If a person borrows a sum of money from people and then the currency exchange rate changes, does he return the money at the old rate or the new rate, especially since there are currencies whose prices change?

The questioner : The questioner from Yemen says: If a person borrows a sum of money from people and then the currency exchange rate changes, does he return the money at the old rate or the new rate, especially since there are currencies whose prices have changed significantly? Please clarify this for us.

The Shaykh : If a person borrows cash from another, he must return it in its specific kind, meaning if he borrowed Yemeni riyals, he must return them in Yemeni riyals, whether their value has risen or fallen. Similarly, if he borrowed a sa' of wheat, he must return a sa' of wheat, whether the value has increased or decreased. If he borrowed a sa' of rice, he must return a sa' of rice, whether the value has increased or decreased. The same applies to cash; if he borrows cash, he must return its equivalent, whether the value has increased or decreased.
Yes, if the currency is completely abolished, he returns its substitute. That is, if the currency he borrowed is abolished and another currency is placed in its stead, he returns the substitute in this new currency.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.