Mortgage

A mortgage (literal translation: "death pledge") is a device developed in the common law world, whereby the ownership of property is passed from one person -- the mortgagor -- to another -- the mortgagee -- in return for the loan of money. The mortgagee is prevented from exercising his rights of ownership by the rules of equity so long as the interest on the loan is paid.

Islamic mortgages

Islamic Sharia law prohibits the payment or receipt of interest, which means that practising Muslims cannot use conventional mortgages. However, real estate is far too expensive for most people to buy outright using cash: Islamic mortgages solve this problem by having the property change hands twice. In one variation, the bank will buy the house outright and then act as a landlord. The homebuyer, in addition to paying rent, will pay a contribution towards the purchase of the property. When the last payment is made, the property changes hands.

Related Topics:
Islam - Sharia - Interest - Rent

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An alternative scheme involves the bank reselling the property according to an installment plan, at a price higher than the original price.

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In the United Kingdom, HSBC was the first major bank to offer Islamic mortgages.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - HSBC

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