Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2226-3624

The Position of Virtual Currency Bitcoin According to Islamic Perspective

Ahmad Dahlan Salleh, Muhammad Amir Husairi Che Rani

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJAREMS/v13-i4/23312

Open access

Bitcoin represents a new currency because of innovation to the current payment system. Its emergence as a decentralized virtual currency with its high value is the main attraction of its ownership. Nonetheless, with various innovations provided, bitcoin encounters legitimacy issues, regulatory ambiguity and being a platform for illegal activities. Thus, the main objective of this chapter is to identify bitcoin status as property according to the Islamic scholar’s views. It also aims to investigate and analyze bitcoin status as al-nuq?d (money) according to the Islamic scholar’s views and its position as virtual currency according to shariah perspective. This chapter framework applies qualitative methodology with content analysis methods. Data collection relies on document analysis descriptively from printed materials such as books, related academic writing and reliable internet sources. It reveals that bitcoin did not qualify as a property as determined by the jurists based on the risk of bitcoin’s speculation and the risk of security breaches that resulted in the loss of bitcoin owned thus categorizing bitcoin as a speculative investment and high-risk asset. The absence of thamaniyyah on bitcoin and the complexity of using bitcoin as unit of value as well as the occurrence of hacking series and malware attacks show that bitcoin does not function as al-nuq?d (money) even bitcoin is just a high-risk alternative payment method and insecure asset. This chapter also found that bitcoin is only a method of payment that is not generally accepted as a currency according to shariah based on the absence of public acceptance and the existence of ?arar (harm) as well as the risk of using bitcoin as a means of payment. This chapter proposes shariah regulations on the use of bitcoin to ensure the legitimacy of the use of currency in fulfilling the provisions of ?if? al-m?l (preservation of wealth).

Abu Bakar, N., Rosbi, S. Uzaki, K. (2017). Cryptocurrency Framework Diagnostics from Islamic Finance Perspective: A New Insight of Bitcoin System Transaction. International Journal of Management Science and Business Administration, Vol 4, 19-28.
Alberts, J.E. & Fry, B. (2015). Is Bitcoin Security? Boston University Journal of Science and Technology Law, Vol 21, 1-21.
Al-Buhu?ti, Man?u?r ibn Yu?nus. (1403H/1983). Kashsha?f al-Qina?c can Matn al-Iqna?c. Beirut: cA?lam li al-Kutub.
Al-Ka?sa?ni, Abu Bakr ibn Mascu?d, al-?anafi. (1424H/2003). Bada?'ic al-?ana?ic fi Tarti?b al-Shara?ic. Beirut: Da?r al-Kutub al-cIlmiyyah.
Al-Ma?ri, Rafi?q Yu?nus. (1434H/2013). Al-Nuqu?d fi al-Iqti?a?d al-Isla?mi. Damsyik: Da?r al-Maktabi.
Al-Nawawi, Ya?ya ibn Sharf, Mu?y al-Di?n, Abu Zakariyya. (1426H/2005). Al-Majmu?c Shar? al-Muhadhdhab. Amman: Bayt al-Afka?r al-Dawliyyah.
Al-Nawawi, Ya?ya ibn Sharf, Mu?y al-Di?n, Abu Zakariyya. (1414H/1994). Al-Minha?j fi Shar? ?a?i?h Muslim Ibn al-?ajja?j. Kaherah: Mu'assasah Qur?ubah.
Alotaibi, M. N., & Asutay, M. (2015). Islamic Banking and Islamic E-Commerce: Principles and Realities. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, Vol 3, Issue 4, 1-14.
Al-Qarahda?ghi, cAli Mu?y al-Di?n. (1410H/1990). ?ukm Ijra?' al-cUqu?d bi A?la?t al-Itti?a?l al-?adi?thah. Majallat Majmac al-Fiqh al-Isla?miyy, No 6. Jeddah: Majmac al-Fiqh al-Isla?miyy al-Dawliyy.
Al-Sharbi?ni, Mu?ammad ibn al-Kha?i?b, Shams al-Di?n. (1418H/1997). Mughniy al-Mu?ta?j ila Macrifat Maca?ni? Alfa?? al-Minha?j. Beirut: Da?r al-Macrifah.
Al-Zu?ayli, Wahbah Mu??afa. (1405H/1985). Al-Fiqh al-Isla?miyy wa Adillatuh. Damsyik: Da?r al-Fikr.
Al-Zu?ayli, Wahbah Mu??afa. (1435H/2012). Mawsu?cat al-Fiqh al-Isla?miyy wa al-Qa?a?ya? al-Muca??irah. Damsyik: Da?r al-Fikr.
Bank Negara Malaysia. (2014). Laporan Kestabilan Kewangan dan Sistem Pembayaran 2013. Kuala Lumpur: www.bnm.gov.my.
Baur, D. G., Hong, K. H., & Lee, A. D. (2018). Bitcoin: Medium of Exchange or Speculative Assets? Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money., 177-189.
Fanusie, Y. J., & Robinson, T. (2018). Bitcoin Laundering: An Analysis of Illicit Flows into Digital Currency Services. Washington: Foundation for Defense of Democratics.
Godsiff, P. (2015). Bitcoin: Bubble or Blockchain? Agent and Multi-Agent Systems: Technologies and Applications., 191-203.
Grinberg, R. (2012). Bitcoin: An Alternative Digital Currency. Hastings Science & Technology Law Journal, Vol 4, 160-206.
?asan, A. (1420H/1999). Al-Awra?q al-Naqdiyyah fi al-Iqti?a?d al-Isla?miyy: Qi?matuha wa A?ka?muha. Damsyik: Da?r al-Fikr.
Hurlburt, G. F., & Bojanova, I. (2014). Bitcoin: Benefit or Curse? IEEE Computer Society.
Ibn cA?bidi?n, Mu?ammad ibn Mu?ammad ibn Ami?n ibn cUmar, cAla?’ al-Di?n. 1423H/2003. Rad al-Mu?tar cala al-Dur al-Mukhta?r Shar? Tanwi?r al-Ab?a?r. Riyadh: Dar cAlam al-Kutub?.
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, Mu?ammad ibn Abi Bakr, Shams al-Di?n. (1417H/1996). Icla?m al-Muwaqqici?n can Rab al-cA?lami?n. Beirut: Da?r al-Kutub al-cIlmiyyah.
Ibn Rushd, Mu?ammad ibn A?mad. (1415H/1994). Bida?yat al-Mujtahid wa Niha?yat al-Muqta?id. Kaherah: Maktabah Ibn Taymiyyah.
Ibn Taymiyyah, A?mad ibn ibn cAbd al-?ali?m, Taqi? al-Di?n. (1425H/2004). Majmu?c Fata?wa? Shaykh al-Isla?m A?mad ibn Taymiyyah. Madinah al-Munawwarah: Mujammac al-Malik Fahd li Taba?cat al-Mu??af al-Shari?f.
Kancs, D., Ciaian, P. & Rajcianova, M. (2015). The Digital Agenda of Virtual Currencies: Can Bitcoin Become a Global Currency?. Publications Office of the European Union, 1-46.
Lo, S., & Wang, J. C. (2014). Bitsoin as Money? The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Luther, W. J., & White, L. H. (2014). Can Bitcoin Become a Major Currency? GMU Working Paper in Economics, George Mason University, 14-17.
Luther, W. J. (2016). Bitcoin and The Future of Digital Payments. The Independent Review, Vol 20, 397-404.
McCallum, B. T. (2015). The Bitcoin Revolution. Cato Journal, Vol 35, No 2.
Mishkin, F. (2009). The Economics of Money, Banking and Financial Markets. Boston: Pearson Education.
Nakamoto, S. (2008). Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. www.cryptovest.co.uk. [31 Oktober 2008].
Negurita, O. (2014). Bitcoin - Between Legal and Financial Performance. Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice, Vol 6., 242-248.
Sloman, J. (2006). Economics. England: Pearson Education Limited.
Williams, M. T. (2014). Virtual Currencies - Bitcoin Risk. Washington: World Bank Conference.
Yermack, D. (2014). Is Bitcoin a Real Currency? An Economic Appraisal. NBER Working Paper No. 19747.
Zahudi, Z. M., & Amir, R. A. T. R. (2016). Regulation of Virtual Currencies: Mitigating the Risks and Challenges Involved. Journal of Islamic Banking and Finance, Vol 5, 63-73.

Salleh, A. D., & Rani, M. A. H. C. (2024). The Position of Virtual Currency Bitcoin According to Islamic Perspective. International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management Sciences, 13(4), 360–372.