Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(106): “Ruling on Foreign Exchange Offices“

Date Added : 02-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(106) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:  

“ Ruling on Foreign Exchange Offices “

Date: 26/4/1472 AH, 24/5/2006 AD

 

 

Question: What is the ruling on foreign exchange offices that deal in foreign exchange speculation, American Stock Exchange (AMEX), gold, silver and petrol.

The way such offices operate can be clarified as follows: The client makes a deposit e.g.(5000) dollars and the office offers him credit facilities up to (50.000), but when the loss reaches (5000), the client loses his money and the office closes his account and the opposite is true in case of profit?

Answer:

The Board is of the view that such transaction is forbidden in Islamic Law {Sharia} because the money which the office lends to the client is conditioned by trading in foreign exchange with none other than it. In this case, it is a tied loan: no credit facilities to the client unless he adheres to dealing with the office alone. Moreover, the office`s profit is assured while the client`s isn`t, and this is tantamount to gambling.

This is in addition to the fact that this transaction is conducted without mutual reception in the place where the transaction was concluded. Also, the office sells and buys that which isn`t in its possession and this has been disapproved and forbidden by the Prophet (PBUH). And Allah Knows Best.

 

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board

Chief Justice/ Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

Dr. Abdusalam Al-Abbadi                                      Dr. Yousef Ghaidahn

Dr. Abdolmajeed As-Salaheen                              Sheikh Sai`ed Hijjawi

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakri                                         Sheikh Abdulkareem Khasawneh

Sheikh Na`iem Mujjahid

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is Zakah (obligatory charity) due on the items used in the trading process such as: cars , shops etc..?

No Zakah is due on equipments used in the trading process such as cars and the like.

What are the valid excuses for abstaining from congregational prayer in the mosque?

 
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Concessions (Rukhsah) are granted to abstain from congregational prayer in the mosque due to general excuses, such as: rain that causes hardship in going out, strong winds at night, heavy mud that cannot be traversed without the risk of soiling oneself, hot winds, and extreme heat or cold. There are also specific individual excuses, such as: illness that makes walking as difficult as walking in the rain, severe drowsiness, evident hunger or thirst, the suppression of bodily wastes (urine, stool, or gas), and fear for one's life, limb, physical faculty, wealth, or honor, among other valid excuses. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

Is it permissible to agree with a butcher to purchase the meat of an animal after it has been slaughtered — for instance, by buying the meat of a sheep at a price determined by the weight of its meat following slaughter, at a fixed rate per kilogram? And what is the ruling if the animal is being purchased with the intention of it being an uḍḥiyyah (sacrificial offering)?

 
 
 
 
 

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is not permissible to sell livestock in the manner of pricing each kilogram of meat after slaughter at a fixed rate, because the meat within the animal prior to slaughter is unseen and unknown. This leads to jahālah (ignorance of the subject matter) and gharar (contractual uncertainty), both of which are among the invalidating factors in sales transactions.
However, it is permissible for the buyer to issue a promise to purchase the meat of the animal after slaughter at a specified price per kilogram, with the actual sale being concluded at the time of weighing the meat — at which point both the quantity of the goods and the total price become known. There is no Sharī'ah objection to this arrangement.
The jurists have stipulated that for a sale to be valid, both countervalues must be present and observable. Al-Khaṭīb al-Shirbīnī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states:
"It is valid to sell a heap of grain whose total measure is unknown to both contracting parties at a rate of one sā' per dirham. This sale is valid because the subject of sale is present and observable, and ignorance of the total price is not harmful since it is known in detail — and uncertainty is thereby lifted."— [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.2/P.355]
As for the uḍḥiyyah, the 'aqīqah, and vowed blood sacrifices (al-dam al-mandhūr) — full ownership of the animal must be established prior to slaughter. It is not valid for such animals to be slaughtered while still in the ownership of the butcher. Rather, the animal must be purchased alive and then slaughtered with the intention of uḍḥiyyah or the like. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on selling gold or silver in installments or for a differed price?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is prohibited (haram) to sell gold or silver in installments or for a deferred price; rather, immediate hand-to-hand exchange (Taqabud) is mandatory, otherwise, it is considered usury (Riba). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt—like for like, hand to hand. Whoever increases or asks for an increase has engaged in Riba; the receiver and the giver are the same in this regard.' (Narrated by Muslim). Furthermore, when exchanging new gold for used gold, they must be of equal weight, or it falls into Riba.
 
The permissible solution (al-makhraj) is for the merchant to purchase the used gold for cash first, and then sell the new gold for cash in a separate transaction. However, the price must be paid during the sitting of the contract (Majlis al-Aqd) for both deals. Alternatively, the jeweler may take the used gold with the intent of remodeling or repairing it, and then charge a fee for the craftsmanship or repair work. And Allah the Exalted knows best."