Al Baraka Islamic Economics Forum has started its activities as a Shariah, banking and economics think tank, which represents a corner stone for developing the Islamic Economics and Islamic banking from both technical and Figh perspectives. This symposium is regularly held each Ramadan. Where renowned and famous Shariah scholars, bankers and experts discuss some modern banking transactions and issue some Shariah opinions (Fatwas) and recommendations for the enhancement and enrichment of Islamic banking, and solving its problems. The symposium had been held since its first inception in Madinah 1981 and up-to-date in different cities, including Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, and Jeddah in addition to Damascus, Cairo, Kuala Lumpur, Beirut, Istanbul, Tunis, Algeria and Amman. The resolutions and recommendations issued by Al Baraka Symposium for Islamic Economics represented a scientific & basic reference, and database which feed researches and Fatwas of Shariah boards of Islamic banks, Islamic financial institutions, Figh academies, and different organizations and agencies around the globe. Moreover the symposium’s recommendations and resolutions thereof, were a foundation base for the establishment of many Islamic institutions’ fatwas and recommendations. Iqraa Waqf for employment and Business Expansion has been in charge of organizing this symposium. From its crucial objective is serving the Islamic economy at large, via a new vision focusses on the role of the financial factor as a platform for achievement of development and jobs creation, under the slogan: “Development of land and employment of people” The symposium will concentrate on macro issues, such as employment, unemployment, the fair monetary theory… etc. along with the Islamic banking issues, the noted objectives of Albaraka symposium on the Islamic Economics are the following:
- Figuring out the ideal economic solutions for the difficulties and problems that faced Muslim communities, the aforesaid solutions should be based on the economic theory and practices of Islamic economy, as well as encouraging scientific researches in Islamic Economy and to raise awareness of the said economy.
- Organization and development of the economic process on both dimensions the financial and trading, in accordance with modern and sophisticated means, and raising investment’s awareness and business orientation among all categories of the Muslim community.
- Concentration more on the comprehensive Islamic economy’s’ concept, in order to achieve development and jobs creations for Muslim communities.
- Knowledge of Figh’s opinion with regard to recent and modern forms of economic and financial transactions as practiced within Islamic banking.
- Promotion of Islamic economies industry globally, so as to be an integrated institutionalized industry and complaint with the objectives of Shariah principles.
- Presentation of problems faced by Islamic banks that arise when applying different Islamic financial modes, and exchange views with specialized scholars and how to solve them.
- Linking Figh (Ijtihad) to our modern economic issues and supporting the Islamic Economic theory, visa-a-vis other theories.
- Enrichment of banking Figh literature and the Islamic Economy’s library with profound discussions and new Fatwas issued by renowned Muslim scholars.
- Provision of update statistics, latest information, and studies that show the volume of transactions in different economic activities, which in turn provide an important indicator that help and facilitate economic planning.
- Fulfillment of the current requirements of the Islamic banks and Islamic Financial institutions in the field of Islamic banking theory and its applications within Sharia principles.
- Provision of scientific references for researches, and Shariah (Fatwas) committees, as well as Shariah panels.
- Development of Islamic financial products which complaint with technical & Shariah requirements.