Islamic Financial Literacy and issues concerning Islamic Investment Practices

Research activities centres around a diverse range of issues related to Islamic Finance. Two areas of particular interest stand out for mention as the title suggests. The first examines the level of financial literacy among Australian Muslim adults and school students as no such studies exists globally. While much is known about literacy levels within conventional finance concerning different cohorts of communities and countries, the lack of empirical studies means no observations may be made about literacy levels about Islamic finance within and outside Muslim communities. We are analysing data collected within an Australian setting on this issue and concurrently collaboratively engaged with colleagues in Indonesia and Malaysia to replicate this study. The methodology employed in this research mimics that employed in large-scale conventional studies and in tandem, considered sufficiently robust to longitudinal study. 

The second research area takes on two dimensions: (a) financial planning within the realm of shariah compliance and (b) quantitative analyses of Islamic and Ethical investment funds. The first focuses on self-managed superannuation funds and investment opportunities aligned to shariah complaint stocks and sukuk instruments. The second area follows on from Dr Mahmood Nathie's PhD research that extends the research to both Islamic and conventional socially responsible investment funds. Both areas are relevant to investment opportunities available to Muslim investors given the pace at which the industry is advancing and unfolding globally.