Dear brothers and sisters,
assalamo alaykom wa rahmato allah,
I am so interested in forex exchange but unsure how to play it safe from islamic perpective. Could anyone summarize in practical terms how would I know if I am trading forex without violating Islamic law? and anyone knows any site or material that explains forex in simple terms,e.g: for people who never have done or studied business before.
jazakom allaho khayran.
fee aman allah,
Ghassan
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Comments
deleted3979
Islamic Forex Broker
Fri, 2011/04/15 - 14:36You can find islamic broker which offer interest free islamic forex account for here http://www.islamic.riverforex.com
sanjeev (not verified)
need investor in forex
Tue, 2011/04/26 - 04:24I have lot of experience in forex but i have proble in investment. my partner ditched me very badly. so any one who can invest with e a handson return will be there for him. Give 200000 Usd account. once after that you will give million of investment when you get regular return
regards,
Sanjeev
Ahmad_Malaysia (not verified)
100% fully Shariah compliant forex trading platform
Sun, 2011/08/14 - 18:20Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
To all those interested in trading forex according to the shariah priciple.
Please surf this website: https://secure.blmefx.com/
In order to comply with the islamic spot forex trading principle,there should not be any:-
1.Swap/Roll over interest charge.
2.Leverage.(Trades are settled in full to ensure Sharia'a compliance)
3.Most of the so-called islamic forex platforms do not comply on the leverage issue.
Hope that helps.
Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Visitor (not verified)
I dont Think Forex is Haram..
Wed, 2011/10/12 - 09:14Salam, Hi all..,
just want to share some opinion. I am from Malaysia and according to the ulema and islamic hukm experts in Malaysia it is decided that FOREX IS HALAL..However there are some conditions that could turn that to illegal or haram. Among of them are :
1. Leverage - more than 1:1 is not allowed.
2. trading without knowledge - like gambling.
3. hedging concept (sell and buy at the same time).
4. Gold and silver trading in the platform are haraam. Only the currency can be allowed....and etc.
Think guys..if forex is haraam,
-how about the millions of muslim money changer (most of them are indian muslim in Malaysia but not sure in other country) make a honest living and as their main source of income.
-how about the stock trading that we have been doing it since for more than 30 years (if im not mistaken maybe longer than that) as the forex is not as much different from that.
-how about buying things or stuff online (we pay the money for the things and wait it to reach our home several days later)????
-how about the concept of paper money (whole worlds used it) where its values are nothing but it used in all countries where the values are based on the gold stock that kept in their country per kapita. (Only USA the only country in the world that print their money as they like and their dollar are not based on the gold and the world cant say anything about it).
Thanks. Anyone who want to discuss it further please go ahead. Salam.
Imdad (not verified)
Can you send the fatwa which says forex is halal?
Wed, 2011/12/14 - 04:59Brother, as-salaam alikum W/w,
Is it possible for you to send that fatwa to me so that I can understand more,
jazakallah
Imdad
qaiser ali shah (not verified)
halal or haram
Sat, 2013/03/02 - 18:001) selling what one does not possess is forbidden.( where actually the thing is )
2) it is haraam to deal with a companies whose main purposes are haraam (you buy from the same person and have to sell the same to him or through him) ( the company pay amount on your be half( kind of loan to you ) with agreement that you have to sell through him ). as in physical the thing can be sold through him or some one other then him or direct to someone needer,which ever comes first. the binding of some on for own profit to do such act is haraam . weather against services or loan an favour is...
This transaction involves economic harm to the parties involved, especially the customer (investor), and to the economy of the society in general.
>>>The Council advises financial institutions to follow the ways of finance that are prescribed in sharee’ah and do not have harmful economic effects on their customers or on the economy in general, like shar’i partnerships and the like. And Allaah is the Source of strength.
3) it is based on borrowing to excess and taking risks.
4) Such matters usually involve cheating, misleading people, rumours, hoarding, artificial inflation of prices and rapid and strong fluctuation of prices, with the aim of getting rich quickly( exaggerating greed ) and acquiring the savings of others in unlawful ways. Hence it comes under the heading of consuming people’s wealth unlawfully, in addition to diverting wealth in society from real, fruitful economic activity to this type of risk that has no economic advantage, and it may lead to severe economic turmoil that will cause great loss and harm in society.
>>what is the spread.
will be thankful to you for your answer.
Sukkee (not verified)
God The All-Knowing
Sat, 2011/11/12 - 21:52having done some research based on our capacity (time and knowledge), Dont forget to do istikharah, hoping fully, that God will guide us, in every single step we do. God will clearly avoid us from haram things, InsyaAllah.
Visitor (not verified)
Common sense
Fri, 2011/11/18 - 01:44Ladies/gents Aoa
The biggest point is being missed here. Riba prohibition is obvious. However most fx brokers (even the biggest names) do not allow you to take delivery of the cash you trade. So I'm effect you are trading a notional value of FX. In other words with most brokers you are not trading an actual underlying product rather the brokers books. So any broker saying 'Islamic account' you need to ask I you actually own the currency. If you don't then you should be able to take delivery. It's like index trading... What exactly are you buying? Dont fool yourselves guys. All these brokers provide you a derivative of the product and not the product itself.
With all these questions your hearts know the true answer. Tune in to the content of your hearts and the answer is obvious. However, this is not to say that your local currency exchange is haram. They are buying/selling the physical. This raises another question. Even if riba is not present and you have indeed only paid the spread is currency itself a commodity or a means to buy a commodity? Can you really trade and profit from the 'means'?
The reason we trade fx is because we expect a quicker return than working for a boss, or to serve as an ambition never to work for a boss. If you are being rewarded in high profits then fear why Allah swt is allotting this money to you now when your hearts know the truth.
May I suggest that we make sincere duah for guidance. Allah swt is almighty and fair and knows best
Ws
Visitor (not verified)
Common sense
Fri, 2011/11/18 - 01:45Ladies/gents Aoa
The biggest point is being missed here. Riba prohibition is obvious. However most fx brokers (even the biggest names) do not allow you to take delivery of the cash you trade. So I'm effect you are trading a notional value of FX. In other words with most brokers you are not trading an actual underlying product rather the brokers books. So any broker saying 'Islamic account' you need to ask I you actually own the currency. If you don't then you should be able to take delivery. It's like index trading... What exactly are you buying? Dont fool yourselves guys. All these brokers provide you a derivative of the product and not the product itself.
With all these questions your hearts know the true answer. Tune in to the content of your hearts and the answer is obvious. However, this is not to say that your local currency exchange is haram. They are buying/selling the physical. This raises another question. Even if riba is not present and you have indeed only paid the spread is currency itself a commodity or a means to buy a commodity? Can you really trade and profit from the 'means'?
The reason we trade fx is because we expect a quicker return than working for a boss, or to serve as an ambition never to work for a boss. If you are being rewarded in high profits then fear why Allah swt is allotting this money to you now when your hearts know the truth.
May I suggest that we make sincere duah for guidance. Allah swt is almighty and fair and knows best
Ws
Nazir Pakistan (not verified)
Still confuse - I am looking closing comments from any Mufti
Tue, 2011/11/22 - 02:23Forex is Halal or Haram is very confusing. People who know the Forex market will endorsed you that Forex Trading is not gambling. Its base on proper knowledge and analysis. Personally i do not find anything illegal in it. There are two type of trader in the market. First who trade Forex with proper technical and fundamental analysis and Second who do gambling and making trade without any knowledge. Gambler always in loss. Traders always in profit because they trade on proper money management.
People said only hand to hand transaction is allowed in Islam for Forex. Hand to hand means under your jurisdiction. When you trade in Forex and close the trade so that your profit or loss come in your account within seconds. And your forex account is belongs to you its your jurisdiction. Which you can withdraw any time.
People said currency can be traded only in same meeting or place. Brother thing big. Internet is place where Trader(you), Broker and Bank all sit together for 5 days a week. There representative is a software system but its belongs to them.
People said Margin Trading is not allowed. I want to correct you that Margin trading is not allowed if its involved Riba. Many Muslim Forex broker offering account which do not involved Riba. Leverage is offered by Broker by there own wish and without any condition. Where broker keep their money safe and where limit of our money end they close the trade automatically but they give margin call first.
My wish is that Muslim Scholars and Mufti's must review their thoughts and re think about it after researching what is Forex all about and then give their honest review. These days Internet is most powerful platform for business.Kindly take Forex in the matter of IJTIHAD.
I also request all Islamic Forex Broker to open a Shariah department and also approved their Islamic Forex System with any Reliable Mufti's and Muslim Scholars. It will easy for Muslims to join them without wasting years to researching them it is legal or not.
I think the better way is to do Istikara. Take guidance from Allah. Because different Muslim scholars from different community will have their own thoughts. Some says its Legal and some says its illegal. Its better to seek guidance from Allah through Istakarah. Its better do Istikarah by your own
Thank You
Muhamed Aadil (not verified)
Sharia Compliant trading online through a broker
Mon, 2011/12/12 - 10:22Assalamualaikum- Warahmatullahi- Wabarakatu
I have been trading in CFD equities on a Sharia Compliant platform. I am NO Mufti or Aalim. But from my constant research of over a year I have found that the main difference between truely Sharia Compliant Plarforms and other so callled Sharia Compliant platforms is a few of the main facts.
1- No Riba or interest. However a disclosed percentage fee maybe charged from the onset of the agreement.( this means no swaps or overnight gains or losses )
2- The plaform should be a market agent and not a market maker. For example most platforms today offer products as market makers i.e the market on the platform is actually controlled by the maker of the platform.( hence you are actually not even buying anything that even reflects the true value of an underlying asset). Whereas the market agent agent has to by contractual agreement of the relavent exchange provide almost 100% true reflection of the market, as the market agent takes the same position as you take on the market and will suffere the same losses(therefore acing exactly as a broker does). excluding commissions/service charge.The market agent however, costs a heliva lot more than the market marker.
3- The platform should be guided by a Sharia advisory board consisting of qualified Ulamaa and who specialise in Islmaic financial matters.Both locally and internationally. ( Local Ulamaa are of a special requirement as they are able to shed light on issues that are surrounding the specific place, example banking norms).
I have included such an address as a homepage of the platform I use,and I am aware of currency trading that they provide. May Allah except and guide us all. Fee-Amanillah
Wslm
khronos (not verified)
Any leverage is haraam. With
Sat, 2013/03/30 - 22:46Any leverage is haraam.
With CFD you're only paying 2-5% of face value!
Peter
Visitor (not verified)
can you send me fatwa about
Sun, 2012/02/05 - 01:01can you send me fatwa about two side halal and haram
Shahnawaz (not verified)
If you need Fatwa
Wed, 2012/03/07 - 10:21send me your email Id i will send you Fatwa about Forex trading. Its completely halal business.
freedom (not verified)
Hi Shahnawaz, can u fwd to me
Thu, 2012/03/08 - 21:32Hi Shahnawaz,
can u fwd to me the Fatwa about Forex trading to gofreedom2012@gmail.com. Thanks.
Visitor (not verified)
FAtwa
Mon, 2012/03/12 - 17:11Please send me the Fatwa
Thanks
demang
Fatwa
Tue, 2012/03/13 - 13:51Salam Shahnawaz
Pls email to me at demang1975@yahoo.com the fatwa about forex trading its completely halal business.
Visitor (not verified)
Salam Please email to me at
Tue, 2012/03/20 - 01:46Salam
Please email to me at isngah@gmail.com
Jazakallah
Abu Ammar
Visitor (not verified)
Can I too get the fatwa :
Wed, 2012/03/21 - 21:08Can I too get the fatwa : mmarjanfx@gmail.com
Visitor (not verified)
fatwa
Fri, 2012/03/30 - 02:48Assalam o Alaikum
brother if u send me a copy of fatwa as wel , i'll b very thnful
Visitor (not verified)
send me the fatwa plz
Tue, 2012/04/03 - 13:46send me the copy of fatwah plz at my email which is manibhai2012@gmail.com
Visitor (not verified)
i need a copy of fatwa on forex
Sat, 2012/04/07 - 10:17please send me the copy of fatwa.... i'll b very grateful to u
Fxcraz (not verified)
Kindly send me Fatwa
Mon, 2012/04/09 - 06:59Brother, kindly send me Fatwa at fxcraz@hotmail.com
Thanks
Visitor (not verified)
Snd me fatwa
Sun, 2012/07/29 - 15:33Snd me fatwa
Visitor (not verified)
please send me fatwa
Sat, 2012/09/29 - 07:30please send me fatwa
Visitor (not verified)
fatwa
Wed, 2012/10/10 - 16:14please send me a fatwa my e~mail adress is AInce33@gmail.com thank
Visitor (not verified)
I WANT TO HAVE FATWA ON FOREX
Mon, 2012/11/05 - 12:57PLZ SEND ME A FATWA ON FOREX @ UMAIR_THECHAMPION@YAHOO.COM
Mobeen Ahmed (not verified)
Please send me Fatwa about Forex being halal
Fri, 2012/11/09 - 17:56Hi friend,
I have been trading for a very long time in Forex.It just now came into my notice that weather it is halal too or not??
so please, if you can, send me as much as Real fatwas by Different Muftis and Ulams, so that my tension of Halal and Haram is finished, and I can trade without any tension..
Thanks
Ahmad Khan (not verified)
i need fatwa about forex trading
Thu, 2012/11/29 - 09:14Assalamoalikum,
brother i m very confusd about forex trading
plz send me the fatwa.
my God bless you
Visitor (not verified)
i need a copy of fatwa
Sat, 2012/12/01 - 15:21slaam shahnawz;
send me the copy of fatwa on forex trading my email id is
ali.faizan32@gmail.com
zubair (not verified)
i need farwa if u say this is halal
Mon, 2012/12/03 - 14:55please send me fatwa k forex is halal business
m to much confused and upset kinldy send me soon pplzzzz
hafeez shah (not verified)
fatwa about forex trading is it halal or harram
Tue, 2013/01/15 - 08:48salam i am hafeez shah i need complete fatwa about forex trading rather its halal or haram thanks
Visitor (not verified)
Is forex trading really halal?
Sat, 2012/03/10 - 19:42Can you email me the fatwa, or show me some evidence?
Jazakallah
Waqasat Ali
Visitor (not verified)
Did you get the email of the fatwa?
Tue, 2012/03/20 - 01:45Salam Waqasat Ali
Did you get the email copy of the fatwa. If you have, can you forward the email to me.
Jazakallah
Abu Ammar
Visitor (not verified)
fatoa needed
Wed, 2012/04/04 - 14:57plz e-mail me the fatoa regarding currency exchange
Fxcraz (not verified)
Kindly send me Fatwa
Mon, 2012/04/09 - 06:57Shahnawaz kindly send me Fatwa at fxcraz@hotmail.com
muhammad faisal (not verified)
AOA hope u fine plz My bro U
Sat, 2012/07/07 - 09:31AOA hope u fine plz My bro U Shahnawaz send me fatwa about forex thanks
akbar (not verified)
forex
Fri, 2012/05/18 - 13:01g is forex halal or haram?plz tell me in urdu on my email.i am very confuse in this problem
Visitor (not verified)
Forex is halal or haram?
Sat, 2012/05/19 - 20:48Assalammualaikum.. I like to know a real fatwa about this business. Can I contribute in this program? Which company is halal from syarie? Can you emel me a fatwa about this & the good company web address & not against the islamic law? Thank you
Visitor (not verified)
Forex Fatwah by Karachi Darul Uloom
Fri, 2012/06/22 - 13:20Forex Trading
By Mufti Shafiq Jakhura
POSTED: 18 DHUL HIJJAH 1430, 5 DECEMBER 2009
Q.I am interested in the Forex SPOT trading business and would like to know if it is halal. The trading that I will be doing will be as follows:
Let's say, I invest $1,000, the broker invests or lends $99,000 and together we buy the currency like euro worth $100,000. The broker will not charge any interest on the money that he invested or lend, because it will be a Shariah compliant account.
- If the rate of the euro goes up and I decide to sell the euro. The broker will take a small share of the profit and rest is given to me
- If the rate of the euro goes down below a certain margin which is determined by the amount I invest, my broker will close the trade and take his money back and I will lose the money I invested.
Also, another place were interest may be involved is when the buying and selling is not done on the same day, then a rollover occurs which mean that either we have to pay interest or give interest on the currency you have bought, but the brokers is offering a swap free or interest free accounts for Muslims only, in which, even if you do not close the trade on the same day, they will not debit or credit any interest.
I am interested in Spot trading not Future trading. Please let me know if this type of trading is halal.
A.
Trading in this manner appears to be objectionable from a Sharia perspective and must be avoided. From your explanation, the contribution of the broker appears to be a loan. If this is the case and you make a profit when selling the currency, the broker is not entitled to any amount over and above his capital loan.
Any amount that he takes over this is deemed to be interest. On the other hand, if the contribution of the broker is deemed to be a capital contribution as a partner in the venture, then both partners must share in the loss as well, whereas, apparently, from your explanation, it appears as though the broker does not share in the loss. His capital is guaranteed.
Similarly, conventional forward exchange contracts and purchasing or selling of currencies on the futures market is also prohibited. These regulations are deduced directly from the Ahadith of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Sallam).
A method of trading can be structured on the principles of musharaka (partnership). I suggest that you refer to the book An Introduction to Islamic Finance and thereafter, should you and your broker require any assistance and advice regarding how to structure such a partnership, you may contact us and we will endeavor to advise to the best of our ability.
Further, the Sharia has laid down certain guidelines and regulations when trading in currencies. It is necessary to uphold and maintain these regulations when trading in currencies. The most important of these regulations is that currencies of different countries can be traded in exchange of each other provided that the transaction is completed on spot (i.e. both counter-values should be exchanged at the same time), irrespective of whether the contract is concluded at above or below the spot rate. In other words both the counter-values are exchanged at one and the same time.
The exchange of both counter values and the subsequent possession acquired by the buyer and seller thereof, could take place through actual possession or constructive possession which is also acceptable. In order to enlighten you further on this, I quote hereunder from the Sharia Standards, prepared by AAOIFI:
" 2/6/4. Physical possession takes place by means of simultaneous delivery by hand.
2/6/5 Constructive possession of an asset is deemed to have taken place by the seller enabling the other party to take its delivery and dispose of it, even if there is no physical taking of possession. Among other forms of constructive possession that are approved by both Shari'a and business are the following:
(a) To credit a sum of money to the account of the customer in the following situations:
(1) When the institution deposits to the credit of the customer's account a sum of money directly or through bank transfer.
(2) When the customer enters into a spot contract of currency exchange between himself and the institution, in the case of the purchase of a currency against another currency already deposited in the account of the customer.
(3) When the institution debits - by the order of the customer - a sum of money to the latter's account and credits it to another account in a different currency, either in the same institution or another institution, for the benefit of the customer or any other payee. In following such a procedure, the institution shall adhere to the principles of Islamic law regarding currency exchange.
A delay in making the transfer is allowed to the institution, consistent with the practice whereby a payee may obtain actual receipt according to prevailing business practice in currency markets. However, the payee is not entitled to dispose of the currency during the transfer period, unless and until the effect of the bank transfer has taken effect so that the payee is able to make an actual delivery of the currency to a third party.
(b) Receipt of a check constitutes constructive possession, provided the balance payable is available in the account of the issuer in the currency of the check and the institution has blocked such a balance for payment......"
And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
kagsaudia (not verified)
pls send me fatwa of online forex , halal or haram
Wed, 2013/03/27 - 04:58pls send me fatwa at
kagsaudia@yahoo.com
of online forex , halal or haram
Abu Bakar Abdullah (not verified)
Once Haram, Forever Haram
Wed, 2012/08/22 - 17:07Forex is an interesting medium of online business. But, since the Islam said it is haram, we as muslims have to obey the rule and forget the Forex...there are many ways to do business online and profitable.
Visitor (not verified)
please send me fatwa on this
Sat, 2012/09/29 - 07:35please send me fatwa on this address saif.n0300@gmail.com
Visitor (not verified)
kindly send me the fatwa
Sun, 2012/11/04 - 02:37I would like to know more on this, kindly send me the fatwa. Thank you :)
Visitor (not verified)
kindly send me the fatwa
Sun, 2012/11/04 - 02:38I would like to know more on this, kindly send me the fatwa. Email: nidzam@hotmail.sg thank you
zubair (not verified)
send me
Mon, 2012/12/03 - 15:10send me fatwa
hafizzubi@gmail.com
abdul rehman (not verified)
Is Online trading is "Halal or Haram"
Thu, 2013/02/21 - 06:57Dear all,
I decided to leave online trading while listining Dr. Zakir Naik vidio available on youtube and this;
Praise be to Allaah.
The Islamic Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League, in its eighteenth session that was held in Makkah al-Mukarramah from 10 to 14/3/1427 AH (8 to 12 April 2006 CE), has examined the issue of trading in margins, which means that the customer pays a small amount of the value of what he wants to buy, which is called a “margin”, and the agent (the bank or otherwise) pays the rest as a loan, provided that the purchase contract remains in the name of the agent as a pledge for the money that was loaned.
After listening to the research that has been submitted and the detailed discussion on this topic, the opinion of the council is that this transaction involves the following:
1 – Dealing in buying and selling for the purpose of profit, and this dealing is usually done in major currencies or financial certificates (shares and bonds) or some types of products, and it may include trade in options, futures and the indexes of major markets.
2 – Loans, which refers to the money given by the agent to the customer directly if the agent is a bank, or via a third party if the agent is not a bank.
3 – Riba, which occurs in this transaction in the form of fees for delaying the deal. This is interest that is charged to the purchaser if he does not make a decision on the same day, and which may be a percentage of the loan or a set amount.
4 – Commission, which is the money that the agent gets as a result of the investor’s (customer’s) dealing through him, and it is an agreed-upon percentage of the value of the sale or purchase.
5 – The pledge, which is a commitment signed by the customer agreeing to leave the contract with the agent as a pledge for a loan, giving him the right to sell these contracts and take back the loan if the customer’s losses reach a specific percentage of the margin, unless the customer increases the pledge in order to compensate for a drop in the price of the product.
The Committee believes that this transaction is not permissible according to sharee’ah for the following reasons:
Firstly: It involves obvious riba, which is represented by the addition to the amount of the loan which is called “paying fees for delaying the deal”. This is a kind of haraam riba. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Fear Allaah and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribaa (from now onward) if you are (really) believers.
279. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allaah and His Messenger but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. 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 2:278-279]
Secondly: The agent stipulates that the customer must deal through him, which leads to combining both giving a loan for something in return and paying commission, which is akin to combining giving a loan and selling at the same time, which is forbidden in sharee’ah because the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “It is not permissible to give a loan and sell at the same time…” The hadeeth was narrated by Abu Dawood (3/384) and al-Tirmidhi (3/526), who said it is a hasan saheeh hadeeth. In this case he has benefited from his loan, and the fuqaha’ are unanimously agreed that every loan that brings a benefit is haraam riba.
Thirdly: Dealings that are done in this manner in the global markets usually involve many contracts that are haraam according to sharee’ah, such as:
1- Dealing in bonds, which comes under the heading of riba which is haraam. This was stated in a resolution of the Islamic Fiqh Council in Jeddah, no. 60, in its sixth session.
2- Dealing indiscriminately in company shares. The fourth statement of the Islamic Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League in its fourteenth session in 1415 AH stated that it is haraam to deal in the shares of companies whose main purposes are haraam, or some of their dealings involve riba.
3- Selling currencies is usually done without the hand to hand exchange which makes them permissible according to sharee’ah.
4- Dealing in options and futures. A resolution of the Islamic Fiqh Council in Jeddah no. (63), in its sixth session, stated that options are not permissible according to sharee’ah, because the object of dealing in these contracts is not money or services or a financial obligation which it is permissible to exchange. The same applies to futures and trading in indexes.
5- In some cases the agent is selling something that he does not possess, and selling what one does not possess is forbidden in sharee’ah.
Fourthly: This transaction involves economic harm to the parties involved, especially the customer (investor), and to the economy of the society in general, because it is based on borrowing to excess and taking risks. Such matters usually involve cheating, misleading people, rumours, hoarding, artificial inflation of prices and rapid and strong fluctuation of prices, with the aim of getting rich quickly and acquiring the savings of others in unlawful ways. Hence it comes under the heading of consuming people’s wealth unlawfully, in addition to diverting wealth in society from real, fruitful economic activity to this type of risk that has no economic advantage, and it may lead to severe economic turmoil that will cause great loss and harm in society.
The Council advises financial institutions to follow the ways of finance that are prescribed in sharee’ah and that do not involve riba and the like, and do not have harmful economic effects on their customers or on the economy in general, like shar’i partnerships and the like. And Allaah is the Source of strength.
May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions. End quote from Majallat al-Majma’ al-Fiqh al-Islami, issue no. 22, p. 229.
We ask Allaah to guide us and you.
And Allaah knows best.
khronos (not verified)
Commerce is Halal.......Is Online Trading Halal?
Sat, 2013/03/30 - 22:38Hello All,
Firstly, please excuse my ignorance regarding Islam. I wasn't born into Islam but
beleive in one god, so am a muslim by pure definition.
Growing up I had many experiences that proved to me, an all powerful creator exists and in my mind, no-one walking the planet today has the capacity to correctly interpret today's commerce complexities, in terms of the holy text. Sure we can study the holy text and apply it in it's *simplest* form, however that's as far as it goes and in some instances that is all that is necessary and perhaps a good thing too.
I have deep reservations regarding mans capacity to go forward and evolve as explained in the holy text. I have spoken with many muslims, most of who are oblivious to the meanings of the text. Now, I know the text can have many interpretations but I fear that many just ignore what doesn't suit them and this is a sin - selective understanding can be a dangerous thing. One thing that was made clear to me while studying the holy text, was the inference that man must evolve. This evolution does though have caveats, as described in other sections of the holy text. One does not move one in the area of commerce, at the expense of other areas of the holy text.....this can not happen.
By all sense and reasoning, commerce in general has evolved greatly since
the day of the prophet and so it would seem, most of what we see in 2013 is - haraam.
If I can ask one question?
How is it that shariah? loans, "price" in a profit margin that is "fixed" per repayment, for the term of the loan and it's not be huge contradiction to Islam?
So the banks don't price in "interest" but "profit". A horse by another name is, still a horse.
Now I understand the Islamic banking model is better than the one going around at the moment, it has less exposure BUT it does make a "profit" AND does take risk!
Interpretation surely is an interesting thing here.
IMO, a slower global growth model (banking) would have us in a different place today but so would foreign policy and the global power struggle.
Unfortunately the following comment doesn't sit well with me:
" The Council advises financial institutions to follow the ways of finance that are prescribed in sharee’ah and that do not involve riba and the like, and do not have harmful economic effects on their customers or on the economy in general, like shar’i partnerships and the like........"
Here we have a group prescribing a business model (banking), clearly advocating riba in the form of profit. Profit is riba people, not matter how it is termed.
It is not a like for like transaction but "in this day of inflationary pressures", surely any viable enterprise needs to profit on order to exist. Like I said -
a conundrum on many levels.
Even though the Islamic banking model is the best out of a bad bunch, it's still not clean and is harmful to people and communities because as the respondent above said, it can NOT protect it's customers from the following environmental factors:
borrowing to excess and taking risks
cheating,
misleading people,
rumors,
hoarding,
artificial inflation of prices
rapid and strong fluctuation of prices
it too is simply a facilitator and profiting from these events and conditions.
In a perfect world these situations would not be relevant, however they are.
For example, expanding countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, that have Islamic banking models are also victims of internal manipulation and inflationary pressures. All the while, the Islamic Banking model profits from these pressures and conditions within those countries.
Commerce in relation to the holy text is surely a complex matter and although the Islamic model has enormous merit at a grass roots level (eg: how it sources it's funds), it still participates in one of the oldest business business models pre-dating the prophet.
Regarding online trading and derivatives......what a can of worms.
Generally, I believe you can trade anything as long as it's deliverable eg: take physical delivery of gold, currency, parcel of shares at a fair market price and
your account does not attract interest or pay fees.
Unfortunately, the intention of most online traders is speculative based - make a dollar on the perception the market will move in a certain direction, without any significant skill involved.
Many argue that even the most skillful proprietary trader is a gambler at the end of the day. I would suggest, that so too is a surgeon, as is a leading edge scientist and technologist.
Those reading this post must realize that proprietary trading is a profession and that only 2% of those attempting to trade, ever succeed and there's a good reason for that. The variables involved can at times be overwhelming for the average person, as is medicine and so the intellectual capacity must be matched accordingly to the task at hand.
I guess science and technology are acceptable forms of *risks* as they generally improve the quality of life, rather than ONLY simply existing to line there pockets with dollars, as is the case with most traders and speculators.
Then again there are the scientists and engineers that employ complex strategies and computer modelling (vibration, chaos-theory) as a pure academic challenge initially, that has resulted in tightly controlled investments - go figure but they do exist. Are they committing a sin?
IMO, one of the generic problems regarding Online Trading is, for Islam, it's not a known and GUARANTEED outcome and therefore considered gambling. Why is not "investing" in any form, a speculative outcome and therefore a sin?
When I married outside of my culture and ethnicity, was I gambling, taking a risk?
Anyhow, I digress.
From what I understand and in my life's experiences it's best to play it safe but yet test yourself, by taking some risk and growing. Life is a journey, a lesson and an education. Be safe and make sure you do not harm yourself or others, be kind and understanding, yet expand and grow within these parameters.
Perhaps you would like to read the following, it lists the Resolutions of the Islamic Fiqh Council:
http://www.mwl-en.com/category/the-islamic-fiqh-council/
I don't believe that there will be alot of support for my views but then again, I only speak for myself and my own beliefs, those that we teach our children.
You may ask, have I read the holy text? Yes, I have. It's sit's next to me all day,
well almost. I am believer in one god and it pains me to see the way our civilization has gone. I have seen how one can read the holy text with a narrow perspective and miss it's entire meaning and that's okay because I can not change the views of another. I will however, for the remainder of my life, try to employ it's teaching's, not selectively but holistically, as is the importance of it's teaching inter-dependencies, and it's importance to my family.
On judgement day, all will be accounted for and for now, until then, it's this day we live for.
Salam,
Peter
Umer Hussain (not verified)
Fatwa
Sun, 2013/03/17 - 07:23Brothers, AOA
Is it possible for you to send that fatwa to me so that I can understand more,
jazakallah
Umer
wajid aziz (not verified)
fatwa
Wed, 2013/07/17 - 02:26hi sir plz send me fatwa about forex trading I am confuced
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