Does the following situation constitute Riba?

Answered by 

Hazrat Mufti Sahab, I seem to remember the following mas’ala but I’m not sure if I remember it correctly and I also don’t remember the source. Could you kindly confirm whether my understanding is correct or not?

A urgently needs $30. A has $50 dollar note but he needs $30 in $10 denomination. He asks B for $50 in $10 denomination. B says he only has $30 in $10 denomination. A says to B “OK you give me the $30 and take the $50 note from me, and pay me $20 later”.

If I remember correctly the above scenario constitutes some form of Riba (interest). I seem to remember that the correct way of doing this transition is that A should not give the $50 to B at this point. A should give $30 back to B at a later point.

Please help to confirm if my understanding is correct.

Jazakallah for your time and effort.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakā

A and B are not conducting a purchase and sale transaction. A simply wanted $ 30 in denominations of $10. A gave to B the $50 note to pay the $30. B now owes $20 to A. The $20 by B is trust.[1]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Jibran Kadarkhan

Student Darul Iftaa
Mauritius 

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

[1]

وشرعافضلخالعنعوضبمعيارشرعىلاحدالمتعاقدينفىالمعاوضة(الدرالمختار:5/168)

واماالذىيرجعالىالمقرض،فهواهليةللتبرع،فلايملكهمنلايملكالتبرعمنالابوالوصىوالصبىلانالقرضللمالتبرع،الاترىانهيقابلهعوضللحال.فكانتبرعاللحال،فلايجوزالاممنيجوزمنهلتبرع،

ومنهاانيكونممامثلله،كالمكيلاتوالموزونات،والعددياتالمتقاربة،فلايجوزقرضمالامثلله.(بدائعالصنائع

وعنجابررضىاللهعنهقاللعنرسولاللهصلىاللهعليهوسلماكلالربواوموكلهوكاتبهوشاهديه (رواهمسلم،12 مشكواةص 244)

وعلمتةاىعلةتحريمالزيادةالقدرالمعهودبكيلاووزنمعالحسنفانوجداحرمالفضلوالنساءوانعدماحلال (تنوير،2/276)

فلوتجانساشرطالتماثلوالتقابصواناختلفالجودةوالصياغةيعنياذابيعجنسالاثمانبجنسهكالذهببالذهباوالفضةبالفضةيشترطفيهالتساوىقبلالافتراقولايجوزالتفاضلفيه،واناختلفاجودةوالصياغةقالعمررضىاللهعنهالذهببالذهبمثلبمثلوالرقبالرقمثلبمثلالانقالزيلعىبحذف، 2/135) 

This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

Tags: Interest, RIBA

Link