To vindicate whether or not there are signs of social and developmental role in the current practice of Islamic banking in Sudan, a criterion required by the rules guiding the…
Abstract
Purpose
To vindicate whether or not there are signs of social and developmental role in the current practice of Islamic banking in Sudan, a criterion required by the rules guiding the Islamic circulation of money and investment.
Design/methodology/approach
The objective of the paper is to draw attention to this important, but neglected aspect of Islamic finance, by assessing some indicators of Islamic banking in Sudan such as: the geographical distribution of Islamic banks (ISBs), short vs long‐term investment, credit by modes of financing used, sectoral distribution of financing, role in poverty alleviation, harmonization of the Shari’aa rules with economic thinking to cope with today's modern and global world development constraints, and the developmental role of ISBs within globalization.
Findings
Many banking indicators in Sudan are signs of the weak size of the financial sector and financial liquidity, low confidence in the banking system, and low and poor credit performance. Banks are also characterized by unti‐developmental signs of regional inequality of distribution of branches, use of sales modes; uneven, short‐term and modern‐sector‐biased distribution of investment, high share of demand deposits and shortages of long‐term funds.
Practical implications
The developmental role of ISBs needs to entwine economic development with social development by gearing production priorities towards common needs, via specialized branches, partnership modes, short and long term investment plans. It also requires the renewal of fiqh in the course of Ijtihad to devise new rules, or to change rules in accordance with globalization, and harmonization of economic and fiqh thinking.
Originality/value
The analysis here is valuable in drawing attention to Islamic banking practitioners that the link between Islamic finance and development objectives (including social development) is still under trial, and some work needs to be undertaken despite the many years which have elapsed since the introduction of Islamic finance.
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Najib Mahfuz is the first Arab‐language author to win the Nobel Prize in literature. Born in 1911 the son of a middle‐class Jamaliyah merchant, he became the most popular novelist…
Abstract
Najib Mahfuz is the first Arab‐language author to win the Nobel Prize in literature. Born in 1911 the son of a middle‐class Jamaliyah merchant, he became the most popular novelist in Egypt and the Arab countries.
Iraqi universities in the aftermath of invasion in 2003 experienced extremely high levels of “post”-war violence and insecurity. The most widely known dimension of this violence…
Abstract
Iraqi universities in the aftermath of invasion in 2003 experienced extremely high levels of “post”-war violence and insecurity. The most widely known dimension of this violence is the shocking assassination campaign that killed hundreds of Iraqi academics. This paper provides an analysis of violence and insecurity in post-2003 that takes a broader optic and considers multiple forms of vulnerability to attack including insurgencies, sectarian conflict, and criminal violence. It also considers the various responses to the security dilemma taken by Coalition forces – principally counter-terrorism and stabilization efforts – and by Iraqi policy-makers and higher education communities, including security measures, politicization, ethno-sectarianization, and displacement.
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Mostafa Abdel-Hamied, Ahmed A.M. Abdelhafez and Gomaa Abdel-Maksoud
This study aims to focus on the main materials used in consolidation processes of illuminated paper manuscripts and leather binding.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to focus on the main materials used in consolidation processes of illuminated paper manuscripts and leather binding.
Design/methodology/approach
For each material, chemical structure, chemical composition, molecular formula, solubility, advantages, disadvantages and its role in treatment process are presented.
Findings
This study concluded that carboxy methyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, nanocrystalline cellulose, funori, sturgeon glue, poly vinyl alcohol, chitosan, chitosan nanoparticles (NPs), gelatin, aquazol, paraloid B72 and hydroxyapatite NPs were the most common and important materials used for the consolidation of illuminated paper manuscripts. For the leather bindings, hydroxy propyl cellulose, polyethylene glycol, oligomeric melamine-formaldehyde resin, acrylic wax SC6000, pliantex, paraloid B67 and B72, silicone oil and collagen NPs are the most consolidants used.
Originality/value
Illuminated paper manuscripts with leather binding are considered one of the most important objects in libraries, museums and storehouses. The uncontrolled conditions and other deterioration factors inside the libraries and storehouses lead to degradation of these artifacts. The brittleness, fragility and weakness are considered the most common deterioration aspects of illuminated paper manuscripts and leather binding. Therefore, the consolidation process became vital and important to solve this problem. This study presents the main materials used for consolidation process of illuminated paper manuscripts and leather bindings.
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Abdullah Bugshan, Walid Bakry and Yongqing Li
This study examines the impact of oil price volatility on firm profitability. As Shariah-compliant firms operate under restrictions, the study also explores whether oil price…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the impact of oil price volatility on firm profitability. As Shariah-compliant firms operate under restrictions, the study also explores whether oil price volatility affects Shariah-compliant firms differently from their non-Shariah-compliant counterparts.
Design/methodology/approach
The study sample includes all non-financial firms listed on Gulf Cooperation Council stock exchanges from 2005 to 2019. In evaluating the oil price volatility–profitability relationship, static (panel fixed effects) and dynamic (system generalised method of moments) models were used.
Findings
Oil price volatility significantly depresses firm profitability. In addition, Shariah-compliant firms are more significantly affected by oil price volatility than their non-Shariah-compliant peers. The results suggest that high oil price volatility exposes Shariah-compliant firms to higher bankruptcy risk than non-Shariah-compliant firms and that positive and negative oil price shocks have asymmetric effects on firm performance.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of the paper call for more economic diversification by supporting non-oil sectors in the region and raise the need for more development of Islam-compliant products that compete with traditional instruments to help Shariah-compliant firms cope with uncertainty. Moreover, managers need to prepare quick alert and response procedures to reduce the negative impacts of oil price volatility on profitability.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to explore the relationship between oil price volatility and profitability of non-financial firms. Further, the study extends prior Islamic corporate finance literature by enhancing the understanding of how Islamic corporate decisions affect firm performance during instability.
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Mohsen Ebied Abdelghafar Younis Azzam, Marwa Saber Hamoda Alsayed, Abdulaziz Alsultan and Ahmed Hassanein
This study aims to scrutinize the relationship between the perception of big data (BD) features and the primary outcomes of financial accounting. Likewise, it explores whether…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to scrutinize the relationship between the perception of big data (BD) features and the primary outcomes of financial accounting. Likewise, it explores whether financial accounting practices moderate the relationship between BD features and firm sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a questionnaire survey based on the Likert scale for two distinct groups of participants: academic scholars and industry practitioners operating in the BD era within the energy sector.
Findings
The results reveal significant positive associations between BD features and firm performance, reporting quality, earnings determinants, fair value measurements, risk management, firm value, the efficiency of the decision-making process, narrative disclosure and firm sustainability. Besides, the path analysis indicates an indirect impact of BD on firm sustainability via financial accounting practices. The results suggest that energy firms should consider incorporating BD analysis into their financial accounting processes to improve their sustainability performance and create long-term value for their stakeholders.
Practical implications
The findings are particularly interesting to academics in accounting and business to improve the accounting curriculums to fit the technological revolution, especially in the field of BD analytics. Practitioners within energy industries must also refine their skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of BD in the foreseeable future. The results provide important implications for policy setters to revise current financial accounting standards to cope with technological innovation.
Originality/value
The study makes a valuable contribution by critically examining the impact of BD on various financial accounting practices neglected in prior research. It highlights the transformative power of BD in the domain of financial accounting and provides insights into its potential implications for energy firms.
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Daria Arkhipova, Marco Montemari, Chiara Mio and Stefano Marasca
This paper aims to critically examine the accounting and information systems literature to understand the changes that are occurring in the management accounting profession. The…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to critically examine the accounting and information systems literature to understand the changes that are occurring in the management accounting profession. The changes the authors are interested in are linked to technology-driven innovations in managerial decision-making and in organizational structures. In addition, the paper highlights research gaps and opportunities for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors adopted a grounded theory literature review method (Wolfswinkel et al., 2013) to achieve the study’s aims.
Findings
The authors identified four research themes that describe the changes in the management accounting profession due to technology-driven innovations: structured vs unstructured data, human vs algorithm-driven decision-making, delineated vs blurred functional boundaries and hierarchical vs platform-based organizations. The authors also identified tensions mentioned in the literature for each research theme.
Originality/value
Previous studies display a rather narrow focus on the role of digital technologies in accounting work and new competences that management accountants require in the digital era. By contrast, the authors focus on the broader technology-driven shifts in organizational processes and structures, which vastly change how accounting information is collected, processed and analyzed internally to support managerial decision-making. Hence, the paper focuses on how management accountants can adapt and evolve as their organizations transition toward a digital environment.