Abdallah Sulaiman, a Muslim immigrant from Tampa Bay, Florida, expressed his desire to avoid using riba, the Islamic term for interest, which is forbidden in Islamic law or Sharia. Despite exploring Islamic institutions' alternative financing options, Sulaiman chose a conventional mortgage and paid off within five years to minimize interest. His experience reflects an issue within Muslim American communities where the Islamic guidance against riba is often ignored due to a lack of alternatives or because some banks are perceived as untrustworthy. There are an estimated 25-45 Islamic financial institutions in the U.S., up from only a handful in the 1990s, leaving those who wish to follow Sharia's moral code with fewer than half the banking options of other Americans per capita. While riba-based financing specifics can vary per organization, the general model, called musharaka, or risk-sharing, creates a joint venture between a homeowner and a financing company to purchase a home. This method allows for the financier to both make a profit while the homeowner participates in a trade, rather than a loan.