What is the ruling on dealing in international stock markets, and on purchasing shares of a telecommunications company where a free share is added for every share held for three years? Is this free share considered a form of usury? And how can one dispose of the effects of previous transactions if they were usurious?

Two conditions are stipulated for the permissibility of purchasing shares in any company: that the company's activity be permissible, and that the company adhere to Sharia in its permissible dealings, such as not borrowing or lending with interest (riba), or selling what it does not own. If the company fulfills these two conditions, there is no impediment to purchasing its shares. There is also no objection to adding bonus shares, as they represent an increase in the company's capital resulting from the retention of portions of its profits.