Thirty Years of Islamic banking : history performance and prospects This text explains how Islamic banking works and what it offers as an alternative model of financial intermediation. Important questions addressed include: Why Islamic banking started and where it is going Who are the main players at present and whom it will attract in future What are its strengths and weaknesses Will Islamic banks survive in highly competitive and globalized financial markets What are their prospects and potentials How does the relative performance and efficiency of Islamic banks compare to conventional banks