Towards Triple Bottom Lines Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) – A Case Study of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) Salwana Hassan 1 , Rashidah Abdul Rahman 2 ,Nordin Abu Bakar 3 , Ahcene Lahsasna 4 1 Faculty of Business Management, 2 Accounting Research Institute, 3 Faculty of Computer & Mathematical Sciences UiTM Malaysia, 40450 Shah Alam www.uitm.edu.my 4 International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance Lorong Universiti A, 59100 Kuala Lumpur www.inceif.org Corresponding email : salwana@salam.uitm.edu.my Abstract The introduction of microfinance is to provide capital for the micro entrepreneurs to start anew or expand their existing income generating activities. Micro entrepreneurs are considered non-bankable and unqualified for formal loan because they lack of collateral to back their loan applications. Yunus & Jolis (2003) stated that the poor are not lack of talents thus should be given opportunity in terms of capital to be independent entrepreneurs. With the repayment rate of more than 90% the microfinance sector has been proven to be low risk and profitable business. Some microfinance institutions (MFIs) started as non government organisations (NGOs) with the social goal as their main objective but turned into formal institutions such as BancoSol in Bolivia which is a profitable entity by working towards double bottom lines , both social and financial as mentioned by Brau & Woller (2004) to ensure sustainability of funds. This paper aims to look at the possibility of MFIs to have triple bottom lines, optimising social, financial and religious goals. Keywords : micro entrepreneurs, microfinance, MFI, NGO, triple bottom lines Introduction Poverty is common in many countries especially the developing and less developed countries. The poor are being deprived of their basic needs and rights. Apart from the role of the government to alleviate poverty among its people, other groups such as non government organisations (NGOs), private institutions and even concerned individuals are taking part in the effort to improve lives of the less privileged persons. The poor are generally considered as high risk group, therefore they are being denied from getting formal sources of financing. According to The Global Development Research Center (GDRC), fewer than 2 percent of poor people worldwide have access to financial services which is either credit or savings from sources other than informal money lenders.