Is MS (Morgan Stanley) Halal or Haram?

Based on our AAOIFI-standard shariah screening, MS is Not Halal (Haram) and is not considered permissible for Muslim investors. It failed 4 of 4 compliance screens. Morgan Stanley's core business activity was found to be non-compliant. Its debt-to-market-cap ratio of 160.02% exceeds the ≤33% threshold. Its interest income of 51.37% exceeds the ≤5% limit. Its cash & securities ratio of 181.70% exceeds the ≤33% threshold.

Morgan Stanley is a major global financial holding company that provides institutional securities, wealth management, and investment management services. Its core offerings include debt and equity underwriting, merger and acquisition advisory, and retail wealth management across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For Muslim investors using HalalStocks.co.uk, Morgan Stanley is classified as Not Halal (Haram) as it fails all four AAOIFI screening criteria. The company's primary involvement in conventional capital markets and interest-based financing makes its core business activity strictly impermissible under Islamic law. From an Islamic finance perspective, Morgan Stanley's financial structure is heavily reliant on riba, evidenced by its interest income accounting for 51.37% of total revenue, far exceeding the 5% limit. Additionally, its debt-to-market cap ratio of 160.0% and cash-to-market cap ratio of 181.7% both aggressively breach the 33% threshold, cementing its non-compliant status. Because Morgan Stanley operates almost entirely within the conventional banking and debt-based financial system, there is no scholarly debate regarding its status. Halal investors should unequivocally exclude this stock from their portfolios and seek Shariah-compliant alternatives in permissible sectors. Morgan Stanley operates in the Financial Services sector under the Financial - Capital Markets industry and is headquartered in New York City, NY, US. The company is led by CEO Edward N. Pick and employs approximately 81,000 people.

MS was screened using AAOIFI-based shariah compliance criteria. Four tests are applied: (1) Business Activity — the company's core business must not derive primary income from haram (prohibited) activities such as alcohol, gambling, tobacco, or interest-based finance. (2) Debt-to-Market-Cap — total debt must not exceed 33% of market capitalization. (3) Interest Income — interest income must not exceed 5% of total revenue. (4) Cash & Securities — cash and interest-bearing securities must not exceed 33% of market cap. MS passed 0 of these 4 screens.

MS was last screened on 2026-04-29. Shariah compliance status can change as companies report new financial data, acquire new businesses, or shift revenue streams. We recommend checking back periodically for the most up-to-date screening results.