Dr. Mahmoud Shalaby, Fatwa Secretary at Dar Al-Ifta Egypt, affirmed that profits from bank deposits and investment certificates are fully permissible under Islamic law, emphasizing that these financial instruments are modern investment tools based on mutual consent, free from excessive uncertainty or harm, making them lawful.
He explained that these profits can cover daily household expenses, including food, utilities, education, or other family needs, with complete permissibility according to Islamic law.
Shalaby noted that the profit from investment certificates arises from the bank investing the deposited money in various projects, which then returns a share of the profits to the certificate holder. This method is widely accepted by contemporary scholars.
Additionally, these profits can be used for charity and charitable projects, such as donations to the needy or supporting social initiatives, making the income fully compliant with Sharia law.
The Fatwa Secretary emphasized that the default ruling for financial transactions is permissibility, and profits generated through authorized banking instruments are halal, whether from short-term or long-term deposits, savings certificates, or other legitimate personal investments.
He also clarified that these profits are not considered usury (riba), since they result from real investment activity, benefiting both the bank and the investor without injustice or deception.
