KUALA LUMPUR -

ISLAMIC banking has largely escaped the fallout from the global financial crisis.

Thanks to rules that forbid the sort of risky business that is felling mainstream institutions.

But experts say that because of its heavy reliance on property funds and private equity, the booming 1.0 trillion dollar global industry could be hit if the turmoil worsens and real assets start to crumble. 'In the current financial turmoil, it is fascinating to note that Islamic financing may have prevented a majority of the mess made by the square banking and financial institutions,' Kuwait Finance House said in a report.

'The outlook for Islamic financing is bright and will likely take the lead in terms of providing funding for major projects as the square banking system reevaluates its business model.

' The rules of Islamic banking and finance -

which incorporate principles of sharia or Islamic law – read like a how-to guide on avoiding the kind of disaster that is currently gripping world markets.

Islamic law prohibits the payment and collection of interest, which is seen as a form of gambling, so highly complex instruments such as derivatives and other creative accounting practices are banned.

Transactions must be backed by real assets – not shady repackaged subprime mortgages – and because risk is shared between the bank and the depositor there is an incentive for the institutions to ensure the deal is sound. Investors have a right to know how their funds are being used, and the sector is overseen by dedicated supervisory boards as well as the usual national regulatory creation.

'Islamic banking has, thus far, remained positive, despite the current challenging global financial background,' said Mr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the central bank governor of Malaysia, which is Southeast Asia's leader in Islamic banking. Mr Zeti said this month that because of the slowing global economy, plans for Islamic 'sukuk' bonds had been postponed or scrapped by companies including Kuwait's Abyaar Real Estate Enhancement and Malaysia's Perisai Petroleum.

And Ms Jennifer Chang, a partner at Pricewaterhouse Coopers in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, said that given the extent of the global crisis, Islamic banks may suffer hurt despite their strong position.'Islamic banks, especially in the Middle East, got heavily into private equity and real estate funds, and a lot of loans may be backed by properties.

So if the property market goes down, there will be an impact,' she said. 'If a borrower is not able to pay then the bank will foreclose and the question is – can you sell the property in the market and at what value?

These are issues which all banks can face.'There have been calls for the square banking industry to take a leaf out of the book of Islamic finance, which also shuns funds in gaming, alcohol and pornography in favour of ethical funds.

Influential Sunni cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi earlier this month called on Muslims to take advantage of the turmoil to build an economic system well-matched with Islamic principles. 'The collapse of the capitalist system based on usury and paper and not on goods traded on the market is proof that it is in crisis and shows that Islamic economic philosophy is holding up,' said the Egyptian-born, Qatar-based cleric.

In recent years the sector has broken out of its niche and been embraced by mainstream banks. As well as basic bank deposits and investment accounts, it has expanded into areas including equity funds, bonds and Islamic hedge funds. Mr Abhishek Kumar, a senior research analyst at Financial Insights, a company under market research and analysis firm Global Data Corp (IDC), said recent events may further boost the sector.

'More and more institutions will be attracted in providing Islamic services to diversify their risk portfolio,' he said, while warning that in the current financial storm there were no absolutely safe harbours. 'We're not really sure what the real extent of the impact is, and whether we've passed the worst of it or not, But the extent is not going to be as terrible as in the mainstream sector,' he said. – 

This is a clue as to why there is a war against Islam.

If you want to know the truth about anything – follow the money trail !