The Principles and Practices of Shariah in Islamic Finance

Shariah Standard on
MUDARABAH

BNM/RH/GL 012-4

Islamic Banking and Takaful

Department

Shariah Standard on Mudarabah

Table of Contents
PART A

Overview ........................................................................................ 1

1.

Objective ......................................................................................... 1

2.

Legal provisions .............................................................................. 1

3.

Applicability ..................................................................................... 2

4.

Issuance date.................................................................................. 2

5.

Effective date .................................................................................. 2

6.

Relationship with existing policies ................................................... 3

PART B

Definition and Nature .................................................................... 4

7.

Definition ......................................................................................... 4

8.

Nature of mudarabah ...................................................................... 4

PART C

Components of mudarabah ......................................................... 6

9.

Contracting parties .......................................................................... 6

10.

Management of mudarabah ............................................................ 7

11.

Capital ............................................................................................. 7

12.

Profit.............................................................................................. 10

13.

Loss .............................................................................................. 14

PART D

Arrangement of mudarabah with other contract ...................... 15

14.

Arrangement for guarantee in mudarabah .................................... 15

15.

Arrangement of mudarabah with wadiah, wakalah or

musharakah ............................................................................... 15

16.

Arrangement of mudarabah with hibah or hadiyyah ...................... 16

PART E

Dissolution .................................................................................. 17

17.

Dissolution of mudarabah ............................................................. 17

Appendices.................................................................................................... 18
18.

Appendix 1 Legitimacy of mudarabah ........................................... 18

19.

Appendix 2 Glossary ..................................................................... 19

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PART A

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OVERVIEW

1.

Objective

1.1

The purpose of Shariah Standards is to provide standard on features

of Shariah contracts applicable in Islamic financial transactions. The
document facilitates the understanding of a particular Shariah contract
requirement. The required and optional features specified in the
Standards shall serve as standards for the Islamic financial institution
to apply a particular Shariah contract in developing Islamic financial
products and services. The Standards is expandable to address the
dynamism of Islamic finance activities.

1.2

The provisions in the Shariah Standards is divided into:

(a)

Standards are labelled as (S). Standards are essential

features of a particular Shariah contract as provided under
Shariah and shall be adhered to. Standards are issued
pursuant to substantive provisions in the relevant laws
administered by the Bank and are binding. In the event of noncompliance, the Bank may take enforcement actions.

(b)

Practice Guides are labelled as (PG). Practice Guides are

optional features of a particular Shariah contract as provided
under Shariah and may be implemented.

2.

Legal provisions

2.1

The Shariah Standards is issued pursuant to section 59 of the Central

Bank of Malaysia Act 2009.

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3.

Applicability

3.1

The Shariah Standards is applicable to any Islamic financial institution

carrying Islamic financial business and shall include:
(a)

Islamic banks licensed under the Islamic Banking Act 1983 (IBA);

(b)

Banks licensed under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act

1989 (BAFIA) and approved to carry on Islamic banking business
under section 124 of BAFIA;

(c)

Development

financial

institutions

prescribed

under

the

Development Financial Institutions Act 2002 (DFIA) and approved

to carry on Islamic banking business under section 129 of DFIA;
and
(d)

All takaful operators registered under the Takaful Act 1984.

[All the above institutions are hereafter referred to as Islamic Finance

Institutions (IFIs)].

4.

Issuance date

4.1

The Shariah Standard on Mudarabah is issued on 22 October 2012.

5.

Effective date

5.1

The effective implementation date is 1 January 2014.

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6.

Relationship with existing policies

6.1

The Shariah Standards is issued in accordance to rulings of the

Shariah Advisory Council (SAC) of Bank Negara Malaysia.1

6.2

Shariah Standards is a published ruling of the SAC.

6.3

IFIs shall refer to Shariah Standards document in applying a particular

Shariah contract as part of its implementation of Shariah compliance
function outlined in the Shariah Governance Framework for Islamic
Financial Institutions.

th

The Shariah Standard on Mudarabah was finalized and endorsed in the 127 SAC meeting.

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PART B

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DEFINITION AND NATURE

7.

Definition

7.1

Mudarabah2 is a contract between a capital provider (rabbul mal) and

an entrepreneur (mudarib) under which the rabbul mal provides capital
to be managed by the mudarib and any profit generated from the
capital is shared between the rabbul mal and mudarib according to
mutually agreed profit sharing ratio (PSR) whilst financial losses are
borne by the rabbul mal provided that such losses are not due to the
mudaribs misconduct (ta`addi), negligence (taqsir) or breach of
specified terms (mukhalafah al-shurut).

8.

Nature of mudarabah

8.1

Mudarabah is a contract based on fiduciary relationship (aqd alamanah). Under this principle, mudarib manages the mudarabah asset
in trust and is not liable for the impairment of the asset except for
impairment which is a result of the mudaribs misconduct (ta`addi),
negligence (taqsir) or breach of specified terms (mukhalafah al-shurut).

8.2

Any of the contracting parties has the right to terminate the contract
unilaterally except in the following conditions:
(a)

The mudarib has commenced the work relating to the

management of the capital of the rabbul mal; or

(b)

Contracting parties have agreed to enter into a mudarabah for a

specified time or have agreed not to terminate the contract
within a specified time.

The terms muqaradah and qirad are synonymous to mudarabah.

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Mudarabah is categorized into two types:

(a)

Islamic Banking and

Takaful Department

Unrestricted Mudarabah (Mudarabah Mutlaqah) is a contract in

which the rabbul mal permits the mudarib to manage the
mudarabah capital without any specific restriction.

(b)

Restricted Mudarabah (Mudarabah Muqayyadah)

(i)

A restricted mudarabah is a contract in which the rabbul

mal imposes specific restriction on the mudarabah terms.

(ii)

PG

The rabbul mal may specify conditions restricting the

mudarib such as the determination of location, period for
investment, type of project and commingling of funds.

PG

8.4

The contracting parties may mutually agree to change the type of

mudarabah they have entered into to another type of mudarabah at
any point of time.

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COMPONENTS OF MUDARABAH

9.

Contracting parties

9.1

The contracting parties in mudarabah consist of rabbul mal and

mudarib.

9.2

Rabbul mal and mudarib shall have legal capacity3 to execute contract
including the capacity to perform agency (wakalah) contract either as a
principal or as an agent.

PG

9.3

The contracting parties in mudarabah may be a natural person or a

legal person.

PG

9.4

The contracting parties in a mudarabah contract may involve more

than one mudarib or rabbul mal.

PG

9.5

In the case of mudarabah involving more than one rabbul mal, an

agreement among the rabbul mal may be established whereby:
(a)

An existing rabbul mal agrees to relinquish his right over certain

portion of profit if he withdraws from the mudarabah prior to its
maturity date; and

(b)

A new rabbul mal agrees to assume liability in respect of the

mudarabah which is already in operation prior to his participation.

The legal capacity of a person is defined as capacity to have rights and responsibilities; and
capacity to have legal effect to his action. Among the important conditions are that the person
must possess sound mind and the capacity to distinguish between what is harmful or
beneficial to ones interests.
Legal capacity of a legal entity is defined as eligibility of an entity to acquire rights and
assume responsibilities.

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10.

Management of mudarabah

10.1

Mudarib shall have the right to manage mudarabah venture.

10.2

Mudarib is responsible to ensure proper management of the

mudarabah venture and acts in the interest of the rabbul mal.

10.3

Mandate of the mudarib shall be provided under the terms and

conditions of the contract.

PG

10.4

Mudarib may assign mudarabah capital under his management to

another mudarib in another mudarabah (mudarib yudarib) or to another
manager (wakil) subject to the condition that the consent of rabbul mal
is obtained.

10.5

Rabbul mal shall not involve in managing mudarabah venture but shall
have a right of access to reasonable information regarding the
mudarabah venture.

11.

Capital

11.1

Capital is an asset provided by rabbul mal to the mudarib for the

purpose of mudarabah.

11.2

Mudarabah capital shall be provided by rabbul mal and managed by

the mudarib.

11.3

Mudarabah capital shall be identifiable, readily available and

accessible for mudarib to commence business activities.

PG

11.4

Mudarabah capital may be in the form of cash or in-kind which may

include intangible assets.

11.5

Capital in-kind shall be valued based on the valuation determined by a

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third party which may include experts, valuers or as agreed upon by

the contracting parties at the inception of the contract.
S

11.6

Mudarabah capital denominated in different currencies shall be valued

based on a specific currency agreed by the contracting parties at the
inception of the contract.

11.7

Mudarabah capital shall not be in the form of a debt due to rabbul mal
either from mudarib or a third party.

11.8

All remaining capital shall be returned to the rabbul mal, if any, upon
dissolution or termination of the mudarabah contract.

11.9

Any amount of capital due to rabbul mal under paragraph 11.8 and
profit, if any, shall be deemed as liability due to the rabbul mal.

11.10

The mudarib shall not guarantee the mudarabah capital except in the
case of his misconduct (ta`addi), negligence (taqsir) or breach of
specified terms (mukhalafah al-shurut).

PG

11.11

Rabbul mal and mudarib may agree for a gradual withdrawal of

mudarabah capital by the rabbul mal.

PG

11.12

Mudarib may with the consent of rabbul mal commingle the mudarabah
capital with other investment fund.

11.13

Pursuant to paragraph 11.12, mudarib shall observe the agreed terms

and conditions of the respective contract.

PG

11.14

Mudarib may inject his own fund into the mudarabah capital subject to
the consent of rabbul mal and hence a musharakah contract is formed
between the mudarib (as partner under musharakah) and the
mudarabah venture.

PG

11.15

Mudarabah expenditure may be charged to mudarabah capital.

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The mudarabah expenditure shall be direct expenses that are

identifiable and measurable with regard to a specific investment
activity4.

PG

11.17

The capital may be fully or partially disbursed as per the terms of the
contract.

11.18

The effect of a failure of rabbul mal to provide capital under a

mudarabah contract (defaulting rabbul mal) in the following situations
shall be as follows:

PG

(a)

No capital has been paid.

In this situation, the contracting parties may unilaterally terminate
the contract. If the mudarib has commenced work, the rabbul mal
has to reimburse the mudarib for any mudarabah expenditure
incurred and pay the mudarib fair and reasonable wages or fees.

PG

(b)

Mudarabah contract involving one mudarib and one rabbul

mal with staggered capital payment.
In this situation the contracting parties may, subject to the terms
and conditions of the contract:
(i) revise the mudarabah contract based on the actual capital
provided;
or ,
(ii) terminate the contract and consequently:
a) Mudarib shall return the capital contributed to the rabbul
mal if any and share the profits with the rabbul mal, if any;
and
b) Rabbul mal shall bear the mudarabah expenditure incurred
by mudarib. If the justified mudarabah expenditure

incurred exceeds the actual capital contribution, such

Investment activity in the context of this paragraph refers to Shariah compliant profit
generating activities which may include Shariah compliant provision of finance provided by
mudarib using mudarabah fund.
5
Explanation on mudarabah expenditure is provided under paragraph 11.16

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liability shall be borne by the rabbul mal up to the limit of

the total capital amount committed under the contract.
(c)

PG

Mudarabah contract involving one mudarib and multiple

rabbul mal with single capital payment by each rabbul mal
where one or more rabbul mal failed to pay.
In this situation, the mudarib may agree to terminate the
mudarabah contract with rabbul mal who failed to pay and may
based on agreed terms impose on him to indemnify the
mudarabah venture for any expenses incurred due to his default.

PG

(d)

Mudarabah contract involving one mudarib and multiple

rabbul mal with staggered capital payment by each or some
of the rabbul mal where one or more rabbul mal failed to pay
the subsequent capital.
In this situation, the non-defaulting contracting parties shall have
the following remedies including:
(i)

requiring the defaulting rabbul mal to sell his interest to the

other rabbul mal or a third party;

(ii) the non-defaulting contracting parties may agree to revise the

mudarabah contract based on actual capital paid; or
(iii) the non-defaulting contracting parties may agree to terminate
the mudarabah contract with the defaulting rabbul mal and
may, based on agreed terms, require him to indemnify the
mudarabah venture for any expenses incurred due to his
default.

12.

Profit

12.1

Profit sharing is the primary motive of the mudarabah contract and

therefore it is a fundamental component of the contract.

12.2

Profit is the value created over and above the mudarabah capital which

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is determined based on profit determination method acceptable by

market standard or practices.
S

12.3

The mudarib shall not guarantee any profit.

12.4

Rabbul mal and mudarib shall share profit based on a ratio mutually
agreed between them.

12.5

PSR shall be determined at the inception of the contract. Nonetheless,

PSR may be revised during the tenure of the mudarabah subject to
mutual agreement.

12.6

Mudarabah contract shall not stipulate a pre-determined fixed amount

of profit to one contracting party which deprives the profit share of the
other contracting party.

12.7

The profit in the form of certain percentage shall not be linked to the
mudarabah capital amount.

PG

12.8

Notwithstanding paragraph 12.7, the ex-post performance profit

amount (based on the PSR which had been mutually agreed upon
between the rabbul mal and the mudarib) may be translated into a
fixed percentage yield of the mudarabah capital amount.

PG

12.9

In a multi-tiered mudarabah, two or more profit sharing arrangements

may be agreed upon. In the first tier, rabbul mal and mudarib may
agree on a certain PSR. Whilst in the second tier the rabbul mal
(mudarib in the first tier mudarabah) and the other mudarib may agree
for another PSR. Such arrangement may apply to the following tier
respectively. The profit generated in each tier shall be shared
according to the respective PSR.

12.10

In the case where mudarib commingled or injected his own fund to the
mudarabah, the mudarib is entitled to the profit based on his capital
contribution in the commingled fund and the remaining profit shall then

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be distributed based on PSR in the mudarabah.

PG

12.11

Rabbul mal and mudarib may agree on a PSR for a certain threshold of
profit. If the actual profit exceeds the threshold, the excess amount
may be distributed based on a different PSR agreed by the parties or
be paid to any of the contracting parties as per agreement.

PG

12.12

Rabbul mal and mudarib may agree on a threshold of profit whereby in

the case of profit generated exceeds the threshold, an amount of profit
equivalent to threshold is paid to one of the contracting parties and the
remaining is shared according to PSR. In the case of profit generated
is below the threshold, the profit is shared based on PSR.

PG

12.13

The agreed PSR may vary to correspond with different periods of

investment, different amount of capital or due to pre-mature withdrawal
of capital provided that such conditions are agreed upon at the
inception of the mudarabah contract.

12.14

In a single mudarabah contract involving more than one mudarib, a

common profit sharing ratio is agreed between rabbul mal and all the
mudarib. All mudarib shall share the mudaribs profit portion as per
agreed terms.

12.15

Profit shall be recognized based on the following methodology:

(a) Realized basis by actual liquidation of assets of mudarabah
partnership (al-tandid al-haqiqi ); or
(b) Constructive basis according to acceptable profit recognition
method which may include valuation according to acceptable
market methodology, independent valuation or valuation based on
estimated figures (al-tandid al-hukmi).

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In the case of profit recognised based on constructive basis:

(a) a profit reserve may be created; and

(b) a final consolidation and adjustment shall be undertaken at the end

of a certain period or at the times of actual realization of profit to
arrive at the actual amount of profit.

12.17

Profit shall be distributed upon the maturity of the mudarabah or at an

agreed period.

12.18

Unrealized gains recognized during the mudarabah tenure shall be

recognized as profit and be included in the profit and loss calculation
for the mudarabah.

12.19

A mudarib is only entitled to profit for works which are integral to the
mudarabah venture and shall not earn any additional fee for such
works.

PG

12.20

Rabbul mal may commission mudarib for a fee to perform works apart
from the works integral to mudarabah venture.

PG

12.21

A party may waive his right to the profits, if any, to the other contracting
party on the basis of waiver (tanazul) on the date of distribution of the
profit.

PG

12.22

The parties to the contract may agree to set aside the profit as a
reserve (e.g. profit equalization reserve) or for any other purpose.

12.23

In relation to paragraph 12.22, the reserve shall only be created from

the profit of the mudarabah.

12.24

In case where profit reserved is utilised to cover depletion of

mudarabah capital, only the profit portion of the rabbul mal in the
reserve shall be utilised6.

This requirement is specified to prevent implication of capital guarantee by mudarib.

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PG

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Contracting parties may agree to a condition whereby rabbul mal may

be subject to lower or no profit payment if capital is withdrawn before
the maturity of the investment period.

13.

Loss

13.1

A loss is depletion from the value of capital.

13.2

Loss shall be borne by the rabbul mal up to the capital value.

13.3

The mudarib shall not be liable for any impairment of asset unless such
loss is due to the mudaribs misconduct (ta`addi), negligence (taqsir) or
breach of specified terms (mukhalafah al-shurut) of the contract.

13.4

Notwithstanding paragraph 13.3, in the case of loss the mudarib shall

furnish the reason for the occurrence of loss.

13.5

In the case of multiple rabbul mal in a single mudarabah, the loss shall
be borne by each rabbul mal proportionate to his capital contribution.

13.6

In the case where mudarib commingled or injected his own fund to the
mudarabah, the loss shall be borne based on the proportion of the
mudaribs capital contribution in the commingled fund.

PG

13.7

The mudarib may voluntarily absorb the loss upon the maturity or
dissolution of mudarabah.

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ARRANGEMENT OF MUDARABAH WITH OTHER CONTRACT

14.

Arrangement for guarantee in mudarabah

14.1

Mudarib shall not guarantee the capital and/or profit.

14.2

Notwithstanding paragraph 14.1, the following measures may be

exercised:

PG

(a)

The rabbul mal may take collateral from the mudarib, provided
that the collateral could only be liquidated in the event of
misconduct (ta`addi) or negligence (taqsir) or breach of terms
(mukhalafah al-shurut) of contract by the mudarib; or

PG

(b)

The rabbul mal may require the mudarib to arrange for an

independent third party guarantee by observing the following
requirements:

(a)

The guarantee shall be executed as a separate contract

and be utilised to cover for any loss or depletion of
capital.

(b)

The third party guarantor shall be independent from the

mudarib such that it shall not be a related party where the
mudarib has majority ownership and/or having control in
the entity nor shall it be an entity that owns or having
controls over the mudarib.

PG

(c)

The third party guarantee may be in the form of

performance guarantee of the mudarabah transactions or
guarantee on mudarabah capital.

PG

15.

Arrangement of mudarabah with wadiah, wakalah or musharakah

15.1

Contracting parties may agree to an arrangement whereby a certain

amount of fund is assigned as mudarabah capital and another portion
of the fund is assigned under wadiah, wakalah or musharakah
contracts.

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Pursuant to paragraph 15.1, the contracting parties shall observe

requirement of mudarabah on the part of fund assigned under
mudarabah and shall observe requirement of wadiah, wakalah or
musharakah on the part of fund assigned under the respective
contract.

PG

16.

Arrangement of mudarabah with hibah or hadiyyah

16.1

Mudarib may provide hibah or hadiyyah to rabbul mal subject to the

following conditions:

(a)

Hibah or hadiyyah shall not be sourced from mudarabah capital

or rabbul mals portion of profit.

(b)

Provision of hibah or hadiyyah shall not amount to a guarantee

of capital and/or profit by mudarib.

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DISSOLUTION

17.

Dissolution of mudarabah

17.1

The mudarabah contract may be dissolved under the following

circumstances:

(a)

Unilateral termination by any of the parties in the absence of

any prohibitive circumstances as per paragraph 8.2;

(b)

Unilateral termination by any of the parties due to misconduct

(ta`addi), negligence (taqsir) or breach of specified terms
(mukhalafah al-shurut) of contract by the other;

(c)

Mutual agreement to terminate between the parties;

(d)

Contract expires upon the maturity date agreed by the parties;

(e)

Demise or dissolution of either mudarib or rabbul mal or loss of

legal capacity;

(f)

Invalidity of mudarabah.

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APPENDICES
18.

Appendix 1

Legitimacy of mudarabah

18.1

The legitimacy of the mudarabah contract is derived from the Quran,

and founded on the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him), and the consensus of Muslim jurists (Ijma).

The Quran
18.2

The following verse of the Quran implies the general permissibility of

commercial ventures including mudarabah.
(a)

and others travelling in the earth in quest of Allahs
bounty...7

The word (

) in the verse implies permissibility to travel in
managing wealth to seek the bounty of Allah SWT which may take the
form of mudarabah.
The Sunnah of The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
18.3

:

.
Ibnu Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that: When
Abbas Ibn Abd al-Muttalib gave his property to someone for
mudarabah, he stipulated conditions for his partner not to bring the
capital onto the sea; and not to bring with him the capital crossing a
valley; and not to buy livestock with the capital; and if his partner
violates the conditions, he should guarantee the loss occurred. These

Surah al-Muzzammil, verse 20.

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conditions have been brought to the attention of Prophet Muhammad

(peace be upon him) and he approved them.8

) : :
( :

18.4

Suhayb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Three matters that have the
blessing (of Allah): A deferred sale, muqaradah (mudarabah), mixing
wheat with barley for domestic use and not for sale.9
Consensus of The Muslim Jurists (Ijma)
18.5

The Muslim jurists have reached Ijma among them on the

permissibility of the mudarabah contract.

19.

Appendix 2

Glossary

Terms

Definition

Mudarabah asset

Asset created under a mudarabah venture.

Mudarabah venture

Business or profit generating activities undertaken by

mudarib in managing capital provided by rabbul mal.

Mudarib

Entrepreneur of a mudarabah venture.

Mudarib yudarib

Mudarabah contract where rabbul mal invests his capital

with a mudarib who subsequently invests the fund with
another mudarib.

Profit sharing ratio

The ratio in which the profits are shared between rabbul

mal and mudarib.

Rabbul mal

Capital provider.

Tanazul

Waiving of the entitlement to claim.

8
9

Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Sunan al-Kubra, v. 6, p. 111.

Ibn Majah, Sunan Ibn Majah, hadith no. 2289.