Islamic banking institutions and financial entities owned or operated under Islamic principles number in the hundreds globally, operating extensively across Muslim-majority nations in the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and select Western financial hubs. These institutions adhere strictly to Sharia law, which prohibits the charging or paying of interest and bans investments in businesses deemed contrary to Islamic values, such as alcohol or gambling. In the United States and Europe, the presence of Islamic financial institutions is smaller, typically manifesting as specialized Islamic windows within major international banks or boutique financial cooperatives.