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 it permissible to give to the poor from among the People of the Book from the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and prayers and peace be upon our Master the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to give to the poor among the People of the Book from a voluntary sacrifice (uḍḥiyyat taṭawwuʿ), just as it is permissible to give charity (ṣadaqah) to them. This opinion is a view (wajh) within the Shāfiʿī school, which was favored by al-Muḥibb al-Ṭabarī and Imam al-Nawawī. [See: Ḥāshiyat Ibn Qāsim al-ʿAbbādī ʿalā Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.9/P.365)]. And Allah Almighty knows best.

How is the niṣāb (minimum threshold) of gold calculated when one owns gold of multiple different karats?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh is obligatory on cash and on gold designated for saving or for trade, provided the total reaches the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for Zakah), and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has elapsed over it. The niṣāb is (85) grams of 24-karat gold; for 21-karat gold, the niṣāb equals (97) grams; and for 18-karat gold, it equals (113) grams.
If one owns gold of multiple different karats, the person paying zakāh should calculate the monetary value of all the gold he owns, combining these values together to determine whether the total reaches the niṣāb. He then pays zakāh on this combined monetary value, once the total reaches the niṣāb. The relied-upon position is to calculate the zakāh based on the buying price [i.e., the price the gold merchant would pay the owner to purchase the gold from him] on the day the zakāh obligation is due. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on someone who dies while having missed fasts?

● If a person dies before having the opportunity to make up the missed fasts—such as someone whose excuse (e.g., illness) persisted until their death—then no makeup fast (qada), fidyah, or sin applies to them.
● However, if they had the ability to make up the fasts but did not do so before passing away, the missed fasts must be compensated by giving a mudd of food for each missed day from their estate.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever dies while having a month’s fast due, one needy person should be fed per day on their behalf." [Narrated by At-Tirmidhi]
Additionally, a guardian (wali) may fast on their behalf, as the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever dies while having missed fasts, their guardian should fast on their behalf." [Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In another narration: "If they wish." This indicates that both feeding the needy and fasting on behalf of the deceased are permissible options.

What is the ruling on fasting only on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?

In voluntary fasting (nafl), it is disliked (makruh) to fast only on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
However:
● If one fasts a day before or after Friday, then that is permissible.
● The same applies to Saturday and Sunday—fasting them along with another day removes the dislike.
● Fasting all three days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) together is not disliked.
If any of these days coincide with a recommended fasting day, such as Arafah or Ashura, then fasting it alone is not disliked.