availability of bankable documentations that made MSMEs were not eligible for regular financing from
conventional bank (Bank Indonesia, 2021). This underscores the value of alternative, inclusive financial options
such as Islamic microfinance that are consistent with the beliefs and needs of largely Muslim populations. Islamic
microfinance fuses conventional microfinance practice of providing financial service delivery to un-served,
underserved, and unequally served world’s poor people or communities with the application of Sharia rules and
principles of financial services such as mudharabah (profit-sharing), murabahah (cost-plus financing), ijarah
(leasing) and qardhul hasan (benevolent loans). Unlike the normal practice in microfinance, Islamic
microfinance relies neither on interest (riba) nor on equity and profit/revenue participation and instead, ethical
investment, risk sharing, and social justice represent the common method of transactions (Obaidullah and Khan,
2008; Dusuki, 2008). These values are in accordance with the religious beliefs and values of Muslim
entrepreneurs, thus Islamic microfinance not only provides a financial solution but is also consistent with the
environment and culture provided by institutions such as Baitul Maal wat Tamwil (BMTs), Sharia Rural Banks
(BPRS), and zakat-based empowerment programs run by BAZNAS (Ascarya, 2011; KNEKS, 2022).
Notwithstanding their importance, a lot of MSMEs continue to face challenges, especially in terms of limited
access to formal financial services. Traditional financial institutions generally perceive that it is risky to lend to
MSME because of their lack of collateral, limited financial information, and informal nature of business (Beck
et al., 2005). Islamic microfinance has developed as a potential alternative financial model in such a condition,
especially for the Muslim community, as Garut. Several pieces of research have demonstrated that Islamic
microfinance generates a significant amount of empowerment to low-income people and small businessmen. For
instance, Ahmed (2002) pointed to the role of the Islamic microfinance in poverty alleviation without losing its
religious morality. Likewise, Hosen and Muhari (2021) and Abduh and Ameen (201) Islamic microfinance has
high prospects to develop, including the potential areas in Garut Regency, West Java. The Financial Services
Authority (OJK, 2023) noted that many Sharia Rural Banks (BPRS) and Baitul Mal wat Tamwil (BMTs) have
been trying to finance MSMEs in trading, agriculture, beverage, and handicrafts. Concurrently, workouts of
productive zakat become the concern of the local agent of the National Zakat Agency (BAZNAS Garut) through
empowerment efforts for MSMEs and women in the pro-poor communities (BAZNAS Garut, 2023).
Nevertheless, there is scarce evidence that examines how real the effect of Islamic microfinance on the
development and sustainability of MSMEs in Garut. Absent this localized evidence, it remains challenging to
assess the extent to which financial services foster entrepreneurial ability and socioeconomic progress. This
paper is conducted in order to investigate the influence of Islamic microfinance against MSME development in
the case of Garut. Namely, to answer the following research questions:
1. What are the forms of Islamic microfinance products used by MSME in Garut?
2. How does Islamic microfinance contribute to the financial and non-financial performance of MSME?
3. What are the challenges of a relationship between Islamic MFIs and MSME? By addressing these
questions, this study endeavours to add to a body of literature examining Islamic finance and MSMEs
and offer policy advice on ways to enhance the effectiveness of Islamic microfinance at the grassroots
level.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Islamic Microfinance: Definitions and Basic Principles
The mission of Islamic microfinance (also called microfinance Islamic banking or Mujtama’s banking) is to
integrate both poverty alleviation and social welfare with the overall development of Islamic economics and
Islamic finance. In contrast to traditional microfinance, based almost solely on the provision of interest-bearing
loans, Islamic microfinance avoids riba (interest), gharar (uncertainty), and gambling-related activities. It
encourages risk-sharing, financing through the backing of assets and social equity, under Shariah contracts
including profit – and – loss sharing (mudharabah), partnership (musharakah), cost-plus financing (murabahah),
leasing (ijarah), and benevolent loans (qardhul hasan) (Obaidullah & Khan, 2008). Objectives of Islamic
microfinance are not purely economic, but moral and social as well. It is premised on maqashid al-shariah or
objectives of Islamic law, which cover the protection of wealth, life, religion, mind, progeny (Dusuki &
Bouheraoua, 2011). In this manner, Islamic microfinance is not solely perceived as the provision of money and
credit but as a means to uphold fairness, human decency, and economic fairness (Ahmed, 2002).