Financial Options in Islamic Contracts: Potential Tools for Risk Management

The paper attempts to undertake an Islamic assessment of financial contracting in the global currency markets. Some basic currency-related contracts in mainstream finance, such as, spot transactions, options, forwards, futures, swaps are examined in the light of Islamic norms of financial ethics, such as, freedom from riba, gharar, jahl, qimar and maisir. The study also highlights the views of Islamic scholars on various conventional as well as Shariah-based contractual mechanisms. In cases where there is some degree of divergence of views, the study examines the nature and source of disagreement as also the implications and economic significance of the arguments. In view of the overwhelming importance of currency risk management in volatile markets, the study undertakes an assessment of the various financial contracts as risk management tools. © Author