Evolution of money

From grain and silver by weight to coins, paper, bank credit and code — and the turning points where money stopped being a thing of value and became a promise of debt.

Islam’s measure throughout: money is a medium of exchange, not a commodity to rent out. Riba is forbidden (al-Baqarah 2:275–279), and gold, silver and staple foods trade “like for like, hand to hand” (Sahih Muslim 1587).