#Halaal is not only being found at your local Shoprite or Spur, there is also Halaal banking which is banking that operates in accordance with Islamic law (Shariah). Meaning Sharia law is already in South Africa and makes me wonder why we now have 2 separate laws in a country where we are supposed to be governed by one law. I don't think other religions are offered that. We are always told that your religious laws are not above the laws of the land. But, we have seen that through #Halaal Sharia law is alive and well. So, what does Halaal banking entail? 1. No Interest (Riba): Charging or paying fixed interest is strictly prohibited. Money cannot generate money on its own without underlying economic activity. Standard bank, FNB, and Absa will demand that you pay interest for loans and qoute the law and business model practices. Little did you know that you just had to be Muslim, ask for Shariah banking and you will never pay for interest on anything. 2. Risk-Sharing: Instead of shifting all risk to the borrower, the bank and the client share business risks, profits, and losses. This one shocked me. The bank basically cushions the borrower whilst the rest of us get our properties repossessed. Here are some common banking products: 1. Murabaha (Cost-Plus Sale): The bank buys an asset (such as a car or equipment) and sells it to you at an agreed-upon, transparent markup, which you pay back in installments rather than paying interest. 2. Diminishing Musharaka (Declining Partnership): Commonly used for property and home finance. The bank and you jointly own the property, and you pay rent on the bank's share while gradually buying out their portion until you own it outright. Basically you won't have to worry that much about the interest rate unlike the rest of us who are never given this option. So, my question is this: if according to some comments on X that say Halaal is okay for non Muslims, why then do banks not offer us Halaal banking? Imagine the money we would have saved in interest payments. Or is it a case of wanting us to pay the Halaal food/item tax but, finding us unworthy of benefiting from Halaal savings? I wonder how do the banks justify this?