The essay investigates bitcoins and virtual currencies, which have had a great diffusion in international markets over the last decade, in the light of Islamic law. Starting therefore from the rules established by the Shari'a for Islamic finance, in particular the prohibition of gharar and gambling, tha study analyzes the debate arised between Muslim scholars and economists about the lawfulness of crytpocurrencies according to Islam. Finally, after translating a recent fatwa issued by the Grand Mufti of Egypt, and after explaining the importance of such kind of pronouncements in the Sunni world, the most important passages of the judgment are highlighted to demonstrate thath bitcoin is not shari’a complian
