Objectives of Financial Institutions: Western and Islamic

To understand the functions of the financial institutions within a capitalist system, one must understand the spirit of capitalism. This paper argues that the spirit is the pursuit of wealth without any moral or social restraints. Financial institutions represent an embodiment of this spirit. Furthermore, these institutions act in concert with social and political institutions and cannot be understood except within this context. Ultimately, the unrestrained pursuit of wealth leads to the collection of wealth in the hands of a small number of the rich and powerful. Sustaining such outcomes within a democratic society requires radical changes in social values. Neither the spirit, nor the social values associated with capitalist society are compatible with Islam. Islamic financial institutions attempt to modify the form of the institutions without affecting the spirit. Thus they end up performing the same functions as capitalist institutions and do not represent a genuine Islamic alternative.