Q 1: I trade in gold jewelry but somebody told me that it is only permissible to sell gold in cash and hand to hand exchange. I told them that the gold that I sell is not a currency like the Saudi golden pound. I justified my view explaining that the gold that I sell is in the form of jewelry, it has different standards i.e. 21 and 18, copper and silver are mixed with it to be converted to these standards, and that the value I receive for it is in banknotes not in gold while I give in return of it gold jewelry. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of confusion regarding that matter. I am sending this to you to receive your beneficial answer; may Allah reward you with the best. Please answer my following questions: In case sale should be in cash and hand to hand exchange, is the way I do it considered Riba (usury/interest) just as the one which is mentioned in Allah's saying, (Part No. 13; Page No. 484)  Those who eat Ribâ (usury) will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitân (Satan) leading him to insanity. ?

A: It is impermissible to sell gold for gold or silver for silver unless they are of the same weight and the sale is done in a hand to hand exchange whether the two returns are in golden jewelry, money, or one of them is jewelry and the other is money. The foregoing also applies whether the two returns are in banknotes or one of them is so and the other is jewelry or money.However, in case one of the two returns is in gold jewelry or gold money and the other is in silver jewelry or silver money; weight difference between the two returns is permissible but hand to hand exchange in the same sitting as the contract is made is conditioned. Whatever contradicts what is mentioned above concerning this issue is Riba whose perpetrator is meant by the generality of Allah's saying, Those who eat Ribâ (usury) will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitân (Satan) leading him to insanity. Q 3: Someone bought gold jewelry from me in which the cost was one thousand (Part No. 13; Page No. 485) riyals. I told them that it is only permissible that they pay in cash. Then they asked me to lend them one thousand riyals. I did so then they gave me the one thousand riyals in exchange for the gold jewelry. Is this permissible? A: Doing so is not permissible because it is tantamount to deceptive Riba (usury/interest) and combining between two contracts i.e. a contract of loan and a contract of sale which is forbidden as well. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.