The increase in a debt if the debtor delays repayment to cover expenses
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 20847 )
Q: We have a department for selling cars on deferred installments, and since people’s circumstances vary, some of them delay paying the installments according to their due dates. Since the process of following up on the collection of overdue installments imposes additional burdens on us regarding collectors, follow-up staff, and others, we ask: Does the pure Shari'ah permit adding a limited percentage to customers who delay paying installments past their specified dates, in order to cover the additional
burdens, and to encourage them to comply when they know that if they delay on any installment, an additional amount will be added to the installment?
A: It is not permissible to increase the debt if the debtor delays repayment at the specified time, because this is the riba of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, which Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and upon whose prohibition the Muslims have reached consensus. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:279-280] . And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We have a department for selling cars on deferred installments, and since people’s circumstances vary, some of them delay paying the installments according to their due dates. Since the process of following up on the collection of overdue installments imposes additional burdens on us regarding collectors, follow-up staff, and others, we ask: Does the pure Shari'ah permit adding a limited percentage to customers who delay paying installments past their specified dates, in order to cover the additional
burdens, and to encourage them to comply when they know that if they delay on any installment, an additional amount will be added to the installment?
A: It is not permissible to increase the debt if the debtor delays repayment at the specified time, because this is the riba of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, which Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and upon whose prohibition the Muslims have reached consensus. Allah the Exalted said:
But if you repent, you may have your principal - [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged. (280) And if someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease. But if you give [from your right as] charity, then it is better for you, if you only knew.
وَإِنْ تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لاَ تَظْلِمُونَ وَلاَ تُظْلَمُونَ (279) وَإِنْ كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَى مَيْسَرَةٍ وَأَنْ تَصَدَّقُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.