Ahsan Shah, USA (English)

Sophie Paine, USA (French)

Abdul Waheed Ibrahim, Nigeria (Hausa)

Busari Shaamsuddeen Akande, Nigeria (English)

Azeez Adewale Mahmun, Nigeria (Yoruba)

Badr Al Badran, Saudi Arabia (Arabic)

Fazrihan Duriat, Singapore (Malay)

Fredrik Lundstrm, Finland (Swedish)

I spent the last 10 years working in different areas of Risk Management but I always felt that modern finance is inherently risky or risky by design. So, I turned to Islamic finance to answer one major question: How can we design a financial system based on risk sharing and risk reduction. I found the answers in the Ethica’s outstanding CIFE material. I recommend Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance to anyone seeking an understanding of an equitable approach to finance.

Ahmed Tanane, CIFE™ Graduate

Vice President-Risk Management, Wells Fargo, USA

At times you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to a live teacher. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in building a strong foundation in Islamic Finance. The only thing I regret about the course is that it ended!

Masen Abou-Zolof, CIFE™ Graduate

Financial Controller, Westpac Institutional Bank, Sydney, Australia

We upgraded to twice as many users after only 6 months with Ethica. We foresee unlimited opportunities for learning and growth with Ethica. Their e-learning solution combines the three things that we were looking for: scalability, quality, and industry Shariah standards. Ethica provided us with the flexibility to train as many or as few bankers as we wanted throughout the year.

Moinuddin Malim

CEO, Mashreq Al Islami, UAE

Ethica’s approach or ‘solution’ is unique, simple, rooted in morality and deserves to be called ‘pioneering’ from an educator’s perspective. After extensive research, I discovered that the only other accredited Islamic Finance program that was offered ‘almost’ completely online and did not require relocation was the XYZ program from XYZ Institute. However other credible institutions and even XYZ’s program still posed the following hurdles that Ethica clearly overcame to become my obvious choice:

1. The XYZ certificate could NOT be completed without an internship at an Islamic finance institution (of which there are hardly any in where I live). There is no substitute for actual experience, but in my humble opinion, Ethica’s practical teaching approach is probably the closest thing to working at an Islamic finance institution.
2. My email communications with staff left me wondering about the effectiveness of their platform which seemed to be a traditional online platform with minimal support from faculty members. Basically it would be a bunch of downloaded books and notes and me..no other support seemed evident. And the email response from the XYZ program’s Dean came 2 weeks after my initial inquiry. In comparison, Ethica’s Why Islamic Finance video literally blew me away and wiped out all my doubts about the quality of education. As for communications, Ethica has quite literally exceeded my expectations at every single occasion with lightning fast, informative and courteous responses. Makes me wonder sometimes if 2 or 3 different people are working round the clock (24/7) to create and maintain this awesome quality and service
3. I communicated with a number of XYZ and CIFE™ students online via LinkedIn and discovered that while all CIFE™ graduates praised the Ethica program highly and considered it an excellent investment for their careers, XYZ graduates on the other hand kept sending me precautionary warnings about not being too optimistic because XYZ hadn’t opened too many doors for them..at least not quickly enough. Other than the feedback from LinkedIn, I believe this particular concern of mine was further alleviated with the knowledge of Ethica’s Recruiter Database available to all CIFE™ graduates.

Ahsan Shah, CIFE™ Graduate

Budgets & Accountability Analyst, Aramco Services Company, Texas, USA

This is a timely and much needed development in the industry. Qualified human capital is the most critical need for the industry to maintain its growth trajectory across geographies. Such solutions will go a long way in providing systematic tools for practitioners.

Afaq Khan

CEO, Standard Chartered — Saadiq, Dubai

Ethica really delivers on its promise. Although I can in all honesty not judge on the instructor’s knowledge or on Shariah authenticity of the course (because that would imply that I had greater knowledge than my instructor) I can wholeheartedly confirm that the course content is very structured, clear as crystal, and its presentation is of a high didactic quality. I would certainly recommend CIFE™ to anyone seeking a good understanding of Islamic finance.

Johan Serré, CIFE™ Graduate

Chief Internal Auditor Insurance at KBC Bank, Belgium

I have completed the CIFE™ and am currently studying for the Advanced CIFE™ in Islamic Accounting. The course is fully online, including the final exam. The curriculum is highly practical and broken down in small modules to enable the students to better retain what they learn. They also contain many quizzes to test students’ knowledge and enable them to review the points they may have missed. Drawings make them very clear. I have read other books on Islamic Finance but they never include practical examples on how Islamic Institutions include Shariah compliant finance products, unlike Ethica. From what I could compare with other sources, the content follows the main Shariah consensus in Islamic Finance. I highly recommend this course for anybody interested in Islamic Finance — it gives down to earth explanations on how it works nowadays.

Sophie Paine, CIFE™ Graduate

Managing Director, A+B=3

I found the modules very organized for a new banker like myself and feel confident that it will prove to be a very useful learning tool even for more advanced bankers.

Hanan Izhiman

Certification Manager, NBAD Academy, National Bank Of Abu Dhabi, UAE

I took Ethica’s training and certification program a few years back and found the course to be oustanding. To be able to learn at my pace — anytime, anywhere has proven to be the best training delivery mechanism for me. Even though it has been a while since I graduated with Ethica’s CIFE™ I keep in touch with the management team on a regular basis for charitable projects that I engage in and I find them very approachable, credible and helpful.

Ahmed Ali Khan, CIFE™ Graduate

Project Manager / BA Wealth Advisory, Barclays, UK

What a nice learning experience. I have done many e-learning programs before, but Ethica’s course has been clear, to-the-point and most importantly logical: it’s building blocks fit together well. The narrative is good and the interactive bits within the videos make the study more engaging and make the material stick. Ethica’s content is not expected to make you a Shariah scholar (i.e. the highest authority) but will give you a deep understanding of Islamic banking, confidence in the main products, and broad understanding of many principles. You will be able to discern whether a product is Shariah-compliant or not.

Tamas Molontay, CIFE™ Graduate

Senior Country Officer, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Hungary

I decided to take up the Islamic finance course with Ethica after researching many other online offerings and I am glad I made the decision. As a busy professional, the course was systematic and very easy to follow. I had earlier trepidations about not being able to fully decipher the Arabic terms but through the course’s constant repetition, I can easily now tell the difference if someone fully understands Islamic finance or if he is just trying to wing it. I look forward to the quizzes and tests at the end of each main topic as it gives me a gauge of my comprehension. These quizzes can also be retaken and reviewed at your own pace. Overall, I had the most positive experience as I was also able to engage in a conversation with the Ethica team members. Yes, there are real people behind the online course! If you are thinking of catching the next big wave in Islamic finance, Ethica Institute is certainly the place for you to start.

Anisa Hassan, CIFE™ Graduate

Executive Director, Stellar Consulting Group, Singapore

The CIFE™ Program far exceeded my expectations. Very clear explanations from our enthusiastic lecturer coupled with very apt anecdotes from the participants supported the program a great deal. I really appreciated our lecturer’s willingness to answer our never-ending questions with patience. The participation banks in Turkey are still in a developing stage. Most of the structures that we have learned are yet to be used. So, being a participation banker in Turkey will share the basics of the products and structure with my colleagues and try to play a role in their implementation. Thank you very much to the organizers.

Burcu Calikli, CIFE™ Graduate

Country Risk Manager, Turkish Finance Participation Bank, Turkey

I have certifications in Islamic finance from 2 different institutes. Ethica and somewhere else. Although both courses imparted useful knowledge, it was Ethica’s CIFE™ that clarified my understanding of the concepts. The unique way of learning through well structured modules, easy-to-grasp demonstrations and well-placed real-world examples, almost perfectly simulated a professional class and made learning very engaging and effective. The layout of this course further enhanced my learning and cleared certain confusing concepts that I encountered during self study in my previous certification. Overall, Ethica is a great combination of a unique teaching style, timely knowledge and genuine personnel. The people at Ethica were always there to help, right from the time of joining, throughout my certification and even after completion by way of 1-on-1 career counseling. I enthusiastically recommend this institute to anyone interested in initiating their career in Islamic finance.

Faiza C, CIFE™ Graduate

Tax Professional, USA

First of all, thank you for providing a fabulous online training program in Islamic finance. I started with absolutely no idea about Islamic finance but by the time I appeared for the CIFE™ exam, I was already contemplating Shariah-compliant alternatives to the interest-based products being used in my bank. This for me was a great feeling. Of course, there is still long way to go but Ethica has given me a solid foundation to build on. Thank you.

Shahriar Masum, CIFE™ Graduate

Assistant Vice President, MTB International Trade Services, Mutual Trust Bank, Bangladesh

Ethica’s CIFE™ program is very informative, insightful and well structured. It teaches a very sophisticated and complex subject in a very simple, organized and effective manner. It combines both theoretical and practical approaches and provides inside information on the real Islamic finance world. I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to secure a career in Islamic finance.

Tarek Gadallah, CIFE™ Graduate

Partner, Ibrachy Law Firm, Egypt

I have to say that completing my Ethica certificate gave me an amazing perspective of Islamic finance and the interaction online was brilliant, the videos, etc. It is highly recommended, I could go as far as to say that I enjoyed the feeling of something new as much as the first year I was in the University in London.

Pascal Hagge, CIFE™ Graduate

The Ethica CIFE™ program is excellent. I am very tempted to undergo this training program but the problem is that I have already enrolled with the ____________ Institute. I wish I had know about it before hand. Is there anything I can do to jump ship. To be honest, the ______________ Institute is really _____. It is actually a diploma in Islamic finance where the tutor does not even respond to your questions and the quality is so low. I went through the Ethica videos and found them very informative. Is there any way to gain access to the training material for certification? I am willing to pay a fee for that. I shall spread the word for Ethica here.

Babar Jamil

For the first time ever, we now tap into the tremendous demand for Islamic finance from students all over the world.

Ishaq Bhatti

With Ethica we are able to impart the basic understanding of Islamic banking to our bankers in just 4 months with a certification examination to prove their learning. Ethica now makes my job easy: weekly reports, quiz and exam scores, and 24/7 tracking. All at my desk.

Sameera Khan

Learning and Development Consultant, Mashreq Bank, UAE

Ethica’s online content was very rich and practical, which engaged students and enhanced the University learning experience. Most of the students were from a finance and banking background and their research projects indicate that they grasped the fundamental concepts very well. I would highly recommend anyone pursuing a career in Islamic banking and finance to invest in their knowledge because it is the only way to get ahead and gain competitive advantage. Ethica is a great business partner, prompt and professional at all times.

Almir Colan

Program Coordinator, La Trobe University, Australia

I recently took the CIFE™ and am considering enrolling for the Advanced CIFE™. I feel glad to have chosen Ethica because the courses are very well structured that you don’t need assistance. The response to my major questions during the learning process seem to have already been anticipated at the design phase itself. You can learn at your pace with the full content online. The quizzes at the end of each module are very helpful to implant the main knowledge. The Case Studies and the At the bank sections make the Ethica’s CIFE™ exceptional for practicing real cases of Islamic finance operations. I highly recommend this training for those interested in learning islamic finance.

Mohamed Zied Dorbez, CIFE™ Graduate

Chief Financial Officer, Permaflex, Tunisia

Rapid e-learning is the wave of the future. Ethica’s e-learning brings engaging content and appealing design.

Yuvakumar Ramchander

Head, Mashreq Learning Systems, Mashreq Bank, UAE

It was a great choice when I decided to learn more about Islamic Finance. Ethica has given me the opportunity to develop myself and my profession in such an important field. I would recommend Ethica to all candidates and finance professionals interested in learning Islamic Finance in a very easy, simple and direct way. Thanks Ethica!

Basel Omar Abu-Ali, CIFE™ Graduate

Financial Controller, Emirates International Investment Company, UAE

I have completed Ethica’s CIFE™ and Advanced CIFE™ programs and they are simply outstanding. The illustrations are clear and their methodology is unbeatable. You enjoy them so much that you don’t want to take a break and they truly take you from novice to a professional level within the shortest possible time. If Ethica was a classroom, there will be no truancy.

Muhammad Adamu, CIFE™ Graduate

Relationship Manager,First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Nigeria

The videos blew me away because the content was great. after passing the CIFE™ exam I had the privilege of having 1-on-1 career counseling. this counseling was very helpful.

Adefisayo Adeniyi, CIFE™ Graduate

Banker, London, UK

Once I complete this certification, Ethica has an extensive network of finance and business people in the region and internationally that I can connect to in regard to securing that new job.

John Wilson Wiles, CIFE™ Graduate

Consultant, USA

. I did an extensive search on the Internet visiting websites of various institutions from Malaysia, United Kingdom, India as well as the Middle East. I also visited the websites of various professional bodies and universities and found them to be no different than the one I had just quit. Finally, I stumbled upon Ethica.

Aziz Jadwet, CIFE™ Graduate

Manager, Advanced Firefighting Technology, Mumbai, India

What I find impressive about Ethica’s CIFE™ is that its training videos clarify complicated concepts easily and they incorporate both theoretical and practical aspects, an obvious plus point unlike the modules I learnt in my diploma in Islamic finance in the past from another school. I recommend Ethica’s CIFE™ program to anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of Islamic banking and finance; and even for Islamic bankers who want a refresher course.

Fazrihan Duriat, CIFE™ Graduate

Shari’ah Compliance Executive, Maybank, Singapore

The best thing about Ethica Institute is that it makes AAOIFI standards accessible to everyone who is eager to learn. Their ever-evolving web-based training material and rigorous certification process has the potential to promote AAOIFI’s standards throughout the world by simply training and certifying multitudes of Islamic finance professionals from the comforts of their homes and offices.

Liaquat Ali, CIFE™ Graduate

This course is primarily aimed at providing high quality training to cater for the growing need of the industry. It provides academic and industry knowledge of the products within the Islamic finance and banking industry in

Finally, AAOIFI based industry training at my desk!

Mashreq Banker, UAE

The CIFE™ is one of the most valuable courses that I have taken until now. The course was a very interesting, well organized and structured learning program and combined a professional teaching style with practical methods. With the help of this course, I have enhanced my knowledge of the principles and fundamentals of Islamic finance. I have really enjoyed the course and I will highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to enter a career in Islamic finance.

Suzan Dervari, CIFE™ Graduate

Licensing and Regulation Department Director, Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo

I have completed CIFE™ course with Ethica and found their training material excellent source not only for their examination but also for understanding the fundamentals of Islamic Finance. In fact, I have now enrolled for their Advanced CIFE™ in Islamic Accounting course and looking forward to upgrading my knowledge further. I have no hestitation in recommending their course for any serious student of Islamic Finance and Accounting.

Akbar Mohamed Casim Shaikh, CIFE™ Graduate

Director, Revenue Assurance & Compliance, Qatar

The knowledge gained through Ethica’s CIFE™ & ACIFE™ has helped me immensely not only in my professional career but even in completing other courses in Islamic Finance. I strongly recommend the CIFE™ & ACIFE™ qualifications specially to those who are new to the field with no prior knowledge since the qualifications are uniquely designed for easy understanding and practical application that has been rigorously tested and accredited. It is safe to say that being a CIFE™ & ACIFE™ means that you know Islamic finance inside out and ready to take on the reality of this unique industry.

Shamraz Kitchilan, CIFE™ Graduate

Executive, Amana Bank Limited, Sri Lanka

The CIFE™ is very simple and straight forward to understand and once you start you don’t want it to end as you tend to get hooked to it. I strongly recommend it to any one who wants to have a simplified knowledge in Islamic Finance.

Abdul Aziz Jega, CIFE™ Graduate

Business Manager, United Bank for Africa, Nigeria

I have reviewed these online sessions and I am very impressed with what I see. They provide a solid foundation that is fundamental to fully understanding Islamic finance.

Professor Walid Hejazi

Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance fills a gap by providing a platform for cost-effective training and development, reliable certification, and a forum for those interested in Islamic finance to interact.

Mehdi A. Zaidi

Chief Program Officer, Noor Islamic Bank, Dubai

I certify that Ethica’s training is fully Shariah compliant. And I consider the CIFE™ to be the strongest Islamic finance certification available online that I have seen.

Tariq Bujasaim

Ex-Senior Shariah Auditor, Dubai Bank

The case studies, quizzes, diagrams, and overall design really keep me engaged. And because training videos come in 20 minute chunks, I can fit training into my schedule any time I want.

Mashreq Banker, UAE

If you are seeking a solid, Shariah-grounded Islamic finance training program, I would unhesitatingly recommend Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance over anyone else.

Faraz Rabbani

Researcher and Expert in Islamic Law, StraightWay Ethical Advisory (www.StraightWayEthical.com)

In the current environment, a clear, comprehensive and trustworthy resource on Islamic finance is priceless. Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance sets a high benchmark indeed. In an era characterized by moral confusion, it is also reassuring to know that there remain entrepreneurs aiming for a higher purpose. I sincerely hope that more people discover and use this resource in the future.

Renaud H. Samyn

Vice President, Capital Research Company, Hong Kong

Considering the rapid growth of Islamic finance, it was surprising to see a relative dearth of online resources — especially for training. Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance now fills that void. Their innovative and interactive training methods will contribute towards the development of Islamic finance and will ensure that people in positions of responsibility are suitably qualified and trained by recognized experts.

Haris Zuberi

The material on the Ethica Institute web site is terrific. Going through their online sessions will provide a solid understanding of the fundamentals of Islamic Finance.

Mohammad Fadel

Ethica’s innovative methodology brings Islamic finance training right to your personal computer. Thank you for your commitment to educating practitioners in Islam’s best kept secret and the solution to today’s financial woes.

Mahmoud Qutub

This is an excellent initiative that promises to finally bring Islamic finance to the masses! The modules make Islamic finance interesting, informative and most of all provide for a cost-effective, easily accessible, and highly efficient training across large-scale institutions and individuals. No more is Islamic finance relegated to costly conferences in plush hotels or to be delivered by trainers whose daily charges prohibit the everyday person from benefiting. Islamic finance was and is an industry driven by the vision of the everyday man who wants an alternative to the injustices of modern finance. Just as we had begun to fear that the caravan of Islamic Finance had begun to go astray, Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance appears and promises to realign its direction with its ideals.

Yusuf Jha