A Case Study of Safa Baitul Maal- An Islamic Micro Finance Institution in Hyderabad India

Abstract

Islamic Microfinance refers to interest free microfinance in which no interest is charged from the poorest members of the society who are (areas in which poor people are living) marked negative by commercial banks i.e. the people are not given any loans. The main aim of any Islamic microfinance institution is to help the financially backward people to set up their small businesses without adding any further financial burden on them. The other objective of Islamic Microfinance is poverty alleviation and brings the poorest of the poor in the main stream. Unlike commercial banks and conventional microfinance, the objective of Islamic Microfinance is not to make profit but to earn reward from Allah (the Creator of Universe) both in this world and Hereafter. Islamic Microfinance or Interest free microfinance is most important tool to protect poor and poorer from the clutches of Sahukars (money vendors) who give meagre amount of Rs 800-1000 to small vendors in the morning and ask for principal and interest in the evening. In this paper, the authors have taken up the study of Safa Baitul Maal (SBM) interest free microfinance based in Hyderabad India. The selected institution has also been evaluated on various aspects such as its modus operandi, current status, outreach. The institution is fairly new which started its microfinance activities in 2014 in Kishan bagh Hyderabad Telangana India. The findings are very impressive, the shariah compliance is strictly followed. The loan amount distribution which was Rs 0.1 million in 2014 has now increased to 1 million in 2019. Initially only 20 persons were given interest free loan now this number is increased to 1500 persons in 2019 and 1800 in 2020.