Guests Harris Irfan, Safdar Alam, and Tarek El-Diwany discuss the Islamic perspective on Bitcoin, its compatibility with Islamic finance, and the flaws of the current financial system. They explore the concepts of riba, uncertainty, equity transactions, and the potential of Bitcoin to become a global monetary system aligned with Islamic finance.
The compatibility of Bitcoin with the principles of Islamic finance is discussed, with some scholars arguing that Bitcoin can be considered as a form of ownership or a digital asset.
The properties of Bitcoin as a non-physical asset align with the objectives of Islamic finance, such as stability and justice, making it a suitable form of money.
Bitcoin's potential to disrupt the current financial system is highlighted, as its properties as hard and highly saleable money align with the principles of Islamic finance, promoting economic stability and reducing wealth inequality.
The non-physical nature of Bitcoin is not a barrier to its acceptance in Islamic finance, as there is no requirement for money to be physical or have intrinsic value, and its potential to align with principles of justice and transparency is emphasized.
Deep dives
Bitcoin's Compatibility with Islamic Finance
Islamic finance scholars discuss the compatibility of Bitcoin with the principles of Islamic finance. They examine whether Bitcoin can be considered as a form of ownership or a digital asset. While some scholars argue for the inclusion of only gold and silver as money, others take a more liberal view, stating that any system that promotes justice, transparency, and low cost can be considered as money. Bitcoin, being a non-physical asset, can perform the same functions as gold or silver, and its properties align with the objectives of Islamic finance, such as stability and justice.
Bitcoin's Monetary Properties and Value
Bitcoin's properties as money are compared to physical assets like gold and silver. It is noted that Bitcoin's value is derived from its monetary properties and that it is not physically tangible. However, like gold, Bitcoin has value because it has utility and can be used in transactions to buy goods and services. The fact that Bitcoin is not manipulable and has a limited supply adds to its appeal as a form of money.
Bitcoin's Potential to Transform the Financial System
The discussion highlights the potential of Bitcoin to disrupt the current financial system. Its properties make it a hard and highly saleable money, and these characteristics align with the principles of Islamic finance. As a result, Bitcoin has the potential to lead to a monetary system that reduces wealth inequality and promotes economic stability.
Bitcoin's Digital Nature and Its Compatibility with Sharia Law
The compatibility of Bitcoin with Sharia law is also explored. It is concluded that Bitcoin's non-physical nature should not be a barrier to its acceptance, as there is no requirement in Islamic jurisprudence for money to be physical or have intrinsic value. The potential for Bitcoin to align with the principles of justice and transparency in Islamic finance is emphasized.
The Value of Social Concurrence Over Asset Backing
Muslims should prioritize social concurrence over a real asset backing when it comes to financial systems. Emphasizing that money in banks is simply digits in a computer, it is argued that the importance of social acceptance is more significant than real asset backing.
Challenges of Fatwas on Bitcoin
The podcast points out how fatwas on Bitcoin in the Muslim world could be similar to the negative views towards the printing press in the past. It is argued that such fatwas could lead to Muslims lagging behind in Bitcoin adoption, resulting in delayed involvement and missed opportunities.
The Transition to a Bitcoin-Only Economy
The discussion highlights the potential of Bitcoin to create a more socially just economic model. It is suggested that in a Bitcoin-only economy, the concept of interest lending might cease to exist, as Bitcoin's fixed supply and decentralized nature discourage fractional reserve banking. Instead, equity-based financing could become more prevalent, reducing wealth inequality and promoting risk-sharing mechanisms.
A compilation of some of the discussions taking place in saifedean.com seminars on the topic of Bitcoin and Islamic finance, why Bitcoin is an Islamic form of money, why fiat money is not, and why bitcoin finance might resemble Islamic finance. The discussion features learners from saifedean.com as well as guests Harris Irfan, Safdar Alam, and Tarek El-Diwany.
Enjoyed this episode? Join Saifedean's online learning platform to take part in weekly podcast seminars, access Saifedean’s five online economics courses, and read his writing, including his new book, Principles of Economics! Find out more on saifedean.com!
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