How Sharia Stock Screening Works: A Complete Guide

Behind every halal verdict for a stock is a structured screening methodology. Understanding how this process works makes you a more informed investor and helps you evaluate conflicting rulings from different screening services.

Two-Stage Screening

Almost all Islamic finance screening services use a two-stage process. First, business activity screening asks: does this company earn significant revenue from prohibited activities? Second, financial ratio screening asks: is this company's financial structure acceptable under Islamic principles?

Business Activity Screening

A company fails business activity screening if a significant portion, typically more than 5% of total revenue, comes from prohibited sectors. These include alcohol, tobacco, pork, conventional financial services including banks and insurance, adult entertainment, weapons manufacturing for civilian markets, and gambling.

Financial Ratio Screening

Even companies with halal business activities may fail financial screening if they are excessively leveraged with interest-bearing debt or if they hold large amounts of interest-generating assets. Common thresholds: total interest-bearing debt below 33% of total assets, interest income below 5% of total revenue.

Who Sets the Standards

The Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions, AAOIFI, based in Bahrain, sets the most widely followed screening standards. The Dow Jones Islamic Market Index and many Islamic ETFs use AAOIFI-based methodology.

Why Verdicts Sometimes Differ

Different services apply slightly different thresholds and use different financial data sources. One service might use trailing twelve month revenue while another uses the most recent annual report. This explains why Zoya and Islamicly occasionally give different verdicts for the same stock.