As the editor of this Bulletin, I once again welcome all the readers and contributors with great warmth and appreciation. As you know, this is our first issue for the year 2012. For many people, the beginning of a new year is a time for personal reflection, hopes for the future, and plans for the way forward. Thus, this is an appropriate time for the Bulletin to take an opportunity to reflect upon one aspect of the state of Islamic finance and steps for the way forward by discussing the role of women in the field. It is a broad topic; thus, this issue will cover the spectrum of niches available for women in the world of Islamic finance, including takaful products specially tailored for women, women employed in the industry, and a fatwa by the eminent Shaykh Yusuf Qaradawi on women working in the public arena, and more.
This issue also discusses a prominent Egyptian scholar of the late nineteenth century, Mohamed Qadri Pasha, who produced an important summary of Islamic transactions known as The Guide for the Confused to Understand the Circumstances of the Human Being. Since not many Nusantara scholars have devoted research to Qadri Pasha’s contributions, this presents an opportunity to raise awareness and provide background on the importance of Pasha’s thought in the development of Islamic finance. This issue of the Bulletin will appear thicker, as various topics are discussed more extensively; in addition, another section has been added: ISRA publication updates. Your feedback, suggestions, and input are welcome.
Shabana M. Hasan
Editor of ISRA Bulletin / Researcher
Can be contacted at [email protected]
