Bettr, the embedded finance platform of Singapore’s Ant International, has partnered with Muslim Pro to offer a Shariah‑compliant financing solution for Malaysians planning the Umrah pilgrimage, the companies said on Monday.
What the product offers
The financing arrangement uses a Tawarruq structure facilitated through AS‑SIDQ, the digital commodity trading platform patented by SEDANIA As Salam Capital for Tawarruq and Commodity Murabahah transactions. Eligible users in Malaysia will be able to discover Umrah packages through the Muslim Pro app, apply for financing digitally and select instalment tenures of between 12 and 24 months.
- Packages are available from standard to premium and may include flights, accommodation, meals and ground transport for individuals or families.
- Bettr will use credit risk models to assess applicants’ repayment capacity.
- The solution aims to reach a broader population, including gig workers and small business owners.
The roll‑out comes as Malaysia’s Muslim population is estimated at about 22 million, roughly 65% of the country’s total population, the companies noted. Muslim Pro has more than 190 million downloads across over 190 markets, giving the technology partner a large user base for distribution.
Comments from the partners
“The partnership offers a responsible, Shariah‑compliant way for individuals and families in Malaysia to plan their pilgrimage with confidence,”
said Nafees Khundker, Group Managing Director and CEO of Muslim Pro, according to the statement. Quan Yu, General Manager of Bettr Credit and Senior Vice President of Ant International, said the engagement in Islamic finance reflects a belief that technology can support individuals and small businesses and that the partnership aims to scale Shariah‑compliant digital financial products aligned with community values.
Context and implications
Digital financing structures that comply with Islamic law have been growing across Southeast Asia, where sizeable Muslim populations and rising mobile adoption create demand for tailored financial products. The use of Tawarruq and Commodity Murabahah enables providers to offer instalment‑based lending without interest, meeting Shariah principles while leveraging fintech automation for application and underwriting.
For South Africa, the launch is notable on two fronts. First, it underscores the continued international expansion of Islamic fintech offerings that could inform local product development by banks, fintechs and Islamic banking windows targeting South African Muslim consumers. Second, it highlights how partnerships between large platform apps and fintech suppliers can lower distribution costs and broaden access to specialised products.
While the product is currently aimed at Malaysians, the model demonstrates how faith‑based travel financing can be integrated into lifestyle apps with large user bases, potentially shaping future services for pilgrim communities elsewhere. The statement said Bettr’s credit risk models are designed to assess a wider range of income profiles, which the partners say will help include gig economy workers and small business owners who traditionally face barriers to formal credit.
What remains to be seen
Key questions include how regulators in Malaysia will monitor these digital Tawarruq transactions, how robust the consumer protections will be, and whether similar partnerships will emerge in other markets with significant Muslim populations. The announcement did not disclose pricing, approval rates or the precise mechanics of the commodity transactions, details that will shape user uptake and regulatory scrutiny.
For now, the collaboration between Ant International’s Bettr and Muslim Pro adds to a stream of Islamic fintech innovation across the region and offers a model that South African financial institutions and regulators may watch as they consider the future of Shariah‑compliant digital finance.
