Gifts from Riba-Based Banks
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Fatwa No. ( 21059 )
Q: Some of the existing riba-based banks distribute calendars and gifts such as pens, medals, and other items to citizens and government agencies at the beginning of each Hijri year or during the banks' special occasions. The employees of these banks distribute them to their clients, acquaintances, and friends. The question is: Is it permissible to take any of these calendars or gifts from the bank itself or from one of its employees? Please inform us, may Allah preserve you. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
A: Gifts from banks to their clients who have accounts with them are not permissible to accept; because they are a form of riba-based investment. As for gifts from the bank to non-clients, we attach for you the fatwa issued on this matter, No. (16184), which reads: His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in America invited private sector institutions to help provide study grants for Saudi students studying at their own expense. Since some of the private institutions that provided the grants were riba-based banks, is it permissible for the student to study at the expense of those banks?
A: Money provided by one who deals in riba, whether it is a bank or otherwise, if
it is known to be from riba, then it is not permissible to accept it or benefit from it; because that is consuming the riba that is prohibited in the Book and the Sunnah. Allah the Exalted said:[Ali 'Imran 3:130] And Allah has cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who gives it, the witnesses to it, and the one who writes it down. However, if one does not know that this money is from riba, because its owner deals in riba and other permissible transactions, then the original ruling is lawfulness and permissibility. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Some of the existing riba-based banks distribute calendars and gifts such as pens, medals, and other items to citizens and government agencies at the beginning of each Hijri year or during the banks' special occasions. The employees of these banks distribute them to their clients, acquaintances, and friends. The question is: Is it permissible to take any of these calendars or gifts from the bank itself or from one of its employees? Please inform us, may Allah preserve you. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
A: Gifts from banks to their clients who have accounts with them are not permissible to accept; because they are a form of riba-based investment. As for gifts from the bank to non-clients, we attach for you the fatwa issued on this matter, No. (16184), which reads: His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in America invited private sector institutions to help provide study grants for Saudi students studying at their own expense. Since some of the private institutions that provided the grants were riba-based banks, is it permissible for the student to study at the expense of those banks?
A: Money provided by one who deals in riba, whether it is a bank or otherwise, if
it is known to be from riba, then it is not permissible to accept it or benefit from it; because that is consuming the riba that is prohibited in the Book and the Sunnah. Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, do not consume usury
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.