Muslim Money Talk

Meet Sagheer Malik, Chief Commercial Officer of Offa Finance, proving shariah compliant buy to let and bridge financing solutions.He discusses the regulatory challenges surrounding UK Islamic Home Financing, along with the criticisms that have come his way from other practitioners! Sagheer also discusses the UK Muslim children’s adoption crisis and draws parallels between it and Islamic finance.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes: 00:00 - Trailer 02:31 – The UK’s child adoption crisis 12:03 – Early career at Islamic Bank of Britain16:37 - Being mentored by strong Muslims17:39 - Being poor and Muslim 19:50 - Remembering the late Azhar Khan23:22- Launching the UK’s first Islamic Bank 28:15- Mistakes made at the Bank 32:56- Why the name Offa?35:42- How Offa fixes UK Islamic Mortgages41:10 - Why are 2 lawyers often needed?43:10 - Are some companies more authentically shariah compliant?50:10 - Confusion amongst the general public 56:35 - Regulated vs. Unregulated Schemes: Stamp Duty, CGT and Variable Rents1:07:50 - Offa’s future product offering as1:11:48 - Should everyone buy property?1:16:50 - The Story of Abdurrahman RA and charitable giving

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, Dr. Hassan Daher, founder of Qardus, talks about building the UK’s first Sharia-compliant SME lending platform. They dive into the roots of Islamic finance, the fintech startup journey, and navigating the modern economy as a Muslim entrepreneur and investor.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes: 00:00 - Opening02:19 – Reflections on building a fintech startup and the 5-year journey04:13 – Overview of Qardus and services offered05:41 – Growing up in Lebanon, education, and family background8:52 - Founding Qardus: UK's First Sharia-Compliant Lender18:58 - The Two-Sided Marketplace Problem31:29 - How Qardus Works Behind the Scenes44:06 - Managing Startup Life and Avoiding Burnout55:11 - Islamic Economics in a Trump Era1:01:10 - Cryptocurrencies and Financial Literacy

This special live podcast event episode (featuring Sadiq Dorsat, Niaz Azad & Yasmine  El-Mahairy) discusses financial challenges faced by British Muslims, highlighting issues like debt, financial literacy, and the importance of giving Zakat locally. The speakers emphasises building generational wealth within the Muslim community and supporting Muslim-owned businesses, while also tackling stereotypes about wealth and piety.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes: 00:00 - The State of Muslim Finances in UK08:42 - Challenging Poverty-Piety Misconceptions17:05 - Muslim Charitable Giving and Local Impact23:29 - Introducing EverGive's Endowment Approach27:08 - Muslim Women and Financial Empowerment31:10 - Supporting Muslim Businesses and Entrepreneurship40:35 - Final Advice for Muslim Entrepreneurs

Abul Uddin UK Head of Private Client Services at Wahed Invest, discusses the importance of Sharia-compliant pensions, financial literacy among UK Muslims, and shares personal insights into his career transition to Islamic finance. He emphasises how Muslims often leave money on the table by not taking advantage of pensions and tax-efficient investments.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes: 00:00 - Opening07:20 - Abul Fazal Salah's Journey into Islamic Finance18:53 - Cultural Differences in Financial Literacy32:25 - Understanding Sharia-Compliant Pensions47:15 - Tax Benefits of Pension Contributions53:05 - Strategic Investment Planning Advice

This episode of Muslim Money Talk features Imam Shabbir Hassan, founder of The Nikkah Co., discussing modern Muslim marriage trends, challenges, and solutions. From rising intercultural marriages and shifting wedding costs to divorce trends and the impact of marriage apps, the conversation explores how faith, culture, and financial awareness intersect in today’s Muslim relationships.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes: 00:00 - Opening 5:20 - From Devon to Islamic Scholar: An Unexpected Journey17:38 -The Birth of The Nikah Co and Marriage Specialization28:56 - Wedding Statistics and Cultural Time Management38:53 - Money, Marriage and Cultural Expectations49:06 - Why Muslim Marriages Survive or Fail1:03:19 - Finding a Spouse in the Digital Age1:13:40 - Overlooking Flaws and Finding Barakah in Marriage

This podcast episode dives into how Takadao is revolutionising the insurance industry by creating a decentralised, Sharia-compliant mutual protection system powered by blockchain. The guests discuss their entrepreneurial journey, Web3 adoption in Saudi Arabia, and how their innovative model empowers communities to take control of their financial security.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes:00:00 - Opening3:17 -Muslim vs Western Insurance Principles5:06 - Tim Draper Investment and Facing Rejection37:27 - Wearing Religious Identity in Business46:01 - Saudi Arabia's Growing Tech Ecosystem1:07:02 - Married Cofounders: Challenges and Benefits1:13:19 - Investment Strategy and Claims Verification

He’s back! By popular demand, the founder of Riba Free Foundation Omar Khaliel returns to the Muslim Money Talk podcast to update what he’s been working on for the past year to educate the masses on the dangers of riba.How does it affect society, from crime to marriages? Are Muslims desensitised to this issue? Why should non-Muslims care about this more? Find out more in this fantastic episode.This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/Show Notes:0:00 - Opening02:40 - What is the Riba Free Foundation?04:40 - Effects on marriages and society 14:01 - Are Muslims desensitised to riba?16:37 - Why younger generations care more19:20 - Moving away from the Islamic argument22:01 - Developing the mindset of a custodian 28:54 - Teaching students at university 31:00 - Addressing the critics of Islamic Finance37:26 - What to be excited about44:00 - What do leaders of tomorrow need to learn

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui is joined by Najib Al-Aswad, Director at IFAAS, and co-host Ali Siddiqui to discuss the intricacies of Islamic finance. They delve into whether Islamic finance is truly different from conventional finance, the challenges it faces in the UK, and why misconceptions persist. The conversation explores regulatory hurdles, awareness gaps, and the role of Sharia scholars in defining what is truly compliant.This podcast is powered by Kestrl.Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefsKestrl - The Muslim Money Apphttps://kestrl.io/Show Notes:0:00- Opening10:53 -Comparing Islamic Windows in Conventional Banks16:56 - Evolution of Islamic Finance Principles31:53 - Challenges in Islamic Finance Marketing41:56 - Embracing Islamic Finance for All51:29 - Navigating Sharia Compliance in the UK

Sokhiba Mukhitdinova, an angel investor and VC at InsurTech Venture Capital, shares her wisdom on successful fundraising. She unveils seven essential secrets, from bootstrapping to smart capital, emphasizing community building. Sokhiba discusses the unique challenges faced by female founders and the importance of choosing the right investors. Her journey from a musical upbringing in Kazakhstan to venture capital reveals valuable insights into entrepreneurship. Key strategies include leveraging networks and navigating emotional ties in fundraising.

In this episode, Sheikh Mohammed Paracha an accomplished Islamic finance lawyer and fintech pioneer—shares his journey from drafting groundbreaking Sharia-compliant contracts to building Nesta, a non‐bank financial institution that reimagines ethical fixed income products. He also discusses the challenges of aligning conventional financial practices with true Islamic principles while advocating for regulatory innovation and grassroots engagement.This podcast is powered by Kestrl.Kestrl is an app that helps Muslim to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefsKestrl - The Muslim Money Apphttps://kestrl.io/Show Notes:0:00 - Islamic Finance and Fintech Opportunities3:05 - Legal Career and Islamic Scholar Journey12:05 - Pioneering Islamic Finance in the UK22:10 - Breaking Ground in Islamic Finance31:26 - Islamic Banking Feasibility Study and Challenges39:31 - Reforming Islamic Finance and Fintech43:22 - Innovative Sharia-Compliant Investment Platform48:58 - Regulatory Challenges and Financial Empowerment57:09 - Islamic Finance and Foreign Investment1:04:54 - Innovative Approaches in Islamic Finance1:10:31 - Islamic Finance and Entrepreneurial Insights