Research Center for Islamic Economics (IKAM) was established in year 2016 with an aim to conduct deep-rooted and quality research in order to build Islamic economic thought in a holistic manner. The work is being carried out here with an aim to serve as a blue print for creation of a system that promotes fair and halal gain and respects human labour.

This report gives readers an overview of the activities IKAM has organised and milestones it has achieved in the year 2019. In this report, you will find information about our research projects, training activities, education programmes, publications, seminars, presentations and workshops. The report also gives a glimpse of the corporate links IKAM has developed and the advances it has made both nationally and internationally. The report is published both in digital and printed versions for the ease of the readers and to have a global outreach.

The year 2019 at IKAM was as busy and productive as were the years before yet the milestones it achieved were unmatched. While many of our traditional education and training activities were continued, many others were added. Research and Publications at IKAM share a similar story. New research was made, reports were penned and titles were published. 

Islamic Economic Workshop is the most comprehensive of our activities each year. The 7th Islamic Economics Workshop was organized by IKAM in collaboration with IGIAD and ILEM under the theme, “Monetary Issues in Islamic Economics” and was held at Marmara University from 5th to 7th April 2019. The workshop attracted rich audience from over 10 countries. Within the framework of the workshop’s theme, papers were presented, and evaluations and discussions were made for three consecutive days and the economists gathered under the auspices of IKAM reasserted the pertinence of devising a monetary policy in light of Islamic principles. The proceedings of this workshop are in process of publication in two languages; in Turkish by our publishing house Iktisat Yayınları and in English by Routledge, UK. 

In the inaugural session of the workshop the recipients of Islamic Economics Awards were also announced. The awards were presented under three categories i.e. Islamic Economics Research Award, Islamic Economics Application Award and Islamic Economics Contribution Award. 

With growing interest of young scholars in our academic programs and events, seminars, workshops and intensive lectures were arranged all around the year. Two major workshops were organized in this year under the themes of ‘Qarde-Hasan’ and ‘Business Partnerships in an Islamic Economy’ respectively. A multiple day Basic Program in Islamic Economics was held in Istanbul, Adana and Ankara each of which received rich attendance and appreciation. Two intensive lectures and two thesis presentations on topics relating to different dimensions of Islamic economics and finance were also organized in this year. 

IKAM with an aims at providing a rich environment for researchers and academicians to produce new works in the field of Islamic economics, continued its commitment to the discipline by undertaking different projects in this year. World’s biggest online database of works from Islamic economics and finance prepared by IKAM, ‘Bibliography of Islamic Economics’ which was originally launched in the second half of year 2018 was expanded this year with addition of thousands of new works including books, book chapters, journal articles, reports, conference papers and theses. 

Our publishing house Iktisat yayinlari also achieved certain milestones. Several classic titles from the field of Islamic Economics and Finance were translated and published this year. To discuss the content of these books with wider audience IKAM organized several book talks where prominent authors came and briefed the audience about their works. 

Our academic journal Turkish Journal of Islamic Economics (TUJISE) also achieved several milestones. The acceptance of TUJISE into ESCI index in 2018 reinvigorated the interest of academia which was reflected in the sharp increase witnessed regarding submissions received to our journal. 

In year 2019, we published two research reports as well as two country reports highlighting the contemporary progress of Islamic economics and finance in East Africa and Bangladesh. The research reports included one penned by our coordinator Ahsan Shafiq that encompasses all journals and publishing houses related to Islamic economics and finance. 

At IKAM, we feel a pertinent need for amalgamated projects and cooperation with other national and international organizations working in the same field. Our representatives visited prestigious universities and organizations in Turkey and abroad to conduct joint works as well as to collaborate in research. Besides hosting a delegation from Participation Banks Association of Turkey (TKBB), we also received delegations from INCEIF and ICIFE (Malaysia), Al-Huda CIBE (Dubai) and Al-Maali, Malaysia and were visited by different notable academicians from the field. 

We believe that our team deserves a heartfelt appreciation for it is with the mere cooperation, enthusiasm, and spirit of theirs that we could make IKAM a grand success. The meticulous work of our team’s coordinator, Ahsan Shafiq helped us achieve ambitious targets. Had it not been his labour, we might not have delivered such a successful Islamic economics workshop. The publishing work at IKAM, including research and country reports, and the journal, as well as our international collaborations, are owed to his endeavours. Our editors, Merve Akkuş and Emrah Yağmurlu helped us great deal in publishing tens of titles from our publishing house, Iktisat Publications. Our administrative supervisor, Osman Paldir left no stone unturned in assuring the excellent organization of all education and training programs that were carried out throughout the year. 

We are continuing our work for a productive economy that encompasses the construction of a fair world for all segments of society.

Effort is from us, Taufeeq from Allah!