Islamic Contracts for Home Financing: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Home financing is widely needed by many people across different countries. Through the years, Islamic banks have developed several models for home financing to address the growing demand from customers. Two products that Islamic banks use extensively are Murabahah and Bay Bithaman Ajil (BBA) which in practice have similar characteristics to their conventional counterparts, which leads to criticism from Islamic scholars. Alternative Islamic home financing schemes that have been introduced to the market in recent years include Musharakah Mutanaqisah (MM), Ijarah Muntahiya Bit Tamlik (IMBT) and Istisna. These three financial products have different features that could overcome the weaknesses of Murabahah and Bay Bithaman Ajil. However, these three financial contracts are not without limitations. This paper provides a theoretical overview of these contracts. Further studies should discuss more practical issues that could promote the use of these contracts.