the prohibited one; therefore, if he becomes angry with you or severs ties for this reason, he alone bears the sin, and you incur none of it.

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Question 19: What is the ruling when a merchant receives gold from a buyer—who wishes to consult someone about the purchase—as security for the gold he has taken, bearing in mind that the pieces pledged and received will inevitably differ in weight?

Answer: This is unobjectionable so long as no sale has yet taken place. The merchant merely says, “This gold remains with you as a pledge until I go, seek advice, and then return so that we can conclude a fresh contract.” Once they do contract, the buyer pays the full price and the merchant retrieves the gold he had lodged as a pledge.

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Question 20: A man bought a gold piece for two hundred dinars and kept it for a period of time until its market value rose