Should I Exit a Fund Holding Interest-Based CBLOs?

Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr

Question

Given that my Shari‘a-compliant mutual fund holds 8.1% cash in interest-earning CBLOs, should I exit the fund or purify my returns by donating 10–15% to charity?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Thank you for your question.

Allah says,

“O you who believe, eat of the good things of that which We have faithfully provided you.” [Quran, 2:172]

It is impermissible to hold a mutual fund if the non-permissible income (NPI) from financial income or any other form of impermissible income exceeds 5% of the total revenue. Therefore, if the 6% to 7.5% earned on the 8.1% exceeds the 5% limit typically adopted as the current threshold, holding on to such a mutual fund would not be permissible.

You must contact the Shari‘a Board to understand why they are holding on to this position. It may be a statutory requirement or the breach results from contingent market factors. In the unlikely situation that the reasons mentioned are not satisfactory, as a shareholder, you should voice your concerns over this allocation. The objectives mentioned can be achieved through cash liquidity vehicles that do not generate interest, using various permitted short-term investment options.

“So fear Allah all you can, and hear, obey and expend: It were better for your very selves.” [Quran 64,16]

Interest thus earned must be donated.  The donation is a percentage of the dividend. The formula for calculating the percentage of NPI is:

(Interest Income ÷ (Operating Profit + Interest Income)) x 100 = NPI percentage.

This percentage should then be applied to the dividend to purify it.

What is a CBLO?

A CBLO (Collateralised Borrowing and Lending Obligation) is a short-term, low-risk money market instrument in India that allows entities to borrow or lend funds, secured by collateral—typically government securities. It’s mainly used by banks, mutual funds, and financial institutions for managing short-term liquidity.

Impermissible Income

NPI should not exceed 5% of the company’s total revenue to remain within the Sharia universe. If the NPI surpasses this 5% threshold, the company is typically excluded from Sharia-compliant indices unless mitigating factors exist. [Mufti Ahmad, Senior Sharia Advisor, South Africa; See also AAOIFI]

For a company to be considered Sharia-compliant, its core business activities must adhere to Islamic law. If the company generates no impermissible income, there is no need to apply NPI (Non-Permissible Income) filters, and the entire dividend can be distributed to shareholders without concern.

General Consensus on Purification of Income

In Islamic finance, the purification of income, particularly dividends, is a fundamental principle to ensure that earnings comply with Sharia. There is a general consensus that purification is required.

Most scholars and Islamic finance standards, such as those by AAOIFI (Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions), require the purification of dividends if they include any proportion of income derived from non-compliant sources like interest (riba). This ensures the income is halal (permissible).

And Allah knows best.
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefited from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali, and many others – Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is also affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door to students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community in daily life.

In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to the administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has served as the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari‘a Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.