Financial Management Between the Western Usury-Based System and the Islamic System: A Comparative Study in Achieving Social Justice and Sustainable Development

Dr. Najla Farhat El-Akrout

This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis between the Western usury-based financial system and the Islamic financial system from a managerial perspective, focusing on the tools of wealth and money management and their implications for social justice and sustainable development. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical, comparative approach and a case study of Lehman Brothers Bank as a model of the usury-based system, and Dubai Islamic Bank as a model of the Islamic system. The findings reveal that the interest-based system generates recurring financial crises and leads to wealth concentration in the hands of a limited minority, while the Islamic system provides fair and effective mechanisms such as zakat, waqf, and profit-and-loss sharing, which enhance economic stability and ensure equitable wealth distribution. The study concludes that Islamic financial management offers an integrated civilizational model that combines economic efficiency with ethical values, providing a realistic alternative for addressing contemporary development challenges.

Financial Management - Usury-Based System - Islamic System - Social Justice - Sustainable Development