Ijara CDC

What Ijara CDC does

Ijara Community Development Corp. (Ijara CDC), founded in 2005 and headquartered at 2531 Jackson Avenue, Suite 331, Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a non-profit/private Sharia-compliant financing services provider that structures riba-free (interest-free) home and business financing transactions for Muslim individuals and families across all 50 US states and all Canadian provinces, with a regional office at 90 Centerpointe Drive, Ottawa, Ontario. The company is not itself a balance-sheet lender; rather, it provides Sharia consulting services to licensed individuals and lenders and structures transactions using recognized Islamic finance methodologies — Ijara wa Iqtina (lease-to-own), Murabaha, and Musharaka — built on a trust-based legal framework in which a trust takes title to the property and leases it to the customer, ensuring compliance with Islamic law. Its differentiated technology and product surface includes the Ijara 360 mobile app (Android and Apple), an online Ijara Calculator, a Sharia-Compliant Conversion Product that converts existing conventional mortgages to riba-free structures in 10-14 business days without credit check or appraisal, Down Payment Assistance grants of up to 3.5%, USDA 100% Financing, a VA Program, and No Credit and Low Credit programs.

The business model combines professional-services Sharia consulting fees, transaction-structuring work performed on behalf of licensed lending partners, and a partner broker channel (the ijaraCDC Partner Broker program and Preferred Real Estate Professionals Network). Distribution is sales-led: direct consumer acquisition through a toll-free call center (1-877-864-5272), an online multi-step application at ijaracdc.com/application, mobile acquisition through Ijara 360, and partner/realtor referrals supplemented by HalalWallet listing and ETHI Token cross-promotion. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; finance terms include 15-year and 30-year fixed options with no early-payoff penalty, a 640 minimum credit score, and DTI ideally below 39% (extendable to 45-50% in some cases).

The corporate umbrella comprises Ijara Community Development Corp. (primary, Michigan corporation), Ijara Waqf Services, Inc., Ijara Marketing, LLC (dba ijaraloans.com), Ijara Realty, LLC, and the Canadian subsidiary Ijara Canada, Inc., with operational integrations including a Mortcare customer portal. Scholarly oversight is provided by recognized Islamic finance scholars (Mufti Muneer Ahmed Akhoon, Shaykh Mufti Mohamed-Umer Esmail, Dr. Ahmed Shleibak, Justice Taqi Usmani, and Sheikh Nizam Yaqubi). Revenue and headcount specifics are not publicly disclosed; the firm's stated scale is that it has served "thousands" of customers across North America since 2005.

Name

Ijara CDC

Legal name

Ijara Community Development Corp.

Website

https://ijaracdc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ijara Community Development Corp. (Ijara CDC) is a Michigan-based non-profit (founded 2005) that structures Sharia-compliant, riba-free home and business financing for Muslim individuals and families across all 50 US states and all Canadian provinces using Ijara wa Iqtina, Murabaha, and Musharaka methodologies under scholarly Islamic-finance oversight.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Islamic Home Financing

NAICS

Sales Financing (52222)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Shariah-compliant Financing Products (Murabaha, Ijara, Tawarruq, Istisna, Salam) (FSABAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Islamic SME & Commercial Banking (FSABAGAB), Shariah Governance, Compliance & Advisory (Shariah Boards, Audit, Fatwa) (FSABAGAJ)

Keywords

• Islamic home financing
• Sharia-compliant financing
• Riba-free mortgages
• Commercial halal financing
• Islamic lease-to-own

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sharia Consulting Services: IjaraCDC is not a lender but provides Sharia consulting services to licensed individuals and lenders. They structure Islamic finance transactions and provide guidance on compliance with Islamic law.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ijara CDC provides Sharia-compliant, riba-free (interest-free) home and business financing to Muslims in the USA and Canada using Islamic finance methodologies such as Ijara wa Iqtina (lease-to-own), Murabaha, and Musharaka structured through trust-based transactions. Core offerings include residential lease-to-own financing, commercial property financing, conversion of existing conventional mortgages to Sharia-compliant structures, auto financing conversion, down payment assistance grants, and non-profit/mosque financing, supported by the Ijara 360 mobile app and online application portal.

Product overview

Ijara CDC operates as a platform of Islamic financing products, with Ijara™ (Residential Lease-to-Own) as the core product providing Sharia-compliant home financing through a trust-based lease and purchase model. The portfolio includes Commercial Financing Alternatives for business properties, the Ijara 360 App for mobile access, and specialized programs like Conversion Products (for converting existing mortgages), Down Payment Assistance (up to 3.5% grant), Auto Conversion, Non-Profit Financing, and specialized programs for No Credit, Low Credit, USDA 100% Financing, and VA benefits. The company is represented across all 50 US states and all Canadian provinces through its affiliated entities including Ijara Waqf Services, Ijara Marketing LLC, Ijara Realty LLC, and Ijara Canada, Inc.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ijara 360: Mobile application for the modern Muslim, a Sharia-compliant financing management app.
• Ijara Waqf Services
• Ijara Partner Broker

Products and services

• Ijara Residential Lease-to-Own Financing

Quantifiable outcome

• Sharia-compliant home ownership achieved without compromising faith
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HalalWalletminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIjara CDC is listed as a provider on HalalWallet platform (halalwallet.us/providers/ijara-community-development), expanding their distribution reach to HalalWallet's user base seeking Islamic financial services.
• ETHI Token (ethicalfinance.co)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ETHI Token and ethicalfinance.co, indicating collaboration in the Islamic fintech and ethical finance ecosystem.
• Mufti Muneer Ahmed AkhooncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned Islamic scholar from Karachi, Pakistan, currently Director of Religious Affairs at Westchester Muslim Center. Serves as Sharia Advisor to Ijara.com, providing scholarly oversight for Sharia compliance.
• Shaykh Mufti Mohamed-Umer EsmailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian-born traditionally trained scholar with Ijazah from Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani. Currently serves as Sharia Advisor to Ijara.com, overseeing Islamic finance compliance.
• Dr. Ahmed ShleibakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhD in Jurisprudence from University of Jordan. Former Dean of Academic Affairs at Islamic American University and member of Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America. Reviewed and approved Ijara documents for Sharia compliance.
• Justice Taqi UsmanicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetired member of Shariat Appellate Bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan. Involved in approval of original Sharia Contract for CIHF Partners in 1995 and subsequent Fatwa updates. Not currently serving on the board.
• Sheikh Nizam YaqubicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBahrain-based businessman serving on multiple Shariah Supervisory Boards including AAOIFI, International Islamic Financial Market, and Dow Jones Islamic Market Indexes. Involved in approval of original Sharia Contract in 1995.
• Preferred Real Estate Professionals NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of licensed real estate professionals across USA and Canada who specialize in working with Islamic financing customers. Includes professionals in Orange County CA, Houston TX, GTA Ontario, and other regions.
• Ijara Waqf Services, Inc.coreOthersAffiliated entity of Ijara CDC, part of the corporate structure for providing Islamic financing services.
• Ijara Marketing, LLCcoreOthersDBA ijaraloans.com, affiliated entity for marketing Islamic financing services.
• Ijara Realty, LLCminorOthersAffiliated realty entity for facilitating property transactions under Islamic financing arrangements.
• Ijara Canada, Inc.coreOthersCanadian subsidiary handling operations across all provinces in Canada, with office in Ottawa, Ontario.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University Islamic Financial (UIF): Michigan-based non-profit offering Islamic home financing through Murabaha and Ijara structures; directly comparable geographically and product-wise to Ijara CDC, sharing a similar non-profit/mission-driven operating model in the Midwest US.
• Canadian Islamic Housing Cooperative (iCoop Canada): Canadian co-operative providing Sharia-compliant home financing; comparable to Ijara CDC's Canadian operations as a North American halal mortgage alternative serving Muslim homebuyers.
• Manzil Financial Services: Canadian provider of Islamic home financing and mortgages, directly comparable to Ijara CDC's Canadian subsidiary Ijara Canada, Inc., serving the same Muslim homebuyer segment in Canada with Sharia-compliant products.
• Guidance Residential: One of the largest US-based Sharia-compliant home finance providers, offering Ijara-based home financing nationwide with an in-house funding model. Directly comparable to Ijara CDC's core residential lease-to-own product and similar North American Muslim customer base.

Emerging players

• HalalWallet: Digital platform aggregating halal financial providers, of which Ijara CDC is a listed provider. Comparable as a distribution channel for Sharia-compliant products and an emerging alternative-discovery platform for the same Muslim customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Lariba (formerly University Bank): Was a US-based Islamic home finance-focused institution that issued Sharia-compliant mortgages through Murabaha/Ijara structures. Comparable product approach (interest-free home financing for US Muslims) though it ceased operations, illustrating both the model and the execution risk in the niche.
• Devon Bank - Islamic Home Finance: Chicago-based community bank that offers Sharia-compliant home financing as a product line within its broader conventional banking franchise. Comparable because it serves Muslim homebuyers in the US with riba-free alternatives, but is a full-service bank rather than a specialist.

Others

• Saturna Capital / Amana Mutual Funds: US Sharia-compliant investment vehicle provider offering halal investing rather than financing. Adjacent in serving Sharia-conscious Muslim-American financial needs and a complementary ecosystem participant alongside Ijara CDC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ijaracdc
• Facebookfacebook.com/ijaracdc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ijara CDC