- Dual Role: Scholar & Auditor
You serve both as a Head Mufti issuing religious verdicts and as an Islamic finance advisor/auditor through IFAAS. How do you personally manage the transition between issuing a non-binding fatwa and providing a professional, legally-defensible Shariah audit opinion? Is there ever a tension between scholarly flexibility and assurance rigidity?
At first glance, the two roles may seem different, but I see them as complementary rather than conflicting. Classical juristic texts did not always address the complexities of modern Islamic finance directly, yet our predecessors engaged with the commercial realities of their time and applied established Shariah principles to emerging issues. That same approach remains essential today.
As a Mufti, I issue fatwas that provide religious guidance based on the principles of Islamic law. As a Shariah advisor and auditor, my responsibility is to ensure that products and institutions comply with those principles through structured governance and professional assurance. One role provides guidance, while the other ensures implementation.
I concluded my role with IFAAS and recently accepted an offer to serve on the Board of Qantara, the Islamic investment platform of Aluma Private Capital, I hope, God willing, to contribute to Shariah governance, compliance, and the development of innovative Islamic investment products as the appointment process progresses.
- Halaal Industry Lessons for Islamic Finance
You have advised the National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT) for over 13 years. The Halaal certification industry faces challenges like cross-border standard harmonization and brand trust. What specific governance lessons from the Halaal sector can be directly applied to strengthening Shariah compliance in Islamic banking in Southern Africa?
The National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT) plays a significant role in South Africa’s economy by certifying and auditing hundreds of manufacturers, restaurants, and food producers, both locally and internationally, ensuring that products comply with Shariah requirements. This not only gives consumers confidence in the food they consume but also contributes to trade and Islamic economic growth.
For over 13 years, my role has been to research complex Shariah issues and provide guidance on whether products and ingredients are permissible for consumption. This experience has reinforced an important principle: Islam requires both our earnings and our consumption to be halal. Just as Islamic finance ensures that wealth is earned through Shariah-compliant means, Halaal certification ensures that the food purchased with that wealth is also lawful. Together, they form two complementary pillars of a complete Islamic economic system.
The greatest governance lesson the Halaal industry offers Islamic finance is that Shariah compliance must be a continuous process rather than a once-off certification. Just as Halaal certification requires ongoing inspections, audits, independent oversight, and public trust, Islamic financial institutions require robust Shariah governance, regular Shariah audits, transparency, and accountability. These principles are essential for strengthening confidence in Islamic banking across Southern Africa.
- Educating the Next Generation
With over 13 years as a Mufti and Educator at SOUTH AFRICAN ISLAMIC COLLEGE (Current) what is the single biggest gap you have observed in how Islamic finance is taught to future scholars versus how it is practiced in commercial banks? How should the curriculum change?
The biggest gap is the disconnect between theory and practice. Traditional Islamic institutions teach the rich classical texts of Kitab al-Buyu’ and Islamic commercial law in great depth, but many students are not exposed to modern financial products, contracts, and the practical workings of today’s Islamic finance industry. As a result, some even question the relevance of studying these classical texts.
Conversely, many modern Islamic finance programmes focus heavily on contemporary products and regulations while giving little attention to the classical juristic foundations. This creates professionals who understand current practices but lack the depth to address new challenges through authentic Islamic jurisprudence.
The ideal curriculum should bridge both worlds grounding students firmly in the classical texts while exposing them to real-world Islamic banking, investment products, Shariah governance, and practical case studies. That combination will produce scholars who are both academically rooted and professionally relevant.
- The Public Speaking & PR Reality
Your top skills include Public Speaking and Public Relations. In your experience, what is the most common misconception about Islamic finance among South African Muslims themselves (not just non-Muslims), and how do you address it in your public engagements to build genuine trust rather than just marketing?
One of the most common misconceptions among South African Muslims is that Islamic finance is merely conventional finance with different terminology. I address this by explaining that in Islamic law, the wording, structure, and underlying nature of a contract are fundamental to its ruling. Our classical juristic texts provide many examples where a change in the form and substance of a contract leads to a completely different legal outcome.
Similarly, Islamic finance is not simply about changing names it is about changing the contractual relationship, the allocation of risk, and the ethical foundations of the transaction. Through education and practical examples, I aim to build informed trust based on understanding rather than marketing.
- IFAAS Internship to Expert
You completed an internship with IFAAS (Islamic Finance Advisory & Assurance Services) in the UK in July 2024. What is one practical, technical skill you gained there (e.g., in Shariah review of internal controls or reporting under AAOIFI standards) that your traditional Darul Uloom education did not fully prepare you for?
IFAAS provided me invaluable exposure to the practical side of the Islamic finance industry. While my traditional Darul Uloom education equipped me with strong foundations in Islamic jurisprudence, legal reasoning, and research, IFAAS allowed me to apply those principles within real institutional settings.
The most valuable skill I gained was understanding how Shariah governance, advisory, and auditing operate in practice—reviewing products, assessing compliance, and evaluating operational processes within financial institutions. It bridged the gap between classical knowledge and industry application, demonstrating how sound fiqh can be implemented through structured governance and professional standards.
- Southern Africa’s Unique Market
Unlike the Gulf or Malaysia, South Africa has a common law legal system and a minority Muslim population. From your vantage point at Sunni Ulama Council Gauteng, what is the most creative or practical way to enforce Shariah contractual terms (e.g., in a Murabaha or Ijarah contract) within South Africa’s secular courts when a dispute arises?
South Africa has made significant progress in recognising Islamic banking and finance, and many Islamic contracts, such as Murabaha, Mudarabah, and Ijarah, are already accepted within the legal and regulatory framework. The next step is to continue developing a deeper understanding of these contracts within the legal and accounting professions.
During my participation in the Banking Association South Africa (BASA) Development Programme, this was one of the important discussions, and encouraging work is already underway. Where disputes arise, the contractual documentation and Shariah governance framework should provide sufficient guidance for legal practitioners and the courts. As a Head Mufti with expertise in Islamic finance, I believe scholars have an important role in assisting legal professionals to understand the Shariah principles underlying these contracts whenever expert guidance is required.
- Scholar + Postgraduate Finance Training
You completed a Postgraduate Degree in Islamic Finance, Banking & Law at Regent Business School. How did that formal business school training change the way you approach your role as Head Mufti when reviewing complex financial products? Did it create any friction with more classically-trained peers?
I have not experienced any significant friction with classically trained scholars. On the contrary, there is an increasing appreciation that today’s scholars should understand both the classical legal tradition and the realities of the modern financial world. I have found that the community and fellow scholars value this combination, as it allows Islamic guidance to be both authentic and relevant.
- Risk & Reputation in Shariah Advisory
As an auditor, you are trained to spot risk. What is the most common operational risk you see in small to mid-sized Islamic finance windows or products in South Africa that could lead to a major Shariah non-compliance event? And how do you advise institutions to mitigate it without stifling business?
The most common operational risk is weak implementation rather than weak product design. A Shariah-compliant product can become non-compliant if staff do not follow the approved process correctly. The solution is regular Shariah training, continuous monitoring, and periodic audits, ensuring compliance without hindering business growth.
- Timeline: Educator to June 2025
Your role at the South African Islamic College ends in June 2025. Are you moving fully into the Islamic finance assurance and advisory space? If so, what single strategic change would you advocate for in how Shariah scholars are compensated or governed to reduce conflicts of interest (e.g., scholar sitting on multiple bank boards)?
Firstly, I would like to clarify that there is an error in the timeline. I continue to lecture at the South African Islamic College (Darul Uloom Pretoria).
Regarding Shariah governance, I believe scholars should serve only on the number of boards to which they can genuinely dedicate sufficient time and expertise. When the same scholars occupy numerous boards, it limits opportunities for well-qualified emerging scholars and reduces diversity of thought, which is essential for innovation in Islamic finance. More importantly, it becomes difficult for one individual to fully understand the operational realities of multiple institutions and provide effective guidance. Limiting board appointments according to a scholar’s capacity ultimately strengthens Shariah governance and benefits the industry as a whole.
- Advice for a New Shariah Student
Imagine a fresh Alim graduate who wants to become a credible Islamic finance auditor/advisor like you, but has no business background. What is the first non-religious skill (accounting, legal drafting, risk management, etc.) they must master, and why has that skill proven indispensable in your own 13+ years of work?
A newly qualified Aalim should first build a strong understanding of modern Islamic finance through a recognised programme, such as a postgraduate qualification in Islamic Finance and Banking. Traditional Islamic scholarship provides the essential Shariah foundation, but additional training is needed to understand contemporary financial products and institutions.
For those aspiring to become Shariah advisors, this is an excellent starting point. However, if one wishes to lead an Islamic financial institution as a CEO, CFO, or senior executive, then knowledge of accounting, management, and legal drafting becomes equally important. In my experience, combining classical Islamic scholarship with these professional skills enables a scholar to contribute far more effectively to the growth and governance of the Islamic finance industry.