Ruling on investing in the al-Baraka Banking Group

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
There is a banking group called al-Baraka Banking Group (www.albaraka.bh). Is it permissible to invest in their programs and use their financial products? This group appears to be an Islamic bank. What is the ruling on joining and dealing with this group?
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Check below answers in case you are looking for other related questions:

Answer:
Praise be to Allah

The al-Baraka Banking Group adheres in its programs and goals to Islamic sharee‘ah, and contributes to reviving and propagating Islamic banking. It has a sharee‘ah board that supervises activities. 

Therefore the basic principle is that it is permissible to invest in its programs and products, so long as there does not appear to be anything wrong in any of those programs, in which case one should avoid investing or dealing in those programs. 

We only say this because in some Islamic banks there are some things that are contrary to Islam, such as organized tawarruq involving metals , or stipulating a penalty for any delay in credit card payments or some irregularities in muraabahah transactions, or stipulating that a percentage be paid when making withdrawals with one’s credit card. Statements have been issued by the Islamic Fiqh Council that these transactions are haraam, but the group referred to had adhered to the opinion of their Sharee‘ah Board concerning them. Hence we cannot rule that all transactions done by Islamic banks are valid. However the basic principle is that transactions are permissible, but one should be prudent and ask about the transactions that are subject to differences of opinion, such as those referred to above. 

And Allah knows best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Related Answers:

Recommended answers for you: