Halal Oil & Energy ETFs – AAOIFI-Screened Energy Funds (June 2026)

The energy ETF universe is larger and more halal-friendly than most people assume. Oil company equity ETFs like XLE, VDE, IXC, and FENY currently pass AAOIFI Shariah screening — large oil majors hold modest debt relative to their massive market caps. The critical distinction is between equity-based ETFs (generally compliant) and futures-based oil ETFs (not halal).

🔗 Also see: Halal Stocks (76) | Halal Crypto (20) | Halal ETFs (12) | Gold ETFs (8)

Updated monthly • AAOIFI screened • Musaffa & MuslimXchange verified

June 2026 Update: XLE, VDE, IXC, and FENY all confirmed Shariah-compliant per latest AAOIFI screening (Musaffa, MuslimXchange). Clean energy ETFs ICLN, QCLN, ACES, CNRG, SMOG remain broadly compliant. Futures-based ETFs (USO, UCO) remain impermissible.

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Preview the biggest gainers and losers inside the current halal oil and energy ETF passlist. Open the full performance page to compare the complete leaderboard.

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Rankings use the latest cached snapshot: Jul 7, 2026. Performance is market movement, not a halal verdict or buy signal.

Understanding the Energy ETF Landscape

Two of the three categories of energy ETFs are halal. One is clearly not:

✅ Oil Company Equity ETFs (AAOIFI Screened Compliant)

Hold stocks of oil & gas companies. Large oil majors (XOM, CVX, COP) pass HalalSignalz public debt ratio tests because their enormous market caps keep debt percentages well below the 30% threshold. Oil & gas extraction is a permissible business activity. Minor impure income (interest on cash) requires purification.

✅ Clean Energy ETFs (Generally Compliant)

Hold solar, wind, hydrogen, and clean infrastructure companies. Lower debt ratios, no haram revenue, and compliant business activities. A strong ethical and halal option for energy exposure.

❌ Oil Futures ETFs (Not Halal)

Hold crude oil futures contracts (USO, UCO, DBO). Futures are prohibited under Islamic finance — trading a commodity for future delivery constitutes gharar (excessive uncertainty). These are not permissible regardless of the underlying commodity.

Why Oil Majors Pass AAOIFI Debt Ratio Screening

A common misconception is that oil companies carry too much debt to pass Shariah screening. In practice, AAOIFI screens debt as a percentage of market capitalization — and major oil companies have very large market caps:

CompanyMarket CapNet DebtDebt / Mkt CapHalalSignalz (30%)
ExxonMobil (XOM)~$500B~$20B~4%✅ Pass
Chevron (CVX)~$250B~$15B~6%✅ Pass
ConocoPhillips (COP)~$120B~$7B~6%✅ Pass

Approximate figures as of Q1 2026. Verify current data at Musaffa or MuslimXchange before investing.

✅ Approved Oil & Gas Company ETFs (AAOIFI Screened)

🛢️ Oil & Gas Company ETFs – Pass List (4)
  • XLE – Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund
    Top US oil & gas producers (XOM, CVX, COP) • Expense: 0.08% • AUM: ~$40B
    ✅ AAOIFI Compliant (Musaffa verified) • Purification required on dividends
  • VDE – Vanguard Energy ETF
    100+ US energy companies, broad coverage • Expense: 0.09% • AUM: ~$10B
    ✅ AAOIFI Compliant (Musaffa verified) • Purification required on dividends
  • IXC – iShares Global Energy ETF
    Global oil & gas companies (US + international) • Expense: 0.41% • AUM: ~$2B
    ✅ AAOIFI Compliant (MuslimXchange verified, June 2026) • Purification required
  • FENY – Fidelity MSCI Energy Index ETF
    Broad US energy large & mid-cap • Expense: 0.08% • AUM: ~$2B
    ✅ AAOIFI Compliant (Musaffa verified) • Good alternative to XLE at same cost

⚠️ Shariah compliance of equity ETFs can change quarterly as company financials and fund holdings shift. Always re-verify before investing or on a quarterly basis.

✅ Clean Energy ETFs (Generally Compliant)

⚡ Clean Energy ETFs – Pass List (5)
  • ICLN – iShares Global Clean Energy ETF
    Global solar, wind & clean utilities • Expense: 0.40% • AUM: ~$2.5B
    ✅ Generally compliant — holds clean energy equities, no futures
  • QCLN – First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund
    US clean energy & EV companies • Expense: 0.58% • AUM: ~$500M
    ✅ Generally compliant — tech-forward clean energy, low debt holdings
  • ACES – ALPS Clean Energy ETF
    North American clean energy broad basket • Expense: 0.55% • AUM: ~$300M
    ✅ Generally compliant — solar, wind, hydro, efficiency companies
  • CNRG – SPDR S&P Kensho Clean Power ETF
    AI-selected clean power companies • Expense: 0.45% • AUM: ~$150M
    ✅ Generally compliant — power generation and storage focus
  • SMOG – VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF
    Low carbon intensity energy companies globally • Expense: 0.62% • AUM: ~$200M
    ✅ Generally compliant — screens out high-carbon and fossil-fuel companies

Energy ETF Comparison Table

ETFTypeExpenseHalal Status
XLEUS Oil & Gas Equity0.08%✅ Pass (AAOIFI)
VDEUS Energy Broad0.09%✅ Pass (AAOIFI)
IXCGlobal Oil & Gas Equity0.41%✅ Pass (AAOIFI)
FENYUS Energy Large/Mid Cap0.08%✅ Pass (AAOIFI)
ICLNGlobal Clean Energy0.40%✅ Pass
QCLN / ACESUS Clean Energy0.55–0.58%✅ Pass
USO / UCO / DBOOil Futures0.60–0.95%❌ Not Halal

❌ Oil ETFs to Avoid (Futures-Based — Not Halal)

These ETFs use futures contracts and are not permissible under Islamic finance, regardless of your screening methodology:

  • USO – United States Oil Fund – Holds WTI crude oil futures (gharar)
  • UCO – ProShares Ultra DJ-ACS Crude Oil – 2× leveraged oil futures
  • SCO – ProShares UltraShort Bloomberg Crude Oil – Inverse leveraged futures
  • DBO – Invesco DB Oil Fund – Futures-based with rolling contracts
  • OIL – iPath Pure Beta Crude Oil ETN – Exchange-traded note backed by futures
  • Any leveraged or inverse energy ETF – Speculative by design, not halal
📌 Purification Note: Even for compliant oil company ETFs, a small portion of dividend income may include interest earned on cash holdings. You must purify this amount (typically 1–3% of dividends) by donating it to charity. Use Musaffa or MuslimXchange to calculate the exact purification amount.

Total Approved: 9 ETFs (4 oil & gas equity + 5 clean energy) | Screening snapshot date: June 4, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Are oil ETFs halal?
Oil company equity ETFs such as XLE, VDE, IXC, and FENY can pass a Shariah screen when their holdings clear the business and ratio tests. Oil futures ETFs such as USO and UCO are not halal because futures introduce gharar.
Is XLE halal?
XLE is currently included on the HalalSignalz energy ETF passlist because its major holdings pass the public screening snapshot. Investors should still recheck holdings and purify any non-permissible income portion when applicable.
Why are oil futures ETFs not halal?
Oil futures ETFs hold futures contracts rather than company equity or physical commodity ownership. Islamic finance generally prohibits this structure because of gharar, leverage, and selling something for future delivery through speculative contracts.