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Our approach to innovation remains focused on the future
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shariah group
Islamic banking continues to grow steadily, driven by innovation, adaptability, and a commitment to delivering modern financial solutions that meet evolving customer needs. The past several decades saw Islamic banking cementing its rightful role as a vital part of the global financial landscape. By leveraging advancements in technology, digitisation, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, Islamic banking has become a dynamic and forward-thinking player, driving growth, attracting customers, and delivering fast, integrated services.
Since its inception over 60 years ago, alrajhi bank has upheld its position as the world’s largest Islamic bank by staying true to the principles of Islamic Shariah. The Shariah Group at alrajhi bank, working under the Council of Shariah, ensures that every aspect of the bank’s operations, products, and services adheres to Shariah law.
The group includes the Council of Shariah Secretariat and the Shariah Supervision Departments, which play pivotal roles in maintaining and strengthening this commitment. The Council of Shariah Secretariat Department —comprising consultants and subject matter experts— analyses contracts, agreements, and products, preparing detailed reports for the Council’s review. Once decisions are made, the Secretariat Department communicates them to the relevant departments and provides ongoing guidance and instructions to ensure full compliance. Simultaneously, the Shariah Supervision Department oversees all transactions to ensure they align with the Council’s directives and decisions with regards to contracts, agreements, and products. It also performs Shariah audits through automated systems, specialised programmes, and field visits. The Department’s team of supervisors and specialists is responsible for developing and reviewing auditing standards, in line with the Council’s directives and decisions.
alrajhi bank is considered one of the world’s first banks to implement Shariah governance through the General Assembly’s adoption of the “Council of Shariah Regulations” in 1999 and all updates that followed. This practice remains strengthened by the “Shariah Governance Framework for Local Banks” issued by the Saudi Central Bank, which represents direct support for alrajhi bank’s view of Islamic banking.
In 2024, the Shariah Group launched several initiatives to raise awareness and compliance with Shariah principles, benefiting employees, customers, the broader community, and other stakeholders. Key highlights include:
- Holding 32 meetings to discuss more than 280 topics;
- Issuing over 280 directives to the bank and its subsidiaries;
- Carrying out supervisory and awareness visits to more than 170 bank locations, including branches, financing halls, and sales outlets in various regions nationwide;
- Delivering more than 15 training courses and workshops for employees of the branches, direct sales and “tahweel alrajhi” in various regions of the Kingdom;
- Responding to over 270 mail inquiries and 500 telephone inquiries;
- Disseminating 12 awareness messages to the bank’s employees about Shariah principles in banking and the Shariah policy of the bank;
- Developing and updating the Shariah Group’s website to include clarifications of the Shariah provisions related to various products;
- Training undergraduate students from Shariah colleges in collaboration with alrajhi academy;
- Enrolling Shariah Group employees in professional development courses on cybersecurity, governance, risk management, and related topics.
Future outlook
All indicators point to a bright future for Islamic banking, with continued growth on the horizon. This growth will not only advance the Islamic banking industry, but also benefit the banks and financial institutions involved, further nurtured by the Saudi Central Bank’s mandatory “Shariah Governance Framework for Local Banks.” This framework is set to help Islamic banking products meet customer expectations and adapt to rapidly changing market demands, while protecting the interests of all stakeholders —shareholders and clients alike—and providing enhanced banking experiences.
Furthermore, advancements in fintech, digitisation, and emerging technologies are unlocking unprecedented opportunities for Islamic banking. Looking ahead, the Shariah Group remains dedicated to enhancing Islamic financial products, proposing innovative Shariah-compliant solutions, and driving alrajhi bank’s leadership in the global Islamic banking sector.
Members of the Council of Shariah at alrajhi bank
His Excellence Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Hameen Al Hamain
Chairman
Current Positions
- Member of the Council of Shariah, Emkan Finance Company
Previous Positions
- Judge at the Public Court, Al-Ula Province
- President of the Public Court, Al-Rass Province
- Advisor at the Royal Court
- President General, Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Shariah from the College of Shariah, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
Experience
- Three and a half decades of experience in Islamic Jurisprudence in scholarly and advisory capacities
His Excellence Sheikh Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Majed
Vice Chairman
Current Positions
- Member of the Council of Shariah, Emkan Finance Company
Previous Positions
- Judge at the Presidency of the Courts, Al-Ahsa Province
- Judge at the Public Court, Riyadh
- Member of the Shura Council
- Member of the Arbitration Committee for the Judicial Decisions Registry
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Shariah from the College of Shariah, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
Experience
- Draws from a career spanning nearly four decades in Islamic Jurisprudence in scholarly and advisory capacities
His Excellence Sheikh Dr. Saad bin Turki Al-Khathlan
Member
Current Positions
- Teacher at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque
- Member of the Council of Shariah, Al Rajhi Capital
- Shariah Advisor at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority
- Member of the Council of Sharia, Emkan Finance Company
Previous Positions
- Member of the Council of Senior Scholars
- Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saudi Jurisprudence Association
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Shariah from the College of Shariah, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
- Master’s Degree in Islamic Jurisprudence from the College of Shariah, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
- PhD in Islamic Jurisprudence from the College of Shariah, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
Experience
- Over 3 decades of experience in scholarly and advisory capacities in Islamic Jurisprudence
His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah Allheidan
Member and Secretary
Current Positions
- Member of the Council of Shariah at Al Rajhi Cooperative Insurance Company (alrajhi Takaful)
- Member of the Council of Shariah at Emkan Finance Company
Previous Positions
- Teaching Assistant, then Lecturer at the College of Shariah, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
- Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence at the Higher Institute of Judiciary
- Vice Dean of the Higher Institute of Judiciary
- General Manager of the Shariah Group at alrajhi Bank
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Shariah and Fundamentals of Religion from the College of Shariah and Fundamentals of Religion, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Qassim Branch
- Master’s Degree in Comparative Islamic Jurisprudence from the Higher Institute of Judiciary, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
- PhD in Comparative Islamic Jurisprudence from the Higher Institute of Judiciary, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
Experience
- A well-established, nearly four-decade long career as a scholar, educator, educational administrator, and subsequently as an advisor of Islamic Jurisprudence
His Excellence Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Salm
Member
Current Positions
- Professor of Comparative Islamic Jurisprudence at the Higher Institute of the Judiciary
- Member of the Council of Shariah, Emkan Finance Company
Previous Positions
- Associate Professor Islamic Jurisprudence at the Higher Institute of the Judiciary
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Shariah and Fundamentals of Religion from the College of Shariah and Fundamentals of Religion, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Qassim Branch
- Master’s Degree in Comparative Islamic Jurisprudence from the Higher Institute of the Judiciary, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
- PhD in Comparative Islamic Jurisprudence from the Higher Institute of the Judiciary, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
Experience
- Nearly thirty years of experience in Islamic Jurisprudence in scholarly and advisory capacities