Islamic banking and finance in Canada
The demand for Islamic banking and finance has grown in Canada due to the growing Muslim population[1] in the country who want to avoid riba and other financial practices in violation of sharia. These sharia-compliant financial products are not offered by main financial institutions and, thus, small financial companies are major players. However, major companies like WealthSimple are starting to embrace the idea.[2]
Islamic Mortgage
[edit]History
[edit]A Toronto-based financial company UM Financial started giving Sharia-compliant loans to Muslims in 2005 in partnership with Central 1 Credit Union of Vancouver. The company planned to offer no-interest MasterCard as well.[3] UM financial was ordered to go into receivership by the Ontario Superior Court on October 7, 2011.[4] Omar Kalair and Yusuf Panchbaya of UM Financial were charged by RCMP for $4.3-million mortgage fraud, but both men were acquitted of all counts contained in the indictment in Ontario Superior Court June 7, 2019.[5]
Islamic Mortgage in the main stream
[edit]The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to bring halal mortgages into financial regulatory system.[6]
Islamic financial products
[edit]Mortgage products
[edit]Company | Islamic model | Year of Inception | Funder | Funding from Banks/ Credit Unions | Serving province | Sharia Standards | Sharia Certification | External Review | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IjaraCDC Canada | Ijarah-wa-Iqtina | 2008 | Yes | AMJA [7] Ebrahim Desai[8] | [1] | ||||
Aya Financial | Diminishing | Yes | Ontario | Ebrahim Desai[9] | [2] | ||||
Zero Mortgage | Diminishing | Yes | Ebrahim Desai[10] | [3] | |||||
Manzil | Murabaha | 2019 | Manzil Mortgage Fund | No | Ontario | AAOIFI | Ebrahim Desai[11] | [4] | |
Manzil | DiminishingMusharakah | 2019 | Manzil Mortgage Fund | No | AAOIFI | Ebrahim Desai[12] | [5] | ||
Eqraz | Murabaha | 2022 | All provinces except Quebec | AAOIFI | [6] | ||||
Canadian Halal Finance Corporation | Murabaha
Diminishing |
2021 | Alberta | [7] | |||||
Halal Homes | Murabaha
Diminishing |
Alberta | [8] | ||||||
Murabaha Homes | Murabaha | [9] | |||||||
An-Nur Co-operative | Co-operative | [10] | |||||||
Ansar Co-operative | Diminishing | 1980 | Co-operative | Ontario | Ebrahim Desai[13][14][15] | [11] | |||
Interest-Free Housing (Formerly ISNA Housing) | 2008 | Co-operative | [12] | ||||||
Al Ehsaan Housing | Diminishing | Co-operative | Saskatchewan | [13] | |||||
Qurtuba Housing Coop | Diminishing | Co-operative | Quebec | [14] | |||||
Assiniboine Credit Union | Diminishing | Credit Union | Yes | Manitoba | [15] |
Investment products
[edit]Product | Type | First year of offering | Company | Available through | MER | Sharia Certification | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wealthsimple Shariah World Equity Index ETF (WSHR) | Exchange-traded fund (ETF) | 2020 | WealthSimple | gold ETF 0.18%, equity ETF 0.5% [16] | Ratings Intelligence [17] | [16] | |
Wahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF (HLAL) | Exchange-traded fund (ETF) | 2019 | Wahed Invest | 0.5% [18] | [17] | ||
The SP Funds S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions ETF (SPUS) | Exchange-traded fund (ETF) | 2019 | SP Funds | 0.49% | [18] | ||
SP Funds Dow Jones Global Sukuk ETF (SPSK) | Exchange-traded fund (ETF) | SP Funds | [19] | ||||
The SP Funds S&P Global REIT Sharia ETF (SPRE) | Exchange-traded fund (ETF) | SP Funds | [20] | ||||
Global Iman Fund (IMANX) | Mutual Fund | 2008 | Global Growth Assets | [21] | |||
Manzil Mortgage Fund (MANZL) | Mortgage Fund | 2019 | Manzil | Manzil/ CI Direct | 1.5% [19] | [22] | |
Sukak - Term Deposit | Mortgage Fund | 2019 | AYA Financial | Moya Financial | [23] |
Roboadvisors/ Investments Managers
[edit]Some institutions have started offering accounts including Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) etc.
Company | First Year of Offering | Fees | Minimum Investment | External Review | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manzil (through CI Direct) | 2019 | 0.6% | [24] | ||
Assad Wealth Management at IG Wealth Management | 2004 | 0.6% to 1.35% | $50,000 | [25] | |
ShariaPortfolio | 2020 | 0.5 to 2% | [26] | ||
Wealthsimple Invest | 2021 | 0.4 to 0.5% | No mimimum | [27] | |
Global Growth Assets | 2008 | Global News [20] | [28] | ||
Canadian Islamic Wealth | [29] |
See also
[edit]- Islamic banking and finance
- Islamic finance products, services and contracts
- Challenges in Islamic finance
- Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI)
References
[edit]- ^ Hejazi, Walid; Sawwaf, Mohamad (2020-04-15). "Opinion: Embracing Islamic finance presents an opportunity for Canada". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
- ^ "Mackenzie Investments Partners with Wealthsimple to Launch Canada's First Shariah-Compliant ETF". Bloomberg.com (Press release). Canada Newswire. 12 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ Mathieu, Emily (12 April 2010). "No-interest MasterCard aims at devout Muslims". Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
- ^ "Islamic mortgage lender's woes leave clients in lurch". CBC News. 20 October 2011. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved Nov 4, 2021.
- ^ Ha, Tu Thanh (2014-02-19). "RCMP charge missing Toronto financier with $4.3-million mortgage fraud". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ Takagi, Andy (2024-04-20). "What is a halal mortgage? Here's what you need to know about why Canada is considering them". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ "AMJA Resident Fatwa Committee resolution about Islamic Home Financing Companies in the US. | AMJA Online". Archived from the original on 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "Fatwas by Mufti Ebrahim Desai » Askimam". Askimam. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ "Fatwas by Mufti Ebrahim Desai » Askimam". askimam.org. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ "Fatwas by Mufti Ebrahim Desai » Askimam". askimam.org. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ "Fatwas by Mufti Ebrahim Desai » Askimam". askimam.org. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ "Fatwas by Mufti Ebrahim Desai » Askimam". askimam.org. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ "Fatwas by Mufti Ebrahim Desai » Askimam". askimam.org. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ "Fatwas by Mufti Ebrahim Desai » Askimam". askimam.org. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ "Fatwas by Mufti Ebrahim Desai » Askimam". askimam.org. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
- ^ "Halal Investing". Wealthsimple. Archived from the original on 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ Ratings Intelligence. "Shari'a Control Committee, Certificate of Sharia – Audit" (PDF). Wealthsimple. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ WealthBar Financial Services. "Online Wealth Management". CI Direct Investing. Archived from the original on 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ WealthBar Financial Services. "Online Wealth Management". CI Direct Investing. Archived from the original on 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
- ^ O'Shea, Sean (26 November 2020). "RESP customers complain about delays accessing money". Global News. Archived from the original on 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2021-11-07.