Is it permissible to give a person an amount in one currency to convert it into another currency in his country?

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: I am from one of the Arab countries, and some of my colleagues here give me money in Saudi riyals, right? I am from one of the Arab countries, and some of my colleagues here give me money in Saudi riyals, and I convert it for him into the currency of his country, and I deduct the exchange fee from the currency that is delivered there. This is done with his consent, because if it arrives there in riyals, there may not be an exchange for it at some times. Is this permissible?

Answer:
This is a recurring issue that actually occurs, especially among workers, and they ask about it frequently. The default is that this is currency exchange, and currency exchange does not permit delaying the possession of the exchanged items. The two parties exchanging must not separate until they have taken possession of the items hand to hand, as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said. This is the default ruling. However, it is possible to make a case of *suftajah* (a forward exchange contract), which is that you lend the person this amount, he takes possession of it, and buys his needs with it. Then, when he goes to the second country, he repays you in the sense of repaying a debt, repaying a loan, and not in the sense of currency exchange. Yes.