Depositing money in the bank without interest
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 17574 )
Q1: I am a university student and I do not have my daily sustenance, and so does my brother who is studying abroad. I have six sisters, and my mother, praise be to Allah, pays her fifth (khums) and fasts her month and obeys her Lord as much as she can. My father, may Allah have mercy on him, has passed away and left us a small amount of money that we rely on
after Allah the Mighty and Majestic for our livelihood. But the problem lies in two things: First, this money is in an interest-based bank, and none of us has the right to dispose of it except my mother, who spends from it on our clothing, food, drink, livelihood, and education. I have advised her repeatedly, gently at times and harshly and sternly at others, but she did not respond to me. We have reached the point, at some times, of quarreling and boycotting each other over this issue. Second, is her refusal to pay zakah, claiming that we are orphans and that we are more deserving of it than others , and that there is no one in our community who deserves it. If there is, you will find him either a drunkard who spends all his money on intoxicants until he goes bankrupt, or a smoker who spends his money on it. And when I advise her and press her, she gives a small portion of it and says to me: Send the rest to your brother so he can learn with it. I say to her: It is not permissible to give zakah to my brother, because he has a right to this money. She says to me that she asked the people and they permitted her to do this. Guide me on what I should do and how I should act, for I fear that if I call upon Allah, He will not answer my supplication, because my food is forbidden, my drink is forbidden, and my clothing is forbidden. How will He answer me? What is the solution and what is the way out?
A1: First: Depositing money in a bank without interest is permissible out of need, but if the deposit is with interest, it is forbidden, because that is usury or interest.
Second: Money that has reached the minimum threshold for zakah and a lunar year of possession has passed over it requires zakah, even if the money belongs to orphans and the like. You must be gentle with your mother and explain the Islamic ruling to her. Her claim that there are no poor people does not justify her withholding zakah, because zakah is obligatory. Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tawbah 9:34-35] , and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 987a You must advise your mother, explaining to her that zakah is a cause for the blessing and increase of wealth. If she gives you her zakah, give it to the poor and do not send it to your brother, because it is the zakah of your wealth and his.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: I am a university student and I do not have my daily sustenance, and so does my brother who is studying abroad. I have six sisters, and my mother, praise be to Allah, pays her fifth (khums) and fasts her month and obeys her Lord as much as she can. My father, may Allah have mercy on him, has passed away and left us a small amount of money that we rely on
after Allah the Mighty and Majestic for our livelihood. But the problem lies in two things: First, this money is in an interest-based bank, and none of us has the right to dispose of it except my mother, who spends from it on our clothing, food, drink, livelihood, and education. I have advised her repeatedly, gently at times and harshly and sternly at others, but she did not respond to me. We have reached the point, at some times, of quarreling and boycotting each other over this issue. Second, is her refusal to pay zakah, claiming that we are orphans and that we are more deserving of it than others , and that there is no one in our community who deserves it. If there is, you will find him either a drunkard who spends all his money on intoxicants until he goes bankrupt, or a smoker who spends his money on it. And when I advise her and press her, she gives a small portion of it and says to me: Send the rest to your brother so he can learn with it. I say to her: It is not permissible to give zakah to my brother, because he has a right to this money. She says to me that she asked the people and they permitted her to do this. Guide me on what I should do and how I should act, for I fear that if I call upon Allah, He will not answer my supplication, because my food is forbidden, my drink is forbidden, and my clothing is forbidden. How will He answer me? What is the solution and what is the way out?
A1: First: Depositing money in a bank without interest is permissible out of need, but if the deposit is with interest, it is forbidden, because that is usury or interest.
Second: Money that has reached the minimum threshold for zakah and a lunar year of possession has passed over it requires zakah, even if the money belongs to orphans and the like. You must be gentle with your mother and explain the Islamic ruling to her. Her claim that there are no poor people does not justify her withholding zakah, because zakah is obligatory. Allah the Exalted said:
And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah - give them tidings of a painful punishment. (35) The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and seared therewith will be their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, [it will be said], "This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard."
وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلاَ يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ (34) يَوْمَ يُحْمَى عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَى بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ هَذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَIf any owner of gold or silver does not pay what is due on him, when the Day of Resurrection would come, plates of fire would be beaten out for him; these would then be heated in the fire of Hell and his sides, his forehead and his back would be cauterized with them. Whenever these cool down, (the process is) repeated during a day the extent of which would be fifty thousand years, until judgment is pronounced among servants, and he sees whether his path is to take him to Paradise or to Hell.
ما من صاحب ذهب ولا فضة لا يؤدي حقها إلا إذا كان يوم القيامة صفحت له صفائح من نار، فيكوى بها جبينه وجنبه كلما بردت أعيدت عليه في يوم كان مقداره خمسين ألف سنة، حتى يقضى بين الناس، فيرى سبيله إما إلى الجنة وإما إلى النارAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.