The Ruling on Dealing in Bank Shares

This message came from Adel Ibrahim al-Hamoud al-Khabar. He says: I ask you to present this message to His Eminence Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz, and may Allah reward you with good. We are presenting it to His Eminence now. Your Eminence, Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz, may Allah grant you understanding, it is not hidden from you that we are passing through various trials in these days, to the point that one of us may fall into one of them without knowing it. Therefore, it is necessary to ask: In these days, dealing in bank shares and the like has become widespread, to the extent that we do not find a single Muslim household that has not dealt in them, except for those whom Allah has shown mercy. Many people think that dealing in them is lawful, while others say that it is forbidden. The matter has become confused for us, so we found in you one who guides us and the Muslims to what brings them guidance and well-being, if Allah wills. We ask for your information on this matter?
Answer: There is no doubt, O brother questioner, that it is forbidden to deal with interest-based banks and it is forbidden to assist them. Therefore, it is not permissible to participate in banks that deal in interest, nor to cooperate with them; because that falls under the saying of the Exalted: [Al-Ma'idah: 2]. So one should not buy shares from them, nor assist them in any way; because they are being assisted in sin in this matter.
As for Islamic banks that do not deal in interest, there is no harm in participating in them and cooperating with them; because that is cooperation in righteousness and piety. Believers should beware of these things that Allah has forbidden them. Dealing with interest-based banks is something that Allah the Exalted does not approve of, rather, it is not permissible. Whether the cooperation is through writing, employment, or cooperation through participation in them, providing money in them, and partnership, all of this is not permissible; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ; because they cooperate in this. And cooperation in sin and aggression is a forbidden matter. So writing for interest, testifying to interest, consuming interest, and dictating interest are all forbidden, and so are the types of cooperation with those who take interest. Yes.