Fatwa No : 87325
Ruling on Using Market Value When Returning Gold Taken as a Loan

Ruling on Using Market Value When Returning Gold Taken as a Loan

Respected Mufti Sahib, Assalamu Alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh, we seek Shari‘ah guidance regarding an issue: in our family we are five brothers and in 1997 we borrowed gold from three women of our family and with its value purchased land, and at that time it was agreed that the gold itself or its value would later be returned, and afterwards in 2008 I borrowed additional gold from my wife with which I opened a shop, and now we wish to repay these loans, so the question is (1) whether we are required to return the same amount of gold borrowed in 1997 or whether it is permissible to return its value in cash according to the price at that time, (2) and if returning the value is permissible then should it be according to the price at the time of borrowing (1997 and 2008) or according to the current (2025) value, (3) and if repayment according to the current price becomes obligatory then is it permissible to give those women their full right or to reduce it to half, therefore please guide us according to Shari‘ah principles as to how much repayment is obligatory and whether reducing their due amount or giving only half of it is permissible or not, and may Allah reward you with goodness.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the case mentioned, since the questioner and his brothers borrowed gold itself as a loan from three women of their family in 1997, and the questioner borrowed gold from his wife in 2008 (as stated in the question), it is therefore obligatory for the questioner and his brothers to return the same amount of gold to the women. However, if the women agree to take cash instead of gold, then the payment must be made according to the current market rate (i.e., the 2025 value), not according to the rates of 1997 or 2008. Whatever amount of gold was taken from the women must be returned in full—either the same quantity of gold or its entire current market value. Without their genuine willingness and consent, reducing the repayment amount is not permissible, and such reduction must be strictly avoided.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی مشکاۃ المصابیح: عن ابی حرۃ الرقاشی قال قال رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ و سلم ألا لا تظلموا ألا لا یحل مال امرئ إلا بطیب نفس منہ (الفصل الثانی ج: 1، ص: 255، ط: قدیمی)۔
و فی مرقاۃ المفاتیح: تحت الحدیث (لا یحل مال امرئ) ای مسلم او ذمی إلا (بطیب نفس) أی بأمر او رضا (منہ) )ج: 6، ص: 149، ظ: حقانیۃ)۔
و فی الدر المختار: (استقرض من الفلوس الرائجۃ و العدالی فکست فعلیہ مثلھا کاسدۃ ) و ( لا) یغرم ( قیمتھا ) و کذا کل کل ما یکال و یوزن لما مر أنہ مضمون بمثلہ فلا عبرۃ بغلائہ و رخصہ ذکرہ مبسوط من غیر خلاف الخ ۔
و فی الشامیۃ: تحت ( قولہ) فعلیہ مثلھا کاسدۃ ) أی إذا ھلکت و إلا فیرد عینھا اتفاقا کما فی صرف الشرنبلالیۃ و فیہ کلام سیأتی ( قولہ فلا عبرۃ بغلائہ و رخصہ ) فیہ أن الکلام فی الکساد وھو ترک التعامل فی بالفلوس و نحوھا کما قلنا و الغلاء و الرخصۃ و غیرہ و کأنہ نظر إلی إتحاد الحکم فصح التفریع تأمل (إلی قولہ) و إن استقرض دانق فلوس أو نصف درھم فلوس ثم رخصت أو غلت لم یکن علیہ إلا مثل عدد ألذی أخذہ و کذلک لو قال أقرضتنی عشرۃ دراھم غلۃ بدینار فأعطاہ عشر دراھم فعلیہ مثلھا و لا ینظر إلی غلاء الدراھم و لا إلی رخصھا و کذالک کل ما یکال و یوزن فالقرض فیہ جائز و کذلک ما یعد من البیض و الجوز الخ (فصل فی القرض ج 5، ص 162، ط: سعید )۔