in
Sharia-compliant funds are investment funds that adhere to the requirements of Shariah law and the principles of the Islamic religion. Muslims have specific limitations on the types of funds they can invest in.
Sharia law, broadly translated as 'clear path' or 'way to the original source', governs the day-to-day life of those following the Islamic tradition, including financial activities like investing. Sharia-compliant funds are considered a type of socially responsible investment.
Muslims are expected to avoid interest or 'Riba'. The Quran states that anyone who engages with Riba has engaged himself in a war against God. Therefore, Muslims are not allowed to invest in companies that deal with Riba. Sharia-compliant funds prohibit all forms of interest.
Muslims cannot invest in anything that could harm other people (either physically or emotionally) or harm the environment. They also cannot invest in companies that promote weapons, alcohol, abusive drugs, pork products, gambling, pornography, or other such products.
Private equity is considered a good investment, but carried interest is considered a problem within Sharia law. Derivatives and companies with high debts are not included in Sharia-compliant funds. These funds also avoid investment in fixed-income instruments and financial services like banks and insurance companies.
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Halal investing
Islamic principles require that investors share in profit and loss, that they receive no interest (riba), and that they do not invest in businesses that violate the core tenets of Islam. These include companies in the alcohol, adult entertainment, gambling, weapons manufacturing, traditional finance, and pork products industries. Many Islamic scholars also advise against investing in the tobacco industry.
Shariah-compliant funds are governed by the requirements of Shariah law and the principles of the Islamic religion. These funds are considered a type of socially responsible investing and are well-suited for those looking for long-term capital growth. Popular categories of investment for Shariah-compliant funds include real estate, exchange-traded funds, and private equity.
To ensure that their investments are halal, Muslims often rely on guidance from Islamic scholars, who interpret Islamic law as it applies to business activities. Some financial advisory firms take a different approach, allowing a maximum of 5% revenue from impermissible areas with the understanding that any money derived from non-halal sources will be given to charity.
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Sharia boards
The scholars on these boards may have differing interpretations of Islamic law, which can make it challenging to reach a consensus on a particular course of action. For example, while private equity is considered a good investment, carried interest is seen as problematic within Shariah law.
These boards ensure that funds do not invest in companies or activities that are considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam. This includes businesses involved in the production or marketing of alcohol, gambling, conventional interest-based financial services, pork and pork products, and pornography.
By seeking guidance from Sharia boards, Muslim investors can make informed decisions about their investments, aligning their financial choices with their religious beliefs and values.
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Frequently asked questions
Sharia-compliant funds are investment funds that adhere to the principles of Islamic law. They are considered a type of socially responsible investment.
Sharia law places restrictions on the types of funds Muslims can invest in. Muslims are encouraged to avoid any investment deals that involve paying or receiving interest. They are also not allowed to invest in companies that deal in Riba (interest), or that could harm others or the environment.
Sharia-compliant index funds offer broad market exposure with very low operating costs and risk. They provide an opportunity for Muslims to maximise their investments while adhering to Islamic finance principles.
The Nippon India ETF allocates funds into various securities from the Nifty50 Shariah Index. The S&P Dow Jones Indices has also created several Shariah-compliant indexes for Muslim investors.
Yes, Sharia-compliant funds attract both Muslims and non-Muslims due to their ethical focus and potential for strong financial returns.





























