ISLAMIC DERIVATIVES IN INDONESIA: A STUDY ON INDONESIAN ULAMA COUNCIL (MUI)’S FATWA ON TAHAWWUT (HEDGING)

In 2015, Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) introduced a fatwa on tahawwut (hedging). This remarks the formal introduction of Islamic derivatives into the country's Islamic banking and finance industry. Islamic banks and conventional banks offering Islamic services are “religiously” and legally allowed to use forward contracts to hedge foreign currencies. Furthermore, the fatwa that depends largely on wa’ad (unilateral promise)-based structure has flexibilities and opportunities to be implemented into a wider derivative instrument such as foreign currency and profit rate swaps. Using qualitative research approach based on library and literature study, the researcher aims at examining the genesis and analytical scope of the fatwa, its opportunities, and challenges in the country.