The Accounting Research Institute (ARI) thanks our post doctoral scholar Dr Bashir Mande for initiating the publication of ARI Islamic Finance Newsletter which will be made available online through ARI's website. As such we invite scholars and practitioners to contribute papers in the area of Islamic Finance and Muamalat. The maiden issue contains two research papers written by two scholars. The first paper titled "Shariah Audit: A Strugle Towards Best Practices" is written by Associate Professor Dr Nawal Kasim. The second paper which is written by Dr Bashir Mande is titled "Effectiveness of Shariah Committee in Islamic Microfinance Institution". Professor Dr Rashidah Abdul Rahman who is heading the Islamic Microfinance research cluster gives an exclusive interview where she elaborates on the progress of her Islamic Microfinance project - a collaboration with Mydin Mohamad Holdings Berhad, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Majlis Agama Islam Selangor and ARI. Congratulations all....