The price of silver rose after the loan was taken

Question

Question: (1) Yusuf has a loan outstanding against Bashir. It has probably been fourteen or fifteen years, and until now he has not been able to repay the loan; now he is paying. Yusuf says: “In the year I gave the loan, the price of silver was two or two and a half rupees per tola (a unit of weight, ≈ 11.66 g); now I will take notes equal to that much silver, I cannot take less.” Is this view of Muhammad Yusuf correct or not? (2)

Answer

(1) As many notes as were taken as a loan 14–15 years ago, that same number of notes is to be returned. It is not right to take more notes for the loan because the price of silver has risen. (2) If silver rupees were lent, then that much silver, or its value, should be returned. (3) If the one from whom the loan was taken does not now want to take it back, he should forgive it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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