What is the ruling on selling nine halalas for ten paper riyals for the purpose of making a phone call?
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The questioner : What is the ruling, O honorable Shaykh, on selling the nine halalas for ten paper riyals for the purpose of talking on the telephone or phone?
The Shaykh : What I see is that there is nothing wrong with that, and that riba al-fadl (usury of excess in a like-for-like exchange) does not apply between currencies; rather, riba al-fadl applies only to things of the same kind, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1587c So if a person buys nine iron riyals for ten paper ones, and that is hand-to-hand, meaning that each party takes possession of the consideration at the place of the contract, then there is nothing wrong with it.
However, if the taking of possession is delayed for one of them, then the sale is not valid. For example, if he gives him ten in the morning and says, "Come to me in the afternoon and I will give you nine riyals," then this is not permissible.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : What I see is that there is nothing wrong with that, and that riba al-fadl (usury of excess in a like-for-like exchange) does not apply between currencies; rather, riba al-fadl applies only to things of the same kind, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
If these classes differ, then sell as you wish if payment is made hand to hand.
إذا اختلفت هذه الأجناس فبيعوا كيف شئتم إذا كان يداً بيدHowever, if the taking of possession is delayed for one of them, then the sale is not valid. For example, if he gives him ten in the morning and says, "Come to me in the afternoon and I will give you nine riyals," then this is not permissible.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.