Methodology

Our methodology starts with practical access and then moves into provider quality. A platform that is excellent in one country may not be usable in another, so country availability, funding routes, account restrictions, and supported products matter before scoring.

Ranking pages compare multiple providers for a country or product category. Review pages go deeper into one provider's tools, limitations, fees, compliance evidence, alternatives, and related comparisons.

Overall scores are calculated from the underlying rating dimensions instead of being hand-ranked separately. The default formula is 30% Shariah compliance, 25% product features, 20% fees, 15% user experience, and 10% support.

Category pages adjust those weights when a product type has different investor risks. Real estate, sukuk, retirement, insurance, and estate-planning pages put more weight on Shariah documentation. Banking gives more weight to support and account servicing. Forex gives more weight to swap-free terms, fee clarity, and risk disclosure.

When facts conflict, we give the most weight to primary sources: provider fee pages, terms, regulatory disclosures, fund documents, Shariah board materials, official help centers, and public announcements. Secondary commentary can help identify a question, but it does not replace source checks.

Core ranking and review pages are reviewed on a quarterly cycle. We also update pages sooner when a provider changes pricing, market access, product scope, Shariah documentation, minimums, or availability in a covered country.

A material provider change can affect multiple pages at once, so we check related rankings, comparison pages, review pages, Academy links, and sitemap coverage when the change is significant.

Scores can change when providers change pricing, market access, methodology disclosure, country availability, or product features. We also update pages when new competitors make an existing shortlist less useful.

Forex platforms are reviewed as brokers that may offer Islamic or swap-free account options, not as a blanket statement that every forex or CFD trade is Shariah-compliant. The core account feature we check is whether eligible Islamic accounts remove overnight swap interest.

Because some brokers replace swaps with administration fees, holding fees, wider spreads, product limits, or country-specific terms, forex scores put extra weight on swap-free clarity, fee disclosure, leverage and CFD risk warnings, and whether the Islamic-account policy is easy to verify.

A score is an editorial comparison signal, not a guarantee that an account, investment, fund, or security is suitable for every investor. Scores do not replace current provider terms, professional financial advice, legal guidance, tax review, or qualified Shariah guidance.