The Understanding of Moslem and Non-Moslem Customers on ‘Murabahah’ Financing at the Syariah Banking in Mataram City, Nusa Tenggara Barat Province

Abstract

This study is intended to know the understanding of the Moslem and  Non-Moslem customers on the meaning of ‘riba’, the understanding on ‘murabahah’ financing, the decision to be the customers and the satisfaction after becoming the customers of Syari’ah Banking in Mataram City, Nusa Tenggara Barat Province. This is classified as a qualitative (naturalistic) study by means of digging up  information from customers of Syari’ah Bank in Mataram City who are Moslem and Non-Moslem with various professional backgrounds, conducted through the techniques of in-depth interview and discussion. Output of this study indicates that the understanding of Moslem and Non-Moslem customers on the meaning of ‘riba’ is  equal to their understanding on ‘interest’, namely the addition applied to the ‘capital’ being borrowed based on the amount or certain percentage. For the Moslem customers, the understanding on legal ground of ‘riba’ refers to the words of Allah  justifying the sale-purchase transaction and forbidding the ‘riba’, while the Non-Moslem informants mention the provisions contained on their respective religion holy books. The understanding on the meaning of ‘murabahah’ financing in general reveals that it is a product applied to the activities of sale-purchase transaction based on the order of the goods needed by the customers acting as the ‘buyer’ and the Syariah Bank as the ‘seller’. The decision to choose to be the customers of Syariah Bank is taken after the concerned have heard and read various information on syariah banking through the socialization, articles, implementation of the religious teaching. The Moslem and Non-Moslem customers have got their positive satisfaction upon the syariah banking observed from the forms of services relatively fast, open and sympathetic. The other form is the ‘fixed’ amount of cost or obligation of the customers although there have been changes in interest rate and amount of the received margin ‘equally profitable’ to both parties, the bank and the customers.

Keywords: Understanding, Satisfaction, Murabahah, Interest and Riba.