Contractual Justice and Regulatory Pragmatism: A Comparative Analysis of IMBT (Indonesia) and AITAB (Malaysia) in Islamic Asset Financing

Mubarok, Wafiq
bin Ariffin, Mohd Faizal Noor

Journal of Integrative Sustainability and Ethics
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): June

The rapid expansion of Islamic finance in Southeast Asia has positioned Ijarah Muntahiyah bi al-Tamlik (IMBT) in Indonesia and Al-Ijarah Thumma al-Bay' (AITAB) in Malaysia as the predominant asset financing models in their respective jurisdictions, yet their structural and jurisprudential divergences remain insufficiently explored in comparative literature. This study provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of IMBT and AITAB, examining their contractual structures, legal foundations, operational realities, and alignment with maqasid al-shariah. Employing a mixed-method approach that integrates doctrinal-normative analysis of DSN-MUI Fatwa No. 27/2002 and SAC-BNM Shariah Resolutions, comparative legal evaluation, and maqasid-based assessment, the study examines how each model balances consumer protection and institutional efficiency within its specific socio-legal ecosystem. The findings reveal fundamental differences in contractual architecture: IMBT mandates a strict separation between lease and ownership transfer contracts, permits transfer through sale or gift (hibah), and treats the promise of transfer as non-binding, thereby offering greater consumer flexibility and risk protection. Conversely, AITAB integrates the sale agreement as a pre-committed and automatically executed promise upon lease maturity, operating within Malaysia's Hire Purchase Act 1967 framework, prioritizing legal enforceability and operational efficiency, often at the expense of equitable consumer risk allocation. From the maqasid al-shariah perspective, IMBT demonstrates superior alignment with principles of justice, transparency, and wealth protection, while AITAB raises normative concerns regarding risk imbalance and consumer vulnerability. The study concludes that both models are valid within their respective frameworks, yet recommends regulatory refinements, particularly for AITAB, to enhance consumer welfare, and advocates for cross-jurisdictional harmonization to support an integrated ASEAN Islamic financial market.