Sharia finance refers to banking activity which is consistent with Islamic Law. There are many ways that Sharia financial practices are different from regular lending, such as the way Islamic banking regulates loans. Just as first time buyer mortgages are aimed at a particular demographic, Islamic finance is aimed at a particular niche, however it is one that is attracting attention from outside of that.

In many ways, Islamic banking operates on the same principles as conventional banking: the banks make money by lending out their capital. One of the major differences is that Sharia banking rules forbid the payment of interest on loans of money. Since the bank cannot make money by charging interest on its loans, there are other rules which avoid this problem. In Sharia banking various other principles are used to share the profit and loss.

How Does a Sharia Loan Work?

To explain how a loan would work in accordance to Islamic law, we will use the example of a mortgage. If you were to apply for a Sharia mortgage, rather than loaning you the money to purchase your home the bank would instead buy the home from the seller and re-sell it to you at a profit. You would be allowed to buy the home from the bank in installments. There would be no penalties for late payment, because the bank’s profit would not be allowed to be made explicit. However, so that the bank can protect itself in the event that you decide not to pay, they can ask you to give them collateral. This is also the way that a Sharia bank would handle a car loan, by purchasing the vehicle first and then selling it to you.

Another interesting approach offered by some banks is known as Musharaka al-Mutanaqisa. This type of loan allows for you and the bank to purchase a property together at an agreed upon percentage. You then rent this property from the “partnership”. You and the bank share the proceeds from your rent according to the equity share in the property. Over time, you pay for the bank’s share of the property by paying periodic installments until eventually the full equity of the home is transferred over to you. If you default on this type of loan, both you and the bank will receive a proportion of the proceeds based on your current equity share.

Wadiah

Another aspect of Sharia banking is the practice of “wadiah”. There is no interest paid in the same way that regular banks do on savings accounts. However, it is acceptable for the bank to give its customers a “gift” known as a “hibah” after keeping their funds in the bank for a certain amount of time.

Each “Sharia” bank is governed by an official Sharia Advisory Board, which is made up of Islamic scholars, experts and clerics who will ensure that all of the bank’s practices are in compliance with Islamic law.

If you are planning on travelling to Ireland, why not plan your visit so that you can attend an exciting festival? There are literally hundreds of festivals happening in Ireland all throughout the year. From small local county fairs to huge celebrations in Dublin, you will have lots of choice when it comes to partying the night away. Here are a few of the most popular events throughout the country:

The Galway Arts Festival

This annual arts festival happens every July in Galway and is the leading arts festival in Ireland. Performers from all over Ireland as well as international performers from all over the world come to showcase their creative talent to more than 150,000 guests each year. Artists, Writers, Poets, Musicians, Comedians, and Buskers come together to fill the city with art and song.

Past musical performers at this festival have included Joni Mitchell, Blondie, David Gray, and Philip Glass, and theatre companies such as The Royal Court Theatre, Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre, and The Stephen Petronio Dance Company have showcased their productions here. If you are looking to gorge on art and culture, this festival offers up a gourmet all-you-can-eat buffet of fine artistic performances.

Saint Patrick’s Day: Sky Fest

Of course, when talking about Festivals in Ireland we cannot forget Saint Patrick’s Day! This famous Irish national holiday is celebrated on March 17^th, and commemorates the patron saint of Ireland. Skyfest is an enormous fireworks display that forms the centrepiece of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Ireland, and is usually held on the Saturday before or after the holiday. Thousands of people flock to watch these fireworks, and enjoy the live Irish folk music.

No matter where you are in Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day you are sure to find carnivals, live music, dance performances, and all sorts of other celebrations to enjoy.

Cork Jazz Festival

If you are a fan of the groovy sounds of jazz music, this festival will have you snapping your fingers in appreciation. In the city of Cork, Ireland the annual Jazz Festival is held every year in late October. This event is considered one of the top three Jazz Festivals around the world, and features more than 1,000 different jazz musicians. You can choose from many performances in clubs, pubs and concert halls all over the city.

The Festival of World Cultures

Held at the end of July in Dun Laoghaire Town, this three day celebration includes enormous banquets of food and live music from all over the world. Enjoy the Feast Americana which recreates the atmosphere of an American country fair, and the Global Village featuring food and displays from many different countries. Watch the traditional performances at the World Dance Plaza and enjoy the displays of South Asian Arts. This family friendly festival is a great way to feel like you have travelled around the world in one night!

These days flights to Ireland are available form a wide variety of places, and tend to include flights to Dublin as an option. There are just are many excellent  festivals held throughout the year in Ireland. What are you waiting for? Join in the fun!

This looks amazingburgers doesn’t it? Bane is a pretty hardcore Batman villain, and if the previous two episodes of this incarnation of Batman are anything to go by this will be one of the standout films of 2012.

Conveyance is the movement of property deeds or legal title from one person to another, or granting the encumbrance of a mortgage or loan to another person.

The first thing you should do if you decide to undergo buying a house and therefore conveyancing is to find a place to purchase or to move to.

You should then look for an estate agent to sell your property. When looking for an estate agent you should consider the reputation of the estate agent in question. This will ensure you get the best value for money and can sell your house a quickly as possible.

Look and see the length of the contract on offer, whether there is an extension, whether you enter a no sale, no fee arrangement and whether the cost of advertisement is included in the price. Also make sure you can use your own solicitor as a referral from them will make your legal costs higher more than likely.

You will then have to go and find a solicitor for conveyancing. There are many solicitors that offer this service out there, however finding a good one will mean you have to take a lot of different things into account.

Get a full detailed quote from the solicitor you intend on using, though find out if they will charge you if the sale falls through first. Yu should also keep an eye out for additional charges or extras that are placed on top of the initial charge. Your solicitor will then make a legal contract. This means you have to furnish them with deeds, information for the land registry, details of your mortgage and a number of other things.

When the contract papers are made up you will need to wait when a number of other searches are performed on the property – this can take between 1-2 weeks. There may also be questions as the buyer will want to know certain things, these can add a length to the proceedings.

The buyer will also be sorting out finance at this stage and will instruct a surveyor to examine your property and ensure it is up to their standards.

Once this is all okay, the solicitors will ask you to sign a contact and these will be exchanged with the contact of the buyer when signed. This contract is the formal terms of commitment and at this stage a date for completion will be arranged and you will know when you have to leave the property by.

Completion then comes about when the seller’s solicitor receives the proceeds of the money. Then the title deeds are handed over and the property and any monies repaid out of the money received to the mortgage or the solicitor will be paid. The balance is then sent to you for purchase of another property.

There are various reasons why the Bank of England has kept the base rate of interest down. Partly it has been an attempt to allow the lending that needs to happen in order to for the economy to keep moving, but perhaps it has also been the intention to encourage consumer spending rather than saving.

It is certainly no secret that inflation is high and the interest rates being offered by banks on savings accounts are low. This has meant that it has been tempting to either just enjoy spending the money before inflation erodes its buying power, or to look to different types of investment. Both of these courses of action however have major flaws.

Finding a higher rate of return on the investment of money saved might seem like a bit of a no brainer. Things are not that simple. With greater returns almost inevitably comes some combination of increased risk and increased inflexibility.

Putting money into a UK bank may not be sure fire road to riches right now. At least it is safe though. The government guarantees savings to a very high level, meaning that you will still have your cash even if something goes badly wrong with the bank it is in. The same can not be said for other kinds of investments, with the situation generally being that you are on your own in joining the queue of creditors.

With what is happening in the eurozone right now there is every chance of things going very badly wrong with all kinds of financial institutions. The possibility of widespread sovereign debt default is being talked about, and this could prove to be too much to bare for the lending institutions. There is only a limited amount of money available to bail out banks, and the damage to the financial sector could damage the value of a whole range of investments.

Nobody knows what is going to happen with the global economy right now. Until a clearer picture emerges the argument for keeping your money safe and ready at hand is compelling. A lot could change over the next five years, so being locked into a five year investment could be far from ideal.

What goes for uncertainty in the economy goes double for uncertainty in personal finances. Wages and job security are not in a good place at the moment. It would be a brave person indeed who made decisions predicated on their income rising in relation to their outgoings over the foreseeable future.

The increased likelihood of unemployment or drastic falls in income is a reason why it may be wise to focus on having funds in reserve in government guaranteed savings accounts. They may not be performing as well as an investment as you would like, but at least they are there.

The Republic of Ireland’s capital is a great place for the craic, as the Irish would say. Dublin, split by the river Liffey, is a great city for people of all ages to visit as it offers everything from great nightspots, to good shopping and is in close proximity to fantastic scenery.

When staying in Dublin choose from one of the many fine hotels that are situated in the cities beautiful Georgian Squares – this will give you a taste of the grandeur of the Emerald isles capital

One of the must see places on a visit to Ireland is Trinity College. The University is the oldest in the country and greats such as Samuel Beckett have passed through its doors. The college is beautiful and easily accessible, being right in the centre of the city and it also holds the ancient Book of Kells – one of the greatest

pieces of medieval Christian manuscripts in the world. Its ornate decoration and attention to detail are evident and compelling.

The Chester Beatty Gallery, named after the founder who gave his collection of items to the state is also a fantastic place to visit, having won numerous European awards. The Chester Beatty Gallery stocks a number of prized items, including the remainders of the Middle Eastern religion of Manism a mixture of Christianity and Buddhism, as well as treasures from all over the world. Voted European Museum of the year in 2002, this is small but certainly not worth missing.

Dublin is also a prominent place for its nightlife and Temple Bar is one common place people will know. However, the area of Wexford Street and surrounding streets offers a number of pubs and clubs for those looking to get away from the tourist trap and see the pubs Irish people frequent. Try Copper Face Jacks – a very popular club, or try Whelan’s if you want to get some local music in when in the city of culture.

If you visit during a summer weekend then you’ll more than likely be around for a GAA Sunday Game. Visit Croke Park and see the sports the Irish love the most – Gaelic Games. There are often inter county double headers on and a visit is worth it for the friendly and lively atmosphere and the passion these amateur athletes compete with.

If you want to get away from it all and see some scenery and take in a little bit of Celtic mythology, Newgrange Mesolithic tomb is worth seeing. The tomb is a colossal structure built over 5000 years ago and showcases the advanced nature of Celtic design and architecture. The light shines to the remains of the dead at the end of the 60m long tomb only on the 21^st of December each year – showcasing Celtic mathematics and beliefs excellently.

The city may have a foot in the past, but the transport links are definitely 21st Century with many airlines now operating flights to Dublin. Wherever you are from in the world, Dublin should be on your list opf dream destinations.

Simply put, health and safety training is an essential in all businesses in this day and age. Every walk of life carries risks and problems that may affect safety of those working there and so adequate training is a must.

There are so many health and safety courses to choose from – so, which are the most popular and what do more of them actually do?

First Aid

The first aid course is exactly as you would imagine it to be – a course that covers simple first aid requirements and ensures that someone working in a place of employment is capable of taking care of the most basic medical needs. First aid courses offer the most common, but all the same the most necessary sorts of courses to individuals in the UK. These course cover the basic care giving, from the recovery position, CPR and how to dress cuts to more advanced courses which cover a whole array of more serious issues. They may be the most common, but that is because they are the most important.

Manual Handling

The manual handling or the lifting course as it is more commonly known, trains people to lift and move items properly and so ensure they don’t damage their backs. Back injury is one of the UKs most common reasons for missing work and the number one cause of injury in the work place. This course goes through a number of the basics to try and prevent such issues from coming about.

Site safety

Most injuries in the workplace happen on building sites. This is for a number of reasons – heavy machinery, easy going attitudes and complacency as well as half built structures, open wiring and a number of other reasons make construction work the most dangerous of all the UKs. Site safety courses address these issues and make people aware of the problems on hand and so allow them to prevent injury by taking action before a problem occurs.

Asbestos Awareness

Asbestos awareness allows people to locate asbestos in buildings of the vintage, where the material was used and then allows them to decide whether action is needed and what is necessary to be done to make the area safe. Asbestos has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and causes breathing difficulties in many others. Though it is not used as in building anymore it is quite prevalent still in older buildings. Asbestos awareness allows people to deal with this issue.

Food Safety

When a person goes to a restaurant they expect food to be safe to eat. The Food safety course ensures that it is and allows takers the knowledge to make informed decisions on how to ensure food is stored, prepared and served in a safe manner that won’t endanger health. This course is a necessity for anyone in the food industry and can prevent illness and also heavy fines and long closures.