Resolution No.(176)(8/2012) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:
"Ruling on Murabaha Sale where the Purchaser is Authorized to Conclude the Contract, or to Collect the Commodity in Question"
Date: (8/8/1433 A.H) (28/6/2012 A.D)
All praise is due to Allah, peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon his family and companions:
The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies reviewed, in its fourth session held on Monday(8/8/1433 A.H)-(28/6/2012 A.D), the following question:
What is the ruling on a financial institution, which deals in Murabaha, authorizing the purchaser to purchase the commodity and possess it?
After careful study and deliberation, the Board decided what follows:
Islamic banks are in the vanguard of financial procession due to their success at times of crises and economic challenges. They have proven that the Islamic Economy is the soundest and most productive means of development and stability, and that its foundations secure the equilibrium between the benefit of the individual and the interest of the community.
In its bid to set this procession straight, and cleanse it from doubtful matters(lawful or unlawful) and trickery, the Board has decided to ban authorizing the purchaser, or his deputy from purchasing in-kind commodities and collecting them on behalf of the institution dealing in Murabaha in order to prohibit usurious borrowing and employing trickery to legalize it. This is also because the outcome of deputizing is a factor in resembling the usurious loans, thus the transaction takes the form of cash for cash, but with an extra amount added to the original one(Usury/interest). This particularly happens when the deputizing process becomes a regular pattern adopted by Islamic Murabaha Institutions, thus we fear that these would lose the essence of true trading which differentiates them from the usurious banks.
The Board advises the various Islamic financial institutions to direct their employees to purchase commodities and collect them on behalf of these institutions, and to abide by the Murabaha system ratified by the Fiqh Assemblies and Islamic bodies, so as to purify the transaction from flaws and doubtful matters as well as maintain the accomplishments of Islamic banking that have been achieved recently.
Chairman of the General Iftaa` Board, His grace the Mufti General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member
Prof. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi/ Member
Prof. Mohammad Al-Khwdah/Member
Prof. Abdul N`nassir Abu-Al-bas`sal/Member
Dr.Yahia Al-Boutoosh/Member
Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri/ Member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member
Dr. Mohammad Az`zoubi/ Member
Executive Secretary of the Iftaa` Board, Dr. Jameel Abu-Sarah