Q: I acted upon a Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) issued by His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad Al-Salih Al-`Uthaymin regarding the permissibility of exchanging Saudi banknotes for Saudi coins each valuing one Saudi riyal for those who use international coin-operated phones at phone booths. Later on, we found out that you deemed it impermissible. Therefore, we found a way out; if someone wants to exchange currency for such a purpose, he should first exchange the Saudi banknotes with foreign banknotes so that I give him Saudi coins in return, one Saudi riyal each, in order to use them for calling from coin-operated phones. Please give me a Fatwa on the issue, may Allah reward you good and protect you.

A: If the reality is as you have mentioned, it is permissible for you to sell Saudi metal coins for foreign banknotes on the condition that mutual receiving of both parties due amounts takes place in the same contract session. This is based on the Hadith related by Ahmad and Muslim on the authority of `Ubadah ibn Al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) who reported the Prophet (peace be upon him) to have said: Gold is to be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, and salt by salt, like for like and equal for equal, payment being made hand to hand. If these types differ, then sell as you wish if payment is made hand to hand. It is well-known that (Part No. 13; Page No. 463) metal coins represents one type, while foreign banknotes represent another type. Thus, it is permissible that they be exchanged if equal in amount and payment is made hand to hand. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.