Economist Weekly – Islamic Finance and IT

This week extract from my favorite magazine focus on two subject I like a lot.

The first subject is Islamic Banking with two great articles. The first provides a quick back-ground history to better understand where it comes from and a quick glimpse at how faith-based finance work. The second focus on the struggle to reconcile savings and souls and the constant dilemma to between faith and finance. Very interesting read – I highly recommend both.

I personally like Islamic Finance. I see it as a great marketing strategy and a great opportunity to set Islam and Muslims on a path of discussion and exchange. It may be a door to more progressivism in Islam. But in order to succeed, slamic scholars should only define the right and what is wrong of a specific product or fund. They should always seek the collaboration of economists who truly understands the financial and  economic aspect of things in oder to prevent disillusions. I think Malaysia understood that with its “National Sharia Board”. If they can do that, then Islamic Finance has a bright future ahead.

The second subject is IT with a great report on technology and how it revolutionize how the world is working and thinking. 18 articles, 18 different ideas, 18 inspirations. This kind of report always haunt me for a few days after I finish reading them. So many great ideas to explore and think about. It really  help broadening my scope of understanding. Great stuff!