The Ruling on Currency Exchange and the Retention of Part of the Money with the Seller

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, this person is asking about the issue of dealing with grocery stores and fruit-selling places. A sum of money remains with the merchant, and the merchant does not have change. Does that amount remain in his liability, and he returns to him the next day to take this amount? And is this considered currency exchange?

Answer:
Yes, this is currency exchange if the shop owner has a balance due from the buyer, and the buyer has large bills that the amount spent does not cover. It is not permissible for him to give him the large bill, for example five hundred, and say, "Come to me tomorrow and I will give you the rest." This is currency exchange, and currency exchange is not permissible for the two parties to separate with anything between them, as in the hadith. He gives him only his exact change. If the seller does not have what completes the exchange of the value of the bill, the buyer takes it to another place and exchanges it and gives the seller his due. Or he says to the seller, "I will bring you the price," if he is trusted. If the seller trusts him, he says, "I will bring you the price tomorrow or soon." As for giving him part of the change so that he has a balance that he does not receive, this is riba al-nasi'ah (usury of deferment). This is riba al-nasi'ah, which is selling cash for cash that is more than it, and deferred, even if it is equal. Deferment is not permissible in the sale of money; it must be hand-to-hand, as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,