What is the ruling on working for an investment group that engages in speculation in the global stock market, and what is the ruling on the salary received from it? Is speculation in the stock market permissible (halal) or forbidden (haram), knowing that the contract text stipulates that the second party's share is 60% of the profits and the first party's share is 40%, and the first party alone bears all costs and expenses, and is obligated to terminate the agreement if the percentage of losses reaches 20% of the capital?

Speculating in the global stock market is permissible if done through legitimate means and impermissible if done through prohibited means, such as usurious borrowing, deferred sale for a deferred price, selling what has not been taken possession of, buying what cannot be received, selling what cannot be delivered, or betting on indices.

The Fiqh Academy mentioned four ways of dealing: - The first and second methods: Permissible Islamically under the known conditions of sale, which are that the contract includes the right to receive the sold item and the price immediately, with the goods or their receipts present, or with their possibility guaranteed by the market authority. - The third method: Not permissible due to the deferment of both counter-values. This is a contract for the delivery of a described commodity in a future date and the payment of the price upon delivery, with the condition that the contract ends with delivery and receipt. This can be amended to fulfill the known conditions of a salam (forward) contract, and it is not permissible to sell a commodity bought via salam before taking possession of it. - The fourth method: Not permissible. This is a contract for the delivery of a described commodity in a future date and the payment of the price upon delivery, without the condition of actual delivery, and it can be settled with an opposite contract.

Currency trading: It is not permissible to buy and sell currencies using the third and fourth methods. It is permissible using the first and second methods, provided that the known conditions of currency exchange are met. Dealing with indices: It is not permissible to buy and sell indices because it is pure gambling and the sale of an imaginary thing.

Based on this, if your work is in a branch that invests in the stock market through forbidden methods, then your work is impermissible and your salary is impermissible due to its assistance in sin. Repentance is obligatory, and the earned money must be spent on charitable deeds. However, if the dealings are through permissible methods, or if you work in a branch that does not engage in forbidden activities, then your work and salary are permissible.