Professional Use of Arabic in Nigerian Islamic Finance Institutions: A Study of Jaiz Bank Operations

Jaiz Bank, Nigeria's first full-fledged non-interest bank established under the Islamic banking framework, conducts a significant proportion of its documentation, Sharia board communications, and customer-facing materials in Arabic, making it a rich site for studying the professional use of Arabic in Nigerian financial services. This study examines the professional use of Arabic language in Jaiz Bank's operations, focusing on Arabic documentation practices, staff Arabic language competency requirements, Sharia supervisory communication, and customer-facing Arabic language use. Using an organisational case study methodology, the research analyses a sample of 60 Arabic-language operational documents including Sharia board resolutions, product approval documents, and customer agreement texts provided by the bank's compliance department. Interviews with 15 staff members across Sharia compliance, legal, customer service, and senior management functions and with three external Sharia scholars on the bank's supervisory board provide perspectives on Arabic language use and its operational significance. The study finds that Arabic is embedded most deeply in Sharia board documentation and product approval processes, while customer-facing and internal management communications are predominantly in English. Staff Arabic competency varies widely, with Sharia compliance staff demonstrating the highest proficiency. Recommendations address structured Arabic language development for Sharia compliance professionals. Keywords: Arabic language, Islamic banking, Jaiz Bank, professional communication, Sharia compliance.