Joe Bradford
US scholar · specialist in Western Islamic finance
The most directly relevant English-language voice on Western Muslim finance. Trained in classical fiqh; writes specifically about Western product structures. His central thesis: most Western 'Islamic' mortgages calibrated to interest-rate benchmarks are conventional loans in Arabic clothing.
On the core questions
5 of the 6 core questions are documented for this voice. Each carries its source.
Q1 · Is riba prohibited in Islam?
ProhibitsSource:joebradford.net
Q2 · Is conventional bank interest the same as Qurʾānic riba?
ProhibitsSource:joebradford.net
Q3 · Is a conventional mortgage permissible by necessity (ḍarūrah) in the West?
ProhibitsThe strongest argument for necessity tends to be made by those who have not seriously attempted the alternatives.
Source:On Western Islamic Financelink
Q4 · Is contemporary Murābaḥah-based home finance permissible?
ProhibitsModern AU/UK/US Murābaḥah mortgages whose pricing tracks interest rates and whose default mechanism penalizes time-value are conventional loans in Arabic clothing.
Source:On Contemporary Mortgage Products
Q5 · Is Ijārah Muntahiyah bi-Tamlīk (lease-to-own) permissible?
Permits — strict conditionsAccepts in principle; the audit is the actual contract.
Source:On Partnership Structures
Positions are summarised conservatively from documented statements. A label reflects the scholar's strongest documented position; the nuance line captures the qualifiers. Verify against the cited source, and see the methodology for how these were formed.