His other question states: I have a piece of agricultural land and I do not want to farm it, and I am in need of a sum of money. Is it permissible for me to take the money from someone?
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The questioner : His other question states: I have a piece of agricultural land and I do not want to farm it, and I am in need of a sum of money. Is it permissible for me to take the money from one of the people on the condition that I pledge the land to him so he can farm it for three years, and then after that I pay him his money and take back my land? Is this permissible or not?
The Shaykh : This is not permissible because it is riba (usury or interest). If you borrow money from him and give him your land, this loan becomes one intended for exchange. It is a loan that brings benefit. The scholars have said: Every loan that brings benefit is riba (usury or interest).
This man, if you had not given him the land to farm and benefit from it, would not have lent you the money. Consequently, the loan is intended for exchange, not for kindness. The basis for the permissibility of a loan is that it is an act of kindness; otherwise, it would be forbidden. The point is that if you wanted to buy a dirham from a person for a dirham without taking possession of it in the meeting, it would be riba (usury or interest). But if you advance a dirham from him in the form of a loan and you will give it to him after a period of time, that becomes permissible. Why? Because the exchange, trading, and profit-seeking are not intended by this loan; rather, it is intended to be kind to the one in need. If it departs from its original purpose, which is kindness, and moves to exchange and profit, it falls under riba (usury or interest), because that is the principle in exchanging dirhams for dirhams. Therefore, we say: Every loan that brings benefit to the lender is riba (usury or interest), so it is forbidden and not permissible.
The Shaykh : This is not permissible because it is riba (usury or interest). If you borrow money from him and give him your land, this loan becomes one intended for exchange. It is a loan that brings benefit. The scholars have said: Every loan that brings benefit is riba (usury or interest).
This man, if you had not given him the land to farm and benefit from it, would not have lent you the money. Consequently, the loan is intended for exchange, not for kindness. The basis for the permissibility of a loan is that it is an act of kindness; otherwise, it would be forbidden. The point is that if you wanted to buy a dirham from a person for a dirham without taking possession of it in the meeting, it would be riba (usury or interest). But if you advance a dirham from him in the form of a loan and you will give it to him after a period of time, that becomes permissible. Why? Because the exchange, trading, and profit-seeking are not intended by this loan; rather, it is intended to be kind to the one in need. If it departs from its original purpose, which is kindness, and moves to exchange and profit, it falls under riba (usury or interest), because that is the principle in exchanging dirhams for dirhams. Therefore, we say: Every loan that brings benefit to the lender is riba (usury or interest), so it is forbidden and not permissible.