The main principles of Islamic finance include:

• The prohibition of taking or receiving interest;

• Capital must have a social and ethical purpose beyond pure, unfettered return;

• Investments in businesses dealing with alcohol, gambling, drugs or anything else that the Shari’ah considers unlawful are deemed undesirable and prohibited;

• A prohibition on transactions involving masir (speculation or gambling).

• A prohibition on gharar, or uncertainty about the subject-matter and terms of contracts – this includes a prohibition on selling something that one does not own.