Definition and classification of Musharakah

The literal meaning of Musharakah is sharing. The root of the word “Musharakah” in Arabic is Shirkah, which means being a partner. It is used in the same context as the term “shirk” meaning partner to Allah. Under Islamic jurisprudence, Musharakah means a joint enterprise formed for conducting some business in which all partners share the profit according to a specific ratio while the loss is shared according to the ratio of the contribution. It is an ideal alternative for the interest based financing with far reaching effects on both production and distribution. The connotation of this term is little limited than the term "Shirkah" more commonly used in the Islamic jurisprudence. For the purpose of clarity in the basic concepts, it will be pertinent at the outset to explain the meaning of each term, as distinguished from the other. "Shirkah" means "Sharing" and in the terminology of Islamic Fiqh, it has been divided into two kinds:

(1) Shirkat-ul-milk (Partnership by joint ownership): It means joint ownership of two or more persons in a particular property. This kind of "Shirkah" may come into existence in two different ways:

1. a) Optional (Ikhtiari): At the option of the parties e.g., if two or more persons purchase equipment, it will be owned jointly by both of them and the relationship between them with regard to that property is called "Shirkat-ul-Milk Ikhtiari" Here this relationship has come into existence at their own option, as they themselves elected to purchase the equipment jointly.
2. b) Compulsory (Ghair Ikhtiari): This comes into operation automatically without any effort/action taken by the parties. For example, after the death of a person, all his heirs inherit his property, which comes into their joint ownership as a natural consequence of the death of that person.

There are two more types of Joint ownerships (Shirkat-ulMilk):

• Shirkat-ul-Ain
• Shirkat-ul-Dain

A property in shirkat-ul-milk is jointly owned but not divided yet, is called Musha. In Shirkat-ul-milk undivided shares or other assets can be used in the following manner:

1. a) Mushtarik Intifa’: Mutually or jointly using an asset by taking turns under circumstances where the partners or joint owners are on good terms.
2. b) Muhaya: Under this arrangement the owners will set turns in days for example one may use the product for 15 days and then the other may use it for the rest of the month. c) Taqseem: Referring to division of the jointly owned asset. This may be applied for property where the asset that is owned can be divided permanently for example jointly taking a 1,000 sq. yards plot and making a house on 500 yards by each of the 2 owners. d) Under a situation where the partners are not satisfied with Muhaya arrangement, the property or asset jointly held can be sold off and proceeds divided between the partners.

(2) Shirkat-ul-Aqd (Partnership by contract): This is the second type of Shirkah, which means, "a partnership effected by a mutual contract". For the purpose of brevity it may also be translated as "joint commercial enterprise." Shirkat-ul-Aqd is further divided into three kinds:

(i) Shirkat-ul-Amwal (Partnership in capital) where all the partners invest some capital into a commercial enterprise.

(ii) Shirkat-ul-Aamal (Partnership in services) where all the partners jointly undertake to render some services for their customers, and the fee charged from them is distributed among them according to an agreed ratio. For example, if two people agree to undertake tailoring services for their customers on the condition that the wages so earned will go to a joint pool which shall be distributed between them irrespective of the size of work each partner has actually done, this partnership will be a shirkat-ul-aamal which is also called Shirkat-ut-taqabbul or Shirkat-us-sanai or Shirkat-ul-abdan.

(iii)Shirkat-ul-wujooh (Partnership in goodwill). The word has its root in the Arabic word Wajahat meaning goodwill. Here the partners have no investment at all. They purchase commodities on deferred price, by getting capital on loan because of their goodwill and sell them at spot. The profit so earned is distributed between them at an agreed ratio.

Each of the above three types of Shirkat-ul-Aqd are further divided into two types:

1. a) Shirkat-Al-Mufawada: (Capital & labour at par): All partners share capital, management, profit, risk in absolute equals. It is a necessary condition for all four categories to be shared amongst the partners; if any one category is not is not shared, then the partnership becomes Shirkat-ulAinan. Every partner who shares equally is a Trustee, Guarantor and Agent on behalf of the other partners.
2. b) Shirkat-ul-Ainan : A more common type of Shirkatul-Aqd where equality in capital, management or liability might be equal in one case but not in all respect meaning either profit is equal but not labour or vice versa.

All these modes of "Sharing" or partnership are termed as "Shirkah" in the terminology of Islamic Fiqh, while the term "Musharakah" is not found in the books of Fiqh. This term (i.e. Musharakah) has been introduced recently by those who have written on the subject of Islamic modes of financing and it is normally restricted to a particular type of "Shirkah", that is, the Shirkat-ul-Amwal, where two or more persons invest some of their capital in a joint commercial venture. However, sometimes it includes Shirkat-ul-Aamal also where partnership takes place in the business of services.

It is evident from this discussion that the term "Shirkah" has a much wider sense than the term "Musharakah" as is being used today. The latter is limited to "Shirkat-ul-Amwal " only i.e. all the partners invest some capital into a commercial enterprise, while the former includes all types of joint ownership and those of partnership.

Source: Dr. Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani, Meezan Bank’s Guide to Islamic Banking.