Fatwa No : 84527
Taking a Loan in Riyals and Repaying It in Pakistani Currency

Taking a Loan in Riyals and Repaying It in Pakistani Currency

What do the respected scholars say regarding the following issue: Approximately three years ago, my uncle and I were working as laborers in Saudi Arabia. During that time, my uncle borrowed 25,000 Saudi Riyals as a loan from one his friends and promised to repay it as soon as possible. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, he was unable to repay the loan. Now my uncle wishes to repay the debt. The question is: At the time the loan was taken, the exchange rate of 1 Riyal was 28 Pakistani Rupees, but now the rate has increased to 42 Rupees per Riyal. So, should we repay the loan according to the old exchange rate of 28 Rupees, or according to the current rate of 42 Rupees? Kindly provide a response; I will be grateful and thankful.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

The inquirer’s uncle is obligated to repay the same number of riyals that he borrowed from Haji Naseem three years ago, regardless of whether the value of the riyal has increased or decreased since then.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في الرد : تحت (قوله مطلب الديون تقضى بأمثالها (قوله بل وصف للذمة إلخ) ولهذا قيل إن الديون تقضى بأمثالها على معنى أن المقبوض مضمون على القابض لأن قبضه بنفسه على وجه التملك ولرب الدين على المدين مثله، فالتقى الدينان قصاصا وتمامه في البحر . اهـ (۸۴۸/۴) –
وفي القضايا : لو اقترض الرجل صاعاً من الحنطة، وقيمتها يومئذ خمس ربيات مثلاً، فلم يؤدهـا الى المقرض الا بعد ما صارت قيمتها ربيتين فحسب، فانه لا يرد الى المقرض الاصاعاً واحداً ، رغم ان مالية الصاع الواحد قد انتقضت من خمس ربيات الى ربيتين ، وهذا باجماع الفقهاء قديماً وحديثاً الخ (ج 1 / ص184)۔