For most investors, it’s a word they’ve heard. CUSP Wealth explains what it means in practice and why it changes everything.
When CUSP Wealth says it is Shariah-certified, it is not applying a label. It is citing a Fatwa, a formal legal ruling issued by independent Islamic scholars, that certifies the platform’s investment methodology as compliant with Shariah principles.
In the UAE’s growing Islamic FinTech landscape, that distinction matters more than most investors realise.
What a Fatwa Actually Is
A Fatwa is a formal ruling issued by a qualified Islamic scholarly body in response to a specific question of Islamic law. In the context of investing, it answers a precise question: does this platform, this methodology and the stocks and ETFs comply with Shariah principles?
“A Fatwa in investing is the scholarly equivalent of a regulatory licence,” said Ramesh Murthy, Senior Executive Officer of CUSP Wealth. “It tells the investor that an independent authority, not the platform itself, has examined the methodology and confirmed it meets the standard.”
What This Means for the Investor
“We wanted investors to be able to say: I know exactly why this platform is halal, I know who certified it, and I know it is being monitored,” said Fedor Panteleev, Chief Product Officer of Denara Group, serving CUSP Wealth. “That level of transparency did not exist at the retail level in the UAE before. That is what we built.”
For a Muslim investor, a Fatwa from a credible independent authority answers the single most important question in halal investing: can I trust this?
Not trust the platform’s marketing. Not trust a “halal” label with no verifiable source. Trust the scholarly ruling of an independent authority with global standing in Islamic finance.
Who Issued CUSP Wealth’s Fatwa
CUSP Wealth’s Shariah certification was issued by Amanie Advisors, a leading independent Shariah advisory firm, with a track record spanning institutional asset managers, sovereign sukuk issuances and global financial institutions. Amanie Advisors operates independently of CUSP Wealth. Their ruling reflects their own scholarly assessment, not the platform’s.
Stock and ETF screening on the platform is powered by Zoya, which applies a rigorous two-layer compliance process: a sector screen removing companies in prohibited industries, and a financial screen examining balance sheet ratios for unacceptable levels of interest-bearing debt or impermissible income.
Why It Matters That It’s Ongoing
A common misconception is that Shariah certification is a one-time event: a box ticked at launch and forgotten. In practice, compliance is continuous. Companies change their business models. Balance sheets shift. A stock that passes screening today may not pass tomorrow.
CUSP Wealth’s screening, powered by Zoya, monitors compliance in real time, meaning the portfolio a client holds today reflects current compliance standards, not the standards at the time they invested.
“Certification without continuous monitoring is not certification,” said Ramesh Murthy. “It is a snapshot. Our investors deserve more than a snapshot.”
CUSP Wealth Ltd is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and available from a $25 deposit, with zero basic trading fees and portfolio advisory fees of 0.75% annually.*
For more information, visit www.cuspwealth.com or follow CUSP Wealth on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Shariah compliance certification does not constitute investment advice or guarantee returns. This platform offers both conventional and Shariah-compliant investment products. Shariah-compliant products are offered through our Islamic window and are supervised by our independent Shariah Supervisory Board. CUSP Wealth Ltd is regulated by the DFSA under Category 4 license number 10863 with reference number F011420, with a DFSA-issued Islamic Endorsement. Not available or promoted outside the DIFC. Fees may be subject to change. T&Cs apply.
Published in Partnership with CUSP Wealth ltd
