Takaful, or Islamic insurance, is an alternative to conventional insurance that is compliant with Sharia law. It is based on the principles of mutual assistance and guarantee. Takaful traces its origins to ancient practices where members of the same tribe would share financial responsibility in cases of death or injury. Modern takaful aims to address the issues of gharar (uncertainty), gambling, and riba (interest) that make conventional insurance incompatible with Islamic principles. There are various models of takaful operations and continued growth in the takaful industry globally and in key markets like Malaysia, the GCC and Pakistan.