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April 18, 2003
The Effects of 9/11 and the Iraq War on Islamic SRI Funds
by William Baue
Socially responsible investment funds that reflect Islamic values shed light on the issue of
anti-Islam sentiment, which has run rampant after 9/11 and through the Iraq War.
SocialFunds.com --
Before the tragic events of September 11, 2001, most people outside the Muslim community had
relatively limited interest in Islam. Since then, interest in Islam has mushroomed and persisted
through the Iraq War. This spotlight has affected the several socially responsible investment
(SRI) mutual funds that reflect Islamic values.
 "We have had a lot more attention because of
recent events such as 9/11 and the Iraq War," said Youshaa Patel, director of business development
for Allied Asset Advisors, which launched the Dow Jones Islamic Index Fund (ticker: IMANX) in June 2000.
This fund passively tracks the Dow Jones Islamic Market U.S.
Index (IMUS). "We have had continuous inflows relative to outflows for almost every single
month [since 9/11]."
Nick Kaiser, president of Amana Mutual Funds Trust, gives an slightly
different characterization of the same situation. Both the Amana Income Fund (AMANX), an
equity income fund, and the Amana Growth Fund (AMAGX), a
multicap growth fund, are Islamic SRI funds.
"I can't say there's been any impact
whatsoever [from 9/11 and the Iraq War]," Mr. Kaiser told SocialFunds.com. "Our shareholders are
long-term investors and they continue to invest, so sales are still greater than redemptions."
Mainstream perceptions in the United States tend to view Islamic traditions as radically
different from the Judeo-Christian traditions that underpin American culture. However, a
comparison with other SRI mutual funds, many of which are founded on Western religious principles,
reveals significant common ground.
"Our funds employ a lot of the same screens that other
socially responsible funds use," said Ms. Fouz, communications director at Azzad Asset Management. Azzad Asset Management offers the
Azzad Ethical Income Fund (AEIFX), an equity income fund that is benchmarked against the S&P 500,
and the Azzad Dow Jones Ethical Market Fund (ADJEX), which tracks the Dow Jones Islamic Market
Extra Liquid Index (DJIMXL).
Islamic SRI funds screen companies involved in alcohol,
tobacco, pornography, gambling, and weapons, just as most broadly screened SRI funds do. This
overlap bespeaks a harmony between Islam and Judeo-Christianity.
"They can be perceived as
disparate through various political and world events and through various personalities who like to
create this distinction, but our mutual fund is an example of how Muslims have very similar
concerns and beliefs to typical socially responsible investors in America," said Mr. Patel.
Of course Islamic funds do differ somewhat from typical SRI funds. For example, they screen
companies that produce or market pork-related products, in keeping with the precepts of Shari'ah
Law.
"What also makes our fund different is the fact that we tend to avoid financial
service companies based on Islam's aversion to interest and usury, but until the fifteenth century,
usury was also prohibited in the Christian church, so even within the revealed religions, there is
the idea that interest is something to be avoided, theologically speaking," Mr. Patel said.
Ms. Fouz explained that Islam considers the charging of interest unethical because it can
perpetuate the cycles of poverty.
Perhaps the primary distinguishing feature of Islamic
SRI funds is their lack of environmental screens.
"We don't employ any environmental
screens," Mr. Kaiser stated. "It's not an issue with the religion."
Mr. Patel sees things
slightly differently.
"The environmental issue is something that Islamic funds could focus
on and emphasize more," said Mr. Patel. "As a practicing Muslim myself, I believe there is a very
high regard for environmental stewardship within the Islamic faith and creed."
A quick
glance at the top ten holdings of the Azzad Funds might make a typical social investor look twice.
The Azzad Ethical Income Fund holds Halliburton (HAL), while the Azzad
Dow Jones Ethical Market Fund contains ExxonMobil (XOM), ChevronTexaco (CVX), and Dow Chemical (DOW).
Azzad does not ignore the environmental liabilities of these companies, but rather employs a tactic
utilized by many SRI practitioners.
"We think the best way to approach environmental
issues is through shareholder advocacy," said Ms. Fouz. "If all of the socially responsible funds
screen out these companies, they will still be in business, and they're not going to be held
responsible by any of us."
©
SRI World Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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