the Halal Jihadist (HalalJihadist@gmail.com)

Ramadan is a time of REFLECTION ... "REFLECT on what you can do this Ramadan and this year to further Islam through your own actions." Halal Jihadist It could be something as simple as learning about what constitutes halal meat (hint: it includes animal welfare) and changing your purchasing behaviour, thus forcing suppliers to raise and slaughter animals in a human and ethical manner. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed it is the one thing that ever has" Margaret Mead

"Religion is the best businesses, people pay a premium for what they know are counterfeit goods because they believe the guard at the door to heaven is going to absolve them of accountability because a guy with a beard told them the goods were legit."  The Halal Jihadist

I believe that an intelligent critic can be an excellent teacher as can a like minded scholar.  It is about opening oneself to points of view and knowledge that sharpens one's own intelligence. In this video: 1) What Quran says about sectarianism ( https://quran.com/6/159  Surah 6 Verse 159) 2) The benchmark we should hold scholars to and where they rank in the knowledge ladder

Question: Can you earn a reasonable return on real estate without debt? Answer:  Yes you can.  But you need to be proactive and not wait for the opportunity rather find it.  That is what I did recently.  I searched out a development, entered into negotiations with the developer before permits where in place for the project and negotiated a price that I expect will generate an annual 12% ROI.  Not only that, but I secured pricing that makes it possible to purchase without debt and given that a few of us have joined together in a partnership it has become an exceptionally affordable investment.  But it must be risky, you are thinking.  Not at all.  We entered into an in-Trust purchase agreement, meaning our biggest risk is the project not proceeding (e.g. permit issues) and us receiving our money back (per the contract) eleven months after we advanced our $500 deposit. If you are interested in learning more, let me know via email. ...

I have built a model portfolio for the last 6 years that has produced a 25+% CAGR. The iShares MSCI World Islamic UCITS ETF has returned -9.37% in 2018 vs our +9.1% for a difference of +18.47% in 2018.  Over a longer period, 5 years, MSCI produced only a cumulative return of 26.38%.  Meaning if you invested $100 at the end of 5 years you would have had $126.38.  In all 2 year periods except one the model portfolio has outperformed the 5-year return of  iShares MSCI World Islamic UCITS ETF - in 2-year our model portfolio has made more than the ETF has in 5-years ! (source:  https://www.ishares.com/uk/professional/en/products/251394/ishares-msci-world-islamic-ucits-etf?switchLocale=y&siteEntryPassthrough=true  ) Some highlights that are noteworthy 1. The lack of correlation to the market, meaning the portfolio does not move in step with the market. 2. The securities purchased that account for 80% of the portfolio are large businesses.  They pro...

Much has been said about the need to support the Oil industry but few have held the industry and Alberta government to account for the the current situation. The current economic plight of Alberta is in part a function of Alberta's own shortsighted conservative mindset. Let me elaborate.  This is not Alberta's first bear market, and it will not be the last.  So why was there no preparation for another bust given the history of boom and bust? What made Alberta believe they could build a pipeline on someone else's land when they would have fought with equal vigor had their land been earmarked for conservation vs drilling? What made Alberta believe it did not have to save for a rainy day?  What rational resulted in betting the house on being an exporter of a commodity versus investing to make Alberta a value-added player?  It is time Albertans and the media ask these questions of the conservative government that has ruled the province. During the boom times,...

The article below speaks to how some US Universities are extending to students a risk sharing loan program as an alternative to interest bearing student loans. The structure is Islamic, more so than many of the "sharia compliant bonds".  The concept is a pure risk sharing model and a great foundation for a true Islamic loan.  "Fair" is paramount in Islamic finance, so expect a degree of variance in loan programs as some unscrupulous lender looks to take advantage of a students. As a community, would not a fund developed to finance student fees based on a similar model be beneficial to our local Umahs? Source:  https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/businessweek/u-s-college-grads-sell-stakes-in-themselves-to-wall-street-1.1241543 U.S. college grads sell stakes in themselves to Wall Street Claire Boston ,  Bloomberg News Amy Wroblewski , Maura Friedman for Bloomberg Businessweek (Bloomberg Businessweek) -...