Is It Permissible to Exchange Old Gold for New Jewelry of Different Weight?
Answered by Shaykh Bassem Itani
Question
Is it permissible to exchange old gold jewelry for new jewelry of a different weight?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.
Yes, it is permissible for you to exchange old gold jewelry for new jewelry of different weights under two essential conditions:
- The additional amount must be evaluated in any paper currency;
- There must be an immediate exchange between both parties.
Example
I will explain this matter with an example:
You can exchange an old gold necklace you have that weighs 10 grams for a new gold necklace at the jeweler that weighs 13 grams. The 10 grams in the old necklace corresponds to the 10 grams in the new necklace, and the remaining 3 grams of gold is valued at the market price. Let’s assume the value of one gram is $50, meaning 3 grams would be worth $150. The jeweler would then take the old necklace and $150 from you, and you would receive the new necklace from the jeweler.
Islamic Law emphasizes immediate exchange in gold transactions of the same kind to prevent usury, which is an unlawful gain. The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said in an authentic hadith:
“Gold for gold, weight for weight, like for like. Silver for silver, weight for weight, like for like. Whoever increases or seeks an increase has engaged in usury” [Muslim]
In our case, gold was exchanged for gold of equal weight: ten grams for ten grams and three grams for $150. Paper currency is considered equivalent to gold in our time and is valued against gold. The immediate exchange must occur. Jurists have discussed cases similar to ours in the past. [Zayla‘i, Tabyin al-Haqa’iq]
Important Matter
I commend you for asking about this issue, as we see many Muslims being careless in such matters, falling into unlawful and dubious financial dealings out of ignorance. It is obligatory for a Muslim to consult knowledgeable scholars in financial transactions to avoid unlawful or dubious matters and thus earn lawful, pure money without any doubt.
May Allah grant you success and provide you with lawful and good sustenance.
[Shaykh] Bassem Itani
Shaykh Dr. Bassem Hussayn Itani was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1965. He earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies in 2005. Among his mentors were Shaykh Muhammad Taha Sukkar, Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, Shaykh Mulla Abdul ‘Alim al-Zinki, Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi, Shaykh Dr. Mustafa Dib al-Bugha, Shaykh Dr. Wahba al-Zuhayli, Dr. Muhammad al-Zuhayli, and others, may Allah have mercy on them all.
Shaykh Itani has a rich background in both academic and administrative fields. He has held significant positions in many governmental and non-governmental institutions in Lebanon and abroad. This includes his role as a member of the Academic Committee at SeekersGuidance and a senior teacher with the free online global seminary.
From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Dean of the College of Da‘wa – University for Islamic Studies (Lebanon) – Postgraduate Studies. He was the Director of Dar Iqra for Islamic Sciences from 1998 to 2018. Shaykh Itani is a well-versed teacher in several academic subjects, including Fiqh, Usul, Aqida, and Tafsir. He has supervised and examined numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses at various universities and colleges in Lebanon.
His contributions to Islamic sciences are also evident in his writings and research. His notable works include “The Relied-upon Statements of Imam Zufar in the Hanafi School,” “Collective Ijtihad: The Sublimity of Thought in the 21st Century,” and “Custom and its Impact in Islamic Jurisprudence.” Shaykh Itani has actively participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars, both in Lebanon and internationally. He is linguistically adept, excelling in Arabic, proficient in French, and comfortably conversant in English
