How do the categories of printed papers vary with the multiplicity of issuing authorities? And why is merely sharing a name not considered influential in the difference of category between the Saudi silver and paper Riyal? And does the category of dates change with the difference in their cultivation location, or gold with the difference in its source? And why does the category of a banknote change merely by writing the bank's name on it, despite it being just ink on paper? And why was the current monetary medium not mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah, whereas the Dinar and Dirham were mentioned? And has the time come when nothing will be beneficial except the Dinar and Dirham, as stated in the Hadith? And what is the Sharia evidence for the permissibility of using anything as money? And what are the evidences from the Quran and Sunnah that contradict the validity of this current economic system?
The Dinar and Dirham in the time of the Prophet - peace be upon him - are not an obligatory Sunnah. Dealing with banknotes today is permissible and relies on people's customs and conventions, which vary with time and place. Dirhams and Dinars are not intended for their own sake, but rather are a means of transaction, and the Lawgiver has referred their use to people's customs. Banknotes today are multiple types due to the multiplicity of issuing authorities, because their strength and weakness are linked to the government's economy.
The Hadith: "A time will come upon people when nothing but the Dinar and Dirham will be beneficial" has a weak chain of narration, but its meaning applies to our reality.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/149721