Alumni of The Month

1.  Introduce yourself?

I am Dr. Khawla Al-Noubani, a specialist in Islamic banking and finance.

I recently earned a Bachelor's degree in Law, having previously obtained a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Islamic Jurisprudence and its Principles from Kuwait University and the University of Jordan, respectively. I hold a PhD in Islamic Banking, specializing in Islamic sukuk, from the University of Islamic Finance and Banking. My doctoral dissertation, titled “Structuring Islamic Sukuk Between Jurisprudence and Practice," is a published work.

I served as Assistant to the Secretary-General of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) in Malaysia, and worked with a specialized government team to draft the Jordanian Islamic Sukuk Law. I have reviewed sukuk governance regulations and legal drafts for various countries and have delivered numerous training sessions and lectures on sukuk in several countries. I have also published many research papers and specialized articles in the field of Islamic finance and banking.

My expertise includes studies on Islamic financial services such as takaful (Islamic insurance) and ethical conduct for professionals in Islamic finance. I have developed policies and procedures for Islamic financial institutions and trained specialists in this sector on "Professional Conduct" and Islamic sukuk, including personnel from central banks, Islamic banks, and corporations. I have also reviewed Islamic finance contracts in Jordan and taught Islamic Economics as a part-time lecturer at the School of Business at the University of Jordan.

Additionally, I am a speaker and contributor to specialized research presented at international conferences. I was the first woman appointed as a member of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, and I am a member of the Jordan Bar Association and the Forum for Thought. I am also a regular columnist, having written over 500 articles on various topics related to Islamic economics and endowments for specialized journals in Jordan and abroad. Furthermore, I produced and presented fifty specialized radio episodes on economics for the Jordan Academy of Arabic Radio.

2.  Share your fondest memory from your time at Jordan University?

The University of Jordan shaped my academic expertise, and my most cherished memory during my master's studies is sitting in class under the guidance of brilliant professors, among them the late Prof. Dr. Fathi Al-Durayni—may he rest in peace—who left a clear mark on the way I think about the science of Maqasid (objectives of Islamic law), which had a profound impact on my professional life. I was also fortunate to learn from a distinguished group of senior professors—may God prolong the lives of those still with us and have mercy on those who have passed. In addition, I fondly remember my fellow classmates, many of whom went on to become professors at the Faculty of Sharia at the University of Jordan.

3.  In one word, how would you describe Jordan University?

 "Harvard of the Arabs".

4.  Explain how your experiences at UJ shaped you?

They have helped me in every aspect of my life, both socially and professionally.

5. Discuss what fascinated you about your chosen course of study?

My specialization in Islamic jurisprudence has helped me think about presenting Islamic fiqh in specialized research on contemporary emerging issues at a global level through specialized studies at the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, the voice of consensus in the Ummah.

6.  Offer advice to graduating students preparing to enter the workforce?

Diligence and strong belonging to their university, taking their studies seriously and responsibly in the face of the major challenges we face in the world today, and becoming ambassadors of their homelands in every position they hold in the future. The future lies ahead of them, and their families and country deserve them to be the best representatives.

7.  Reflect on what you wish you had known during your time as a student?

I fully realize that our homelands have a right over us, and I wish I had understood the value of knowledge and scholars as much as I do now.

8. Identify the person who has had the greatest impact on your career?

One of the most important figures who influenced my professional journey is His Excellency Professor Dr. Abdelsalam Al-Abadi, may God have mercy on him, and His Excellency Professor Dr. Mohammad Adinat, along with many others whose names I cannot mention in this brief moment. Truly, each of my teachers left a mark on my professional life, whether directly or indirectly.