Halal ETFs · expense ratios · cost vs single-stock screening
Halal ETFs: every retail-accessible option in 2026
Six halal ETFs currently dominate retail allocation in the US and Europe: SPUS, HLAL, UMMA, and AMZA on US exchanges; ISWD and ISDE as UCITS instruments on European exchanges. This page walks through each one, lists the expense ratio and underlying index, compares the cost of holding an ETF versus running single-stock screening through invest-like Pro at different portfolio sizes, and answers the question every halal investor faces at some point: passive ETF or active single-stock screening?
The lineup
Every retail halal ETF, side by side
| Ticker | Name | Expense | Tracks | Listing |
|---|
| SPUS | SP Funds S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions ETF | 0.49% | S&P 500 Sharia | NYSE Arca |
| HLAL | Wahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF | 0.50% | FTSE USA Shariah | Nasdaq |
| UMMA | Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF | 0.65% | Dow Jones Islamic Market World ex-US | Nasdaq |
| AMZA | SP Funds Dow Jones Global Sukuk ETF (mixed) | 0.75% | Sukuk + sharia equity blend | NYSE Arca |
| ISWD | iShares MSCI World Islamic UCITS ETF | 0.60% | MSCI World Islamic | LSE, XETRA |
| ISDE | iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Islamic UCITS ETF | 0.85% | MSCI Emerging Markets Islamic | LSE, XETRA |
Expense ratios above are gross-expense figures from each issuer's most recent prospectus. Listings shown are the primary exchanges; many of these ETFs trade on multiple exchanges and through OTC arrangements depending on the brokerage.
Individual profiles
What each ETF actually holds
SPUS (SP Funds S&P 500 Sharia)
SPUS is the largest US-listed halal ETF by assets. It tracks the S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions Index, which takes the S&P 500 universe and applies the S&P Sharia screen. The resulting portfolio holds roughly 200-220 names, dominated by large-cap technology (Apple, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Alphabet) and healthcare (Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Merck). The expense ratio of 0.49 percent is the lowest in the US halal-ETF category. SPUS is the closest functional equivalent to VOO for a Shariah-conscious investor.
HLAL (Wahed FTSE USA Shariah)
HLAL tracks the FTSE USA Shariah Index, which screens a broader US-listed universe than the S&P 500. The result is a portfolio with more mid-cap exposure and a slightly different sector mix from SPUS - typically more Industrials and Healthcare, slightly less Tech concentration. HLAL is managed by Wahed Invest, the Islamic robo-advisor platform; it is their flagship USA-exposure product. Expense ratio of 0.50 percent is one basis point higher than SPUS.
UMMA (Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ex-US)
UMMA is the international-equity counterpart to HLAL. It tracks the Dow Jones Islamic Market World ex-US Index and holds Islamic-compliant developed and emerging-market equities outside the United States. Holdings include large-cap European and Japanese names (Roche, Nestle, ASML, Toyota, SAP) plus Saudi, Indian, and Southeast Asian Islamic-compliant equities. Expense ratio of 0.65 percent reflects the higher cost of maintaining international index licensing and the additional currency-hedging considerations.
AMZA (SP Funds blend)
AMZA is structured as a sukuk-plus-equity blend rather than a pure equity fund. It holds a mix of sukuk (Islamic bonds) and Shariah-compliant equity exposure across multiple sectors with an alternative-energy tilt. Expense ratio of 0.75 percent reflects the more complex structure. AMZA is positioned as an asset-allocation product (bond-equity blend) rather than a pure equity benchmark replacement.
ISWD (iShares MSCI World Islamic)
ISWD is the largest UCITS-domiciled halal ETF available to European investors. It tracks the MSCI World Islamic Index - the Shariah-compliant subset of MSCI World - covering approximately 320-360 large-cap developed-market equities globally. The largest country weights are typically United States (around 70 percent), United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Japan. Expense ratio of 0.60 percent is competitive for a European-domiciled product. ISWD is the most popular halal ETF holding in European Islamic robo-advisor portfolios and Trade Republic savings plans.
ISDE (iShares MSCI EM Islamic)
ISDE is the emerging-markets counterpart to ISWD. It tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Islamic Index, with significant weight in Saudi Arabia, India, Taiwan, South Korea, and selected ASEAN markets. Expense ratio of 0.85 percent is higher than developed-market alternatives because of the index licensing and trading-cost overhead of emerging markets. ISDE is the most direct way for European retail investors to gain exposure to Saudi Tadawul and Indian-listed Shariah-compliant equities without opening separate broker accounts in each country.
The cost comparison
ETF expense ratio vs single-stock screening, by portfolio size
The point at which self-directed single-stock screening becomes cheaper than holding a halal ETF depends on portfolio size and ETF expense ratio. The table below assumes the ETF expense ratio is paid annually on the portfolio balance, and that invest-like Pro is paid at 12 EUR a month (144 EUR a year) regardless of portfolio size.
| Portfolio size | ETF @ 0.50% / year | ETF @ 0.85% / year | invest-like Pro / year | Cheaper option |
|---|
| 5,000 EUR | 25 EUR | 42.50 EUR | 144 EUR | ETF |
| 15,000 EUR | 75 EUR | 127.50 EUR | 144 EUR | ETF (marginal) |
| 28,800 EUR | 144 EUR | 244.80 EUR | 144 EUR | break-even @ 0.50% |
| 50,000 EUR | 250 EUR | 425 EUR | 144 EUR | invest-like Pro |
| 100,000 EUR | 500 EUR | 850 EUR | 144 EUR | invest-like Pro |
| 250,000 EUR | 1,250 EUR | 2,125 EUR | 144 EUR | invest-like Pro |
The break-even point at the 0.50 percent expense level lands at roughly 28,800 EUR of invested capital. Below that, an ETF is cheaper. Above that, single-stock screening through invest-like Pro is cheaper, and the gap widens linearly with portfolio size. The cost comparison ignores per-trade brokerage commissions (negligible at most European brokerages in 2026) and the time cost of running per-stock analysis (which depends on your tolerance for the work).
Decision framework
When to pick an ETF, when to pick single-stock screening
Pick an ETF when...
- - Portfolio size is below 25,000 EUR and likely to stay there for several years
- - You want to start investing immediately with one purchase
- - You have no interest in per-stock analysis and are happy with the fund-level screen
- - You want the simplest possible tax-reporting story
- - You are dollar-cost-averaging small monthly contributions
- - You are comfortable with the issuer's choice of Shariah standard (S&P, FTSE, MSCI, or DJII)
Pick single-stock screening when...
- - Portfolio size is above 30,000 EUR or growing
- - You want to intersect halal-compliance with the 7-framework quality consensus
- - You want per-stock control over inclusion/exclusion decisions
- - You prefer the AAOIFI strict interpretation over the looser ETF-issuer screens
- - You want to exclude individual names you disagree with beyond Shariah compliance
- - You are comfortable making your own buy/sell decisions per ticker
A common hybrid approach: hold one halal ETF as the core holding (60-80 percent of the portfolio) to capture broad halal-compliant beta cheaply, and use invest-like single-stock screening for the satellite tilt (20-40 percent) into specific quality names that score highly on the Buffett-Fit composite. This combines low-cost passive exposure with the active quality overlay, and is the approach several institutional Islamic mandates use in practice.
Frequently asked
Halal ETF questions, answered
What is the most popular halal ETF in the US?v
By assets under management, the SP Funds S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions ETF (ticker SPUS) is currently the largest US-listed Shariah-compliant equity ETF, with roughly 700 to 800 million dollars in assets at the time of writing. It tracks the S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions Index and applies the S&P Sharia screen against the S&P 500. The Wahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF (HLAL) is the second-largest at roughly 250 to 350 million dollars and tracks a broader FTSE USA Shariah benchmark.
How much does a halal ETF cost compared to single-stock screening?v
Halal ETFs typically charge expense ratios between 0.49 percent and 0.85 percent per year. A 0.50 percent expense ratio on a 10,000 EUR portfolio works out to 50 EUR a year. invest-like Pro at roughly 12 EUR a month is 144 EUR a year - more expensive than a single-ETF holding for a small portfolio, but it scales differently. On a 50,000 EUR portfolio, an ETF at 0.50 percent costs 250 EUR a year; the invest-like Pro subscription is still 144 EUR. On a 200,000 EUR portfolio, the ETF costs 1,000 EUR a year. The single-stock screening approach breaks even with the ETF around 28,000 EUR of invested capital.
Are there any free halal ETFs?v
No US-listed halal ETF currently has a zero expense ratio. The lowest expense ratios in the category are around 0.49 to 0.50 percent (SPUS, HLAL). Conventional broad-market ETFs like VOO and IVV are available at 0.03 percent or lower, but they do not apply any Shariah screen. The structural reason for the higher cost is that the universe of Islamic-compliant ETF assets is small (collectively under 2 billion dollars in 2026) and the underlying index licensing fees from S&P, FTSE, and Dow Jones are not offset by the scale that broad-market ETFs enjoy.
What is the difference between SPUS and HLAL?v
SPUS tracks the S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions Index, which starts from the S&P 500 universe and removes non-compliant names. HLAL tracks the FTSE USA Shariah Index, which screens a broader US-listed universe (closer to the Russell 1000 in scope). HLAL therefore has more constituents and slightly different sector weights. Both apply the four-test screening structure but use slightly different denominators and exclusion-list interpretations. SPUS has tighter exposure to S&P 500 large-caps; HLAL has more mid-cap exposure.
Can I buy halal ETFs in Europe?v
Yes. The two most-traded UCITS-domiciled halal ETFs in Europe are the iShares MSCI World Islamic UCITS ETF (ISWD) and the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Islamic UCITS ETF (ISDE), both managed by BlackRock and listed on the London Stock Exchange among other European exchanges. ISWD covers developed-market Islamic equities globally; ISDE covers emerging-market Islamic equities. Expense ratios are around 0.60 percent for ISWD and 0.85 percent for ISDE. European investors should also check withholding-tax efficiency and dividend-treatment for their specific country of residence.
Why would I pick a halal ETF over single-stock screening?v
Three main reasons. First, simplicity: one purchase, one ticker, automatic rebalancing. Second, low minimum: an ETF can be bought for the price of one share, often under 50 EUR. Third, diversification: a single ETF gives you exposure to 100-plus stocks without any individual-stock analysis. The trade-offs are the expense ratio (0.49 to 0.85 percent per year vs free single-stock screening), the loss of per-stock control (you cannot exclude an ETF holding you personally disagree with), and the fund-level screen being applied uniformly (rather than letting you apply your own scholar's preferred interpretation).
Why would I pick single-stock screening over a halal ETF?v
Three main reasons. First, no expense ratio drag: at scale (above roughly 28,000 EUR invested), self-directed single-stock investing through a brokerage with zero per-trade commission is cheaper than an ETF at 0.50 percent. Second, per-stock control: you can apply your own scholar's preferred interpretation, exclude specific names you have ethical issues with beyond Shariah compliance (climate, governance, country exposure), and tilt your sector mix actively. Third, quality screening: a halal ETF holds the entire compliant universe weighted by market cap, including names that pass the four AAOIFI tests but score poorly on quality metrics (low ROIC, declining margins, no moat). invest-like lets you intersect halal-compliance with the 7-framework quality consensus.
Are halal ETFs available on Robinhood / IBKR / Trade Republic?v
SPUS, HLAL, UMMA, and AMZA are listed on US exchanges and available through any US brokerage that supports US-listed ETFs (Robinhood, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Interactive Brokers). ISWD and ISDE are LSE-listed UCITS ETFs available through any European brokerage that supports UCITS instruments (Interactive Brokers Europe, Trade Republic, DEGIRO, Saxo). Trade Republic in particular has popularised European retail access to ISWD and ISDE in recent years. Always check your local brokerage's available-instruments list before assuming a specific ticker is tradable.
ETF expense ratios, AUM figures, and holdings change frequently. Always check each issuer's most recent prospectus before investing. invest-like is not affiliated with any of the ETF issuers mentioned (SP Funds, Wahed Invest, BlackRock/iShares) and does not earn any commission on the products discussed. Educational only. Not investment advice.