There are people near the Makkah Haram at the telephone booths located near the Haram, and if someone asks to exchange metal riyals for a call, they say one riyal.
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The questioner : There are people near the Makkah Haram at the telephone booths located near the Haram, and if one of the brothers asks to exchange metal riyals for a call, they say: one metal riyal for two paper riyals, or three metal riyals for five paper riyals. I ask the honorable Shaykh to guide me in this matter: is this forbidden or lawful? May you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : There is scholarly disagreement on this matter. Some scholars say that it is not permissible to exchange nine metal riyals for ten paper riyals, because the value of this is the same as the value of that. If you went to the market to buy something worth one paper riyal, you would buy it with the value of one riyal, with one metal riyal, and vice versa. If that is the case, then the excess is riba.
Other scholars hold that there is no harm in this and that it is permissible to exchange ten riyals for nine metal riyals, but on the condition that it is done hand to hand. This is the more correct view, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1587c Accordingly, it is permissible for you to give him ten paper riyals and he gives you nine metal riyals. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This listener from Riyadh says: Honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : There is scholarly disagreement on this matter. Some scholars say that it is not permissible to exchange nine metal riyals for ten paper riyals, because the value of this is the same as the value of that. If you went to the market to buy something worth one paper riyal, you would buy it with the value of one riyal, with one metal riyal, and vice versa. If that is the case, then the excess is riba.
Other scholars hold that there is no harm in this and that it is permissible to exchange ten riyals for nine metal riyals, but on the condition that it is done hand to hand. This is the more correct view, 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 الأصناف فبيعوا كيف شئتم إذا كان يداً بيدThe questioner : May Allah bless you. This listener from Riyadh says: Honorable Shaykh.