Edib Smolo and Abubakar Muhammad Musa
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the concepts of hilah (legal stratagem or legal trick) and makhraj (legal exit) and to examine their relevance and application in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the concepts of hilah (legal stratagem or legal trick) and makhraj (legal exit) and to examine their relevance and application in the contemporary Islamic financial services and products.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses the qualitative research approach to provide a theoretical overview of hilah and makhraj literally and technically and to examine their practical applications in Islamic financial products and services. In particular, this paper evaluates several Islamic financial contracts and examines its practices in light of the implications of hilah or makhraj.
Findings
The paper finds that there is a glaring difference in perception and application of hilah and makhraj, as argued by some scholars. It has been found that the principle of hilah has been extensively used in the Islamic finance industry as a way to circumvent the riba prohibition. For example, Islamic financial instruments such as bay’ bithaman al-ajil, bay’ al-‘inah, tawarruq, commodity murabahah, musharakah mutanaqisah and, in some cases, the sale and lease back sukuk are found to be tainted by hilah.
Research limitations/implications
Because this is a theoretical paper, it should be explored in more detail, and critical analysis of Islamic financial services and products should be reviewed in line with these two principles to ascertain if the products and services are in line with Shariah requirements and devoid of hilah practices or not and to align the industry with the maqasid al-Shariah.
Practical implications
This paper identifies a serious challenge that Islamic finance practitioners face in product development in their effort to provide more competitive services to their customers. As a result, it demonstrates the need to proactively use makhraj in innovating Islamic financial products and proffering more sustainable and competitive solutions.
Originality/value
This paper discusses a topic that attempts to dispel the suspicious perceptions of some analysts as to the genuineness of Islamic financial practices.
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The focus of this chapter is to analyze the impacts of the Boko Haram insurgency on education in the northeast of Nigeria. It also aims to examine the effectiveness of the…
Abstract
The focus of this chapter is to analyze the impacts of the Boko Haram insurgency on education in the northeast of Nigeria. It also aims to examine the effectiveness of the educational interventions in the devastated communities in the northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Gombe. It begins with an introduction, in which the origin of the conflict is traced and linked to the group’s campaign of violence that targets schools, teachers, education workers, and students. The chapter discusses and chronologically lists out specific attacks on education and how the attacks have significantly affected access to education and increased the number of out-of-school children. It concludes by looking at the education emergencies that have arisen in the region, how the interventions have tried to address them, and the outcomes of the interventions.
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Daha Garba Muhammad and Jamila Suleiman Musa
This study aimed to explain the impact of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on physiotherapy services in Nigeria.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to explain the impact of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on physiotherapy services in Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a commentary piece.
Findings
The pandemic has potential of reducing efficacy of physiotherapy services. It also showed that the mental health of local physiotherapists was badly affected. On the other hand, the pandemic allowed physiotherapists to support infectious disease prevention and control and as well as providing awareness of the role of physiotherapy in the management of respiratory diseases.
Originality/value
It shows the effect of COVID-19 on physiotherapy care.
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Rabia Hassan, Zeeshan Ahmad Arfeen, Mehreen Kausar Azam, Zain ul Abiden Akhtar, Abubakar Siddique and Muhammad Rashid
Material selection, driven by wide and often conflicting objectives, is an important, sometimes difficult problem in material engineering. In this context, multi-criteria…
Abstract
Purpose
Material selection, driven by wide and often conflicting objectives, is an important, sometimes difficult problem in material engineering. In this context, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodologies are effective. An approach of MCDM is needed to cater to criteria of material assortment simultaneously. More firms are now concerned about increasing their productivity using mathematical tools. To occupy a gap in the previous literature this research recommends an integrated MCDM and mathematical Bi-objective model for the selection of material. In addition, by using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), the inherent ambiguities of decision-makers in paired evaluations are considered in this research. It goes on to construct a mathematical bi-objective model for determining the best item to purchase.
Design/methodology/approach
The entropy perspective is implemented in this paper to evaluate the weight parameters, while the TOPSIS technique is used to determine the best and worst intermediate pipe materials for automotive exhaust system. The intermediate pipes are used to join the components of the exhaust systems. The materials usually used to manufacture intermediate pipe are SUS 436LM, SUS 430, SUS 304, SUS 436L, SUH 409 L, SUS 441 L and SUS 439L. These seven materials are evaluated based on tensile strength (TS), hardness (H), elongation (E), yield strength (YS) and cost (C). A hybrid methodology combining entropy-based criteria weighting, with the TOPSIS for alternative ranking, is pursued to identify the optimal design material for an engineered application in this paper. This study aims to help while filling the information gap in selecting the most suitable material for use in the exhaust intermediate pipes. After that, the authors searched for and considered eight materials and evaluated them on the following five criteria: (1) TS, (2) YS, (3) H, (4) E and (5) C. The first two criteria have been chosen because they can have a lot of influence on the behavior of the exhaust intermediate pipes, on their performance and on the cost. In this structure, the weights of the criteria are calculated objectively through the entropy method in order to have an unbiased assessment. This essentially measures the quantity of information each criterion contribution, indicating the relative importance of these criteria better. Subsequently, the materials were ranked using the TOPSIS method in terms of their relative performance by measuring each material from an ideal solution to determine the best alternative. The results show that SUS 309, SUS 432L and SUS 436 LM are the first three materials that the exhaust intermediate pipe optimal design should consider.
Findings
The material matrix of the decision presented in Table 3 was normalized through Equation 5, as shown in Table 5, and the matrix was multiplied with weighting criteria ß_j. The obtained weighted normalized matrix V_ij is presented in Table 6. However, the ideal, worst and best value was ascertained by employing Equation 7. This study is based on the selection of material for the development of intermediate pipe using MCDM, and it involves four basic stages, i.e. method of translation criteria, screening process, method of ranking and search for methods. The selection was done through the TOPSIS method, and the criteria weight was obtained by the entropy method. The result showed that the top three materials are SUS 309, SUS 432L and SUS 436 LM, respectively. For the future work, it is suggested to select more alternatives and criteria. The comparison can also be done by using different MCDM techniques like and Choice Expressing Reality (ELECTRE), Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE).
Originality/value
The results provide important conclusions for material selection in this targeted application, verifying the employment of mutual entropy-TOPSIS methodology for a series of difficult engineering decisions in material engineering concepts that combine superior capacity with better performance as well as cost-efficiency in various engineering design.
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Tijjani Muhammad and Fahd Al-Shaghdari
This study aims to address educational setbacks and public spending using Islamic social finance tools such as waqf (Islamic endowment) and zakat (alms) to accelerate the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to address educational setbacks and public spending using Islamic social finance tools such as waqf (Islamic endowment) and zakat (alms) to accelerate the educational sector from an underprivileged situation to prosperity in Northern Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
This study follows quantitative research techniques to achieve its objectives. The data for this research were compiled through a survey of 302 respondents following a convenience sampling approach using covariance-based structural equation modeling and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software to analyze the data.
Findings
The study shows that waqf and zakat are found to be positively related to enhance the education sector through direct and mediating variables.
Practical implications
The result of this study proposed an integrated model of waqf-zakat microfinance as a sustainable source of funding for accelerating and promoting the educational system in Northern Nigeria.
Originality/value
Zakat and waqf in Northern Nigeria were only given to needy individuals; no standard organization or model was developed based on waqf and zakat for the society. This study investigates the efficiency of waqf and zakat and proposes a model for developing a sustainable educational sector and public spending in Northern Nigeria.
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Hasliza Hassan, Abu Bakar Sade and Muhammad Sabbir Rahman
Slimming centres have become a hot spot for people to reduce their size and reshape their body figure through the sophisticated and modern treatments that are provided by the…
Abstract
Purpose
Slimming centres have become a hot spot for people to reduce their size and reshape their body figure through the sophisticated and modern treatments that are provided by the therapists. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of price, place and promotion on the behavioural intention to consume the slimming treatments.
Design/methodology/approach
This research is a cross-sectional study in which 308 primary data were collected for descriptive analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. The data were collected through a survey questionnaire that was distributed to respondents who have experience in consuming slimming treatment at a slimming centre.
Findings
The majority of slimming centre consumers are working women aged 25 and above from urban areas. As an attraction, the pricing strategy is a very important influence on consumers to consume the slimming treatment at slimming centres. Although the main target market for slimming centres is career women who are earning an above average income, an excessively high price might weaken the behavioural intention of the consumer to consume the service since Malaysian women are very price conscious. The findings also indicate that there is a significant correlation relationship between price and promotion as well as place and promotion.
Originality/value
This research is expected to contribute in terms of providing more knowledge about this industry, since there are still limited findings pertaining to slimming centres, especially in the Malaysian market.
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Khawaja Fawad Latif, Aqib Nazeer, Faisal Shahzad, Mohsin Ullah, Muhammad Imranullah and Umar Farooq Sahibzada
Drawing on the knowledge-based view (KBV), the study investigates the impact of entrepreneurial leadership (EL) on knowledge management (KM) processes and further examines the…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the knowledge-based view (KBV), the study investigates the impact of entrepreneurial leadership (EL) on knowledge management (KM) processes and further examines the mediating role of KM processes on the linkage between EL and project success (PS).
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected from 304 project workers in software projects, and the proposed relationships were assessed through SMART-PLS structural equation modeling tool.
Findings
The study found a significant impact of EL on KM processes and PS. The analysis also revealed that KM processes significantly impact project success while EL impact PS indirectly through KM processes.
Originality/value
The relevancy of the research stems from the scarcity of research on EL, while studies on the role of leadership as a predictor of KM are significantly limited. Additionally, there is a scarcity of research on the impact of KM on project success. This is one of the earliest studies that investigate the inter-relationship among EL, KM processes and project success.
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Musa Abdu, Abdullahi Abubakar Lamido and Adamu Jibir
The literature about the dynamics of Muslims' awareness and perception of waqf has been generally scarce,especially in Nigeria. As renewed efforts are emerging to develop a new…
Abstract
Purpose
The literature about the dynamics of Muslims' awareness and perception of waqf has been generally scarce,especially in Nigeria. As renewed efforts are emerging to develop a new waqf regime in the country, this study examines this aspect in Gombe metropolis, Nigeria, with a view to identifying the key factors shaping people's perception and awareness towards waqf.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the objective of this study, primary data were collected through a survey among 494 business owners in the Gombe metropolis. The data were then analysed using probit and Tobit regression models.
Findings
The study found that altruistic behaviour, religiosity level, educational level and young age are among the factors that determine people's perception and awareness towards donating to waqf among business owners in Gombe. Altruism and young age embolden businesspersons to recognise the effectiveness of waqf institutions in solving socioeconomic challenges.
Practical implications
The findings of this study imply that waqf has huge potential in the study area and that with well-structured, organized waqf education programmes within the business community using diverse avenues, a robust waqf sector can be developed.
Originality/value
As far as the study area and the entire Nigerian Islamic economics and finance landscape is concerned, the study has explored a novel research area. Given the infant stage of empirical studies on waqf in Nigeria, there are virtually no previous attempts to examine the awareness and perception of businesspersons towards waqf; variables that are key to the development of an effective sector.
Anthony Olukayode Yusuf, Akintayo Opawole, Nofiu Abiodun Musa, Dele Samuel Kadiri and Esther Ilori Ebunoluwa
This study examined factors influencing the organisational capabilities of the public sector for building information modelling (BIM) implementation in construction projects with…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examined factors influencing the organisational capabilities of the public sector for building information modelling (BIM) implementation in construction projects with a view to enhancing the performance of public sector projects.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a quantitative descriptive analysis that was based on primary data. In total, 198 valid questionnaires obtained from construction professionals within the public sector provided primary quantitative data for the assessment. The respondents provided the responses on the factors which were identified through an in-depth synthesis of literature relating to organisational capabilities of the public sector. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Findings
The findings established that the potential of the public sector to deploy BIM in construction projects is greatly influenced by varying degree of organisational capability attributes with bureaucratic culture (mean score, MS = 3.37), structural complexity (MS = 3.17), lack of skilled and trained staff (MS = 3.12), personnel stability (MS = 3.11), staff cooperation (MS = 3.09) and political constraint (MS = 3.07) ranked highest. Through factor analysis, these and other highly influential factors were grouped into eight components, namely management-related, policy-related, technical-related, attitude-related, work structure-related, work ethic-related, decision-related and feedback-related factors. This grouping reflects the various components of organisational capability attributes which the public sector needs to efficiently develop to benefit from project management paradigm introduced by BIM.
Practical implications
This study provided information for improving specific capability attributes with respect to human and technical resources as well as other soft infrastructure to support BIM implementation on building projects by the public sector client. The study also serves as a guide for understanding BIM implementation by the public sector in similar socio-political and economic contexts.
Originality/value
This assessment indicates various degrees by which the organisational attributes of public sector have influenced the attributes' capability to implement BIM on construction projects. Thus, findings provide information on areas of improvement for better implementation of BIM by the public sector in project delivery.