Question:
A person borrowed 1000 Saudi Riyāls, and the exchange price at that time was 140,000 Yemeni Riyāls.
Now the borrower demands it in Saudi Riyāls, so the one who borrowed from him said, “he will give it back to him in the exchange price of that day which he exchanged at that time”.
He says to him, “if I give you 1000, it’s price will be 200,000 Yemeni Riyāls, right now”. This is ribā (usury) in his assumption; meaning he has increased 60,000 and this is ribā?
Answer:
This is not correct. He borrowed 1000 Saudi Riyāls, so, he returns it in Saudi Riyāls.
If he borrowed in Dollars and it was demanded from him to return it, he returns it in the same currency, whether the exchange increased or decreased, this is not his concern.
He returns it regardless, so long as the currency is constantly changing, he gives it back in it’s original currency he took it in.
Allāh said;
(لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُون)َ
Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums).
[Al-Baqarah, 279]
Answered by: Shaykh, the Allamah, the Trustworthy Advisor, Abu Abdirrahman Yahya bin Ali Al-Hajuri – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/sh_yahia_duroos/8348, https://t.me/ShaykhYahyaEn/699
Translated by: Abū ‘Abdillāh ‘Omar bin Yahya Al-‘Akawi