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Purpose: The purpose of this research study is to examine the banking preferences of Kuwaiti university students, their preferences between Islamic and conventional, the reasons supporting their choice and, as a measure of satisfaction, the likelihood of them recommending their bank to their friends and family. Design/methodology/approach: We conduct a short survey among undergraduates using a 4-item paper questionnaire physically distributed and collected at a Kuwaiti business school. The large response (n= 503) is analysed and descriptive statistics used to present the results Findings: Results indicate a majority prefer Islamic banking and that the main reason for this is their religion. Those students who opted for conventional banks gave social reasons such as recommendation for their choice. A higher level of satisfaction was recorded for Islamic banking customers. We conclude that Islamic banks have managed to match their ethical and religious appeal with the delivery of efficient and convenient banking services that are valued by the student segment. Practical Implications: Our results are of interest to those offering retail banking services in binary markets where conventional banks compete with Islamic banks in addition to researchers in this domain. For Islamic banks, the significance of maintaining a strong reputation with the underpinning of robust Shariah principles is emphasized. Originality: The paper contributes fresh understanding to the acceptance of and satisfaction with Islamic banks and their products and services among a strategically important segment. It provides evidence suggesting a bright future for Islamic banking in Kuwait and the wider Gulf region.

As a main characteristic of Islamic banks, profit-sharing financing (PsF) has an actual influence on driving the economy in the real sector. A PsF using mudharabah and musyarakah contract is mostly channeled to fund productive businesses. This study tries to find out how the Islamic bank performance reflected by credit risk, profit-sharing rate, and liquidity can increase the PsF growth in Islamic banks. Using a quantitative approach through regression analysis, this study analyzed the impact arising from the improved credit risk, profit-sharing rate, and liquidity on the growth of PsF. The data used is secondary data obtained from statistics on Islamic banking in Indonesia (ranging from the 1st quarter of 2015 to the 4thquarter of 2021). The findings revealed that the Islamic bank performances as represented by credit risk, profit-sharing rate, and liquidity can be an indicator of growth of PsF. A low profit-sharing rate, credit risk, and liquidity risk will encourage PsF growth.

The potential for waqf is very large, as reflected in the number of Muslims who reach 87 percent of the total population in Indonesia. One of the productive waqf is self waqf (muharrar) in PPNJ. The implementation and realization of self waqf have not fully understood this definition, considering that the target is humans themselves. This study aims to identify the motives and factors that motivate them in waqf themselves to PP Nurul Jadid. Respondents in this study were eighteen respondents who were divided into three categories, namely the management of the pesantren, the infrastructure division, and academics/teachers. The results of this study are, first, the statement of the founder of PP Nurul Jadid about the form of struggle of the students of PP Nurul Jadid became the foundation for the students of PP Nurul Jadid in community life. Second, economic factors, third; skill factor owned by some of the less qualified administrators.

In 2021, Indonesia’s administration decides to conduct a merger among Islamic government bank. The emerge of syariah financial market is the reason of this policy. This study analyzes Islamic banks merger policy by assessing their financial performance. The purpose of this study is to analyze financial efficiency of Islamic Banks and Conventional Banks in Indonesia based on the 2019  financial reports by using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. Practical contributions of this study for the banking industry was as a guidance for the management in measuring banking activities by analysing the efficiency level so that it can be used to compile business strategies. Basically, financial performance analysis is the result of evaluation of past performance. In this study, we use different analyses in order to obtain a company’s financial position that represents the company’s reality and potential for continuous performance. Business performance represents effectiveness and the efficiency of an organization or company. Company or organization assess their performance to understand their achivement and evaluate their business plans. In this study we developed business performance measurement based on input and output of Islamic and conventional banks in Indonesia. We employ Data Envelopment Analysis which calculate the ratio between output and input. In this study, we use deposits, fixed assets and labor costs as input, while credit or financing and operating income as output variables. In this study, we find that there are several conventional and Islamic banks that suffers inefficiency. This inefficiency occurs due to the ratio of inputs and outputs in conventional and Islamic banks are not optimum.

This research aims to examine the nexus between Earnings Response Coefficient (ERC), Sharia Online Trading System (SOTS), and firm value. The research sample was all companies listed on the Jakarta Islamic Index (JII). The research model used path analysis employing the regression with common, fixed and random effect models as well as the robustness check through Generalized Method of Moment (GMM). The result demonstrates that ERC and SOTS can’t determine the level of firm values. This research found no effects of ERC and SOTS on firm value, but nexus between ERC and SOTS was found. These findings indicate that ERC and SOTS have no effect at all on the firm value, meanwhile ERC has the negative effect on SOTS. Nevertheless, the result of this research found no intervening effect of SOTS on the ERC and firm Value. It shows that SOTS can’t mediate the nexus between ERC and firm value.

This study examines whether Islamic banks in SSA exhibit convergence in operational efficiency or whether performance disparities persist over time. Specifically, it evaluates whether less efficient banks catch up with more efficient peers within the region’s emerging Islamic banking sector. The study adopts a two-stage empirical framework using panel data from 35 Islamic banks across SSA over the period 2010–2024. In the first stage, operational efficiency scores are estimated using a bias-corrected Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model following the Simar and Wilson two-stage approach. An input-oriented specification under Variable Returns to Scale (VRS) is employed to reflect cost minimization behaviour and heterogeneity in bank size. Bias correction is implemented using a bootstrap procedure to obtain consistent efficiency estimates. In the second stage, convergence dynamics are analysed using sigma (σ) and beta (β) convergence models, alongside conditional convergence regressions incorporating bank size, age, and market concentration. The results reveal significant β-convergence, with the baseline model yielding a coefficient of −0.267 (p < 0.01), while the conditional model confirms robust convergence (β = −0.2836, p < 0.01), indicating that banks with lower initial efficiency improve at a faster rate than more efficient institutions, consistent with catch-up dynamics. However, σ-convergence results show that efficiency dispersion declined between 2010 and 2019 but increased after 2020, indicating that convergence was time-varying rather than uniform. This suggests that while convergence forces exist, structural differences and external shocks continue to sustain efficiency gaps across banks. The findings highlight the need for stronger regulatory harmonization, improved financial infrastructure, and targeted capacity-building initiatives to accelerate efficiency convergence across Islamic banks in SSA.

This study examines the effect of Good Corporate Governance (GCG), financing quality, Islamic Corporate Social Responsibility (ICSR), and operational efficiency on the financial performance of Islamic Commercial Banks (Bank Umum Syariah/BUS) in Indonesia using a quantitative explanatory approach with panel data regression analysis. The research focuses on 14 Islamic Commercial Banks registered with the Financial Services Authority (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan/OJK) over the 2019–2024 period, resulting in 84 firm-year observations selected through purposive sampling based on the availability of complete annual reports. Financial performance is proxied by Return on Assets (ROA), while GCG is measured using governance indicators disclosed in annual reports, financing quality is represented by Non-Performing Financing (NPF), ICSR is measured using an ICSR disclosure index, and operational efficiency is proxied by the BOPO ratio. The analysis was conducted using EViews version 13. The empirical results show that Good Corporate Governance has a positive and statistically significant effect on financial performance, indicating that stronger governance practices contribute to higher profitability. Financing quality does not exhibit a significant effect on ROA. Conversely, Islamic Corporate Social Responsibility and operational efficiency have a negative and statistically significant effect on financial performance, suggesting that higher operational inefficiency and CSR-related costs may reduce short-term profitability. Overall, this study contributes to the Islamic banking literature by providing empirical evidence on key determinants of financial performance in Islamic Commercial Banks and highlights the importance of strengthening governance practices, improving operational efficiency, and managing ICSR programs more strategically to balance social objectives with long-term financial sustainability, while offering insights for regulators and stakeholders in reinforcing governance frameworks and optimizing Islamic value-based social responsibility.

The study examines concerns regarding Islamic finance legislation in Ethiopia. Using a qualitative method, the study investigated the current legal and regulatory frameworks regarding Islamic finance and the challenges facing Islamic financial institutions in the country. In the study we conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 respondents, including executives, boards of directors, regulators, managers, shariah board members, and legal scholars familiar with the country's laws. The study's findings indicate an urgent necessity for an inclusive and robust legal structure specifically designed for the unique characteristics of Islamic financing. Enhanced supervisory oversight is essential for ensuring adherence to Sharia principles. Furthermore, the research findings demonstrate how important it is to set up a separate supervisory body within the National Bank of Ethiopia to keep an eye on Islamic financial institutions. Lastly, the study highlights the significance of having qualified professionals and Sharia scholars in Islamic financing. Integrating Islamic finance education into universities can enhance capacity-building for regulators, scholars, and finance professionals.

In this study, Banca Etica, which operates in Europe within the scope of ethical banking practices, and participation banks in Turkey were compared in terms of business ethics. Ethical banking is an approach based on observing social, environmental and ethical responsibilities in the provision of financial services. Banca Etica and participation banks apply these ethical principles in different ways. Banca Etica focuses on social and environmental sustainability, transparency and community participation. The bank offers its customers interest rates determined in line with ethical principles and invests in social responsibility projects. Drawing attention with its transparency and accountability policies, Banca Etica regularly reports the effects of its investments and loans and shares them with the public. Participation banks in Turkey adopt interest-free banking principles in accordance with Islamic finance principles. These banks, which serve their customers by offering profit-loss sharing models and products that comply with Islamic finance rules, focus on social responsibility projects such as social justice and helping the poor. Participation banks' transparency regarding sharia compliance assures their customers that their transactions comply with Islamic finance rules. As a result, both types of banks operate in line with ethical principles, but their implementation approaches and areas of focus differ. These differences determine customers' preferences and banks' contributions to society and the environment.

This paper aims to examine the effects of bank mergers and corporate governance to maqashid sharia performance. This study also aims to examine the effect of corporate governance as a moderating variable. In this study, the measurement of variables using Integrated Maqashid Sharia Performance Measurement (IMSPM) which includes dimensions consisting of faith (din), self (nafs), intellect ('aql), posterity (nasl), and wealth (mal). Data processing was carried out using SPSS Statistics 29 with the source data of bank financial statements before and after the merger. The data includes the financial statements of BNI Syariah, BRI Syariah, Bank Mandiri Syariah 2015 – 2020 and also Bank BSI 2021 – 2023. The results showed that bank mergers have a positive effect on maqashid sharia performance. However, the corporate governance variable consisting of the independence and remuneration of the Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB) shows that the independence of SSB has no effect on the maqashid sharia performance and remuneration SSB has a negative effect. Independence of SSB has no effect to maqashid sharia performance because SSB who are not independent or hold concurrent positions will have more experience due to their role in other Islamic institutions and banks. In addition, SSB remuneration has a negative effect because when viewed from the operational side, the high remuneration received by SSB will actually increase the burden on banks so that it has an impact on their maqashid sharia performance. Nevertheless, corporate governance variables both independence and remuneration of SSB  can strengthen the effect of mergers on maqashid sharia performance.