Discussion of the transactions of Islamic banks.

The Shaykh : We spoke with him, just as we have spoken with you on many occasions. Our research reached a point where he claimed that some Islamic banks have Islamic transactions. So when we asked him—what was the question, Abu Abdillah?—about the percentage: if it rises, does the murabahah increase or not? What was the situation?

The questioner : I mean, if we trade with an Islamic bank for one thousand dinars, there is a percentage on it, for example, such and such.

The Shaykh : A commission. If it is ten thousand, the commission increases; if it is a million, the commission increases. We told him—be patient a little—we told him, this increase is in exchange for what? We understood that the first one was a commission, say, for a thousand, and the second and third: as the price doubles, the commission doubles. In exchange for what? The man was, in a way, meaning—do not make a joke, Professor—we need to hear from you later. In any case, we told him, in exchange for what? The truth is, the man did not want to argue much. He said, "By Allah, the men of religion have issued a ruling for us." We drew his attention to the fact that there are no "men of religion" in Islam; say, for example, scholars or men of knowledge, or something similar. He agreed with us and went along with us. May Allah reward him with good. We told him, "Okay, is this sufficient? I see you are now reassured that this second increase—the first we passed off as a commission, and it may indeed be a commission, for a commission is necessary—but this doubling of the commission is in exchange for what? You have no answer other than 'the scholars have issued a ruling for us.' But I see that you are not reassured. Now you have asked them: 'Bring your proof if you are truthful.' The point is, a person like this, on the surface, appears to be good, sound in heart, and wanting to be religious; he does not want to deal in riba. Perhaps he has never been corrected until now, so that he may be driven by his righteousness to verify the new opinion he heard. Perhaps he did not hear it. If this is the case, he is not to be blamed, my brother. The one to be blamed is the one who issued the ruling for him, and he is sincere in what he says, because we read multiple fatwas permitting this matter.